Three nuns fight for their monastery: return to Goldenstein!

Three nuns fight for their monastery: return to Goldenstein!

Three nuns of the Goldenstein monastery in Elsbethen near Salzburg have caused a stir in the past few weeks. After almost three weeks in the nursing home, Sister Bernadette (88), Sister Rita (81) and Sister Regina (86) returned to her almost empty monastery. This unusual return is not only locally, but internationally in the headlines. However, the nuns cannot be put off by the media hype; Her main goal is to talk to Provost Markus Grasl from the Reichersberg Augustinian Abbey.

The conflict between the nuns and the provost continues to exist. Sister Bernadette has emphasized that she had acted humanly for 70 years and also rejects the allegations that her return would be a break in her vow. Report on courier According to the sisters, the sisters also refer to a contract with the Reichersberg Abbey, which has guaranteed them a life in the monastery until their end of life.

Difficult living conditions

It is believed that the decision of the nuns to return to their former monastery does not only result in the longing for home. The provost had argued that the independent life of the sisters in the monastery was no longer possible due to their age, state of health and the structural conditions. This is how they currently live on the fourth floor, where they are partly dependent on rollators. The broken stair lift makes access to important areas of the monastery, including the garden and the chapel, not exactly easier.

However, the nuns feel comfortable and report that they have found their inner peace. You get support from a network of around 200 helpers, including doctors and craftsmen. The return was also supported by 80 to 90 priests from all over the world. A fundraising campaign on Instagram could be collected 10,000 euros to restore the stairlift within just three days, which shows that the nuns are not solely in the fight for their home monastery.

The further course

Although the nuns prefer to live in the monastery, the future remains uncertain. Propst Grasl has announced that it would no longer want to make investments in the monastery and sees the nursing home as the best place for the nuns. So far there has been no exchange between the sisters and the provost. Sister Rita expresses the desire that the provost comes to find out in good agreement in order to find a solution together.

At a time when many are asking what monastery life in the modern world looks like, the situation of the nuns is an impressive example of the struggle for tradition and spirituality. A return to the monastery life not only requires a clear decision, but also the will to tackle the challenges together. But how will this conflict develop? Only time will show whether a suitable conversation between the parties comes about.

The Goldenstein monastery could soon put back into focus, not only through the reserves of the sisters, but also through what it could mean for future generations. At the moment it is up to the nuns to live their faith and their community in the monastery as they are fighting for the right to this home.