Convent of the Pilgrimage House Maria Birnbaum
After almost 200 years of interruption, since 1998 the brothers of the German Order are again attending the pilgrimage church “Unserer Lieben Frau im Birnbaum“, which was built by the Councillor (Rathsgebietiger) of the bailwick of the German Order Franconia, Philipp Jacob of Kaltenthal.
The pilgrimage church of our Lady traces back to two miracle healings in the years 1659 and 1660, in front of a Pietà put in a hollow pear tree (Birnbaum). Many votive tablets provide information regarding the answers to prayers and help that were experienced ever since. A part of the trunk of the pear with the miraculous image is in the high altar still today.
In order to provide a dignified frame fort his miraculous image, between 1661 and 1668 Philipp Jacob of Kaltenthal had arranged for the building all around the pear in the style of early baroque, which resembles a Russian church. Exemplar for this first church with a cupola north of the Alps designed by Constantin Pader was the Pantheon in Rome, whereby due to the different weather conditions instead of the opening in the cupola a tower of the apostles was mounted.
Just like the entire possession of the Order in Germany, in the secularization in 1803 the pilgrimage church was lost. When it was planned to dissolve the church and the pilgrimage because of the meanwhile occurred deterioration, the countrymen of the region took over the obligation to build and maintain; this obligation later passed to the municipality. From 1867 to 1984 the Capuchins got the pilgrimage.
After 14 years under the administration of the parish in 1998 it was transferred back to the possession of the German Order. The Order refurbished the convent building originating from the Capuchins. The noviciate of the German brother province was furthermore relocated to Maria Birnbaum in 2001, which emphasizes further the significance of this place as centre of spirituality.
In order to animate the pilgrimage, a monastery tavern was established, so that provisions are made not only for the spiritual, but also for the physical well-being of the pilgrims. Moreover, a monastery shop was established in which a selection of monastery products and spiritual literature are offered along with souvenirs and devotional objects.
The offer ranges from the daily Holy Mass, the daily rosary in the evening as well as the daily May devotions in the months of May; furthermore, there is regularly an opportunity to go to confession. Upon request the brothers are also available for one-on-one talks. Guided tours are offered from May through October on every first Sunday of a month at 03:00 p.m. and on appointment. Groups are required to contact the pastoral care of the pilgrimage house in due time.
The pilgrimage church Maria Birnbaum and the German Order
Church Service Times
| Holy Mass | Sundays and Holiday | 11:15 a.m. 08:00 p.m. evening mass |
| Monday through Saturday | 09.00 a.m. | |
| Confession | Friday | 04:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | 04:30 – 05:00 p.m. | |
| Sunday | 10:45 – 11:00 a.m. | |
| and on appointment | ||
| Way of the Cross | 1st Friday in a month | 06:00 p.m. |
| Eucharistic worship | 2nd to 5th Friday in a month | 06:00 p.m. |
| Rosary | daily | 05:30 p.m. |
| May devotions | daily in May | 06:00 p.m. |
| Guided tours | May through October every 1st Sunday in a month |
03:00 p.m. |
| and on appointment |
Main Feasts in Maria Birnbaum
| 40-hour prayer | Sunday to Tuesday before Ash Wednesday |
|
Our Lady of the Teutonic Knights in Jerusalem(Missa solemnis on the occasion of the Order’s solemnity) |
6. February | 11.15 a.m. |
| Main feast of Blauer Bund and “Totenbund” [for the poor souls] (brotherhood mass with procession) |
Easter Monday | 09.30 a.m. |
| Patrona Bavariae (Missa solemnis) |
1. May | 11.15 a.m. |
| Assumption Day (brotherhood mass) |
15. August | 09.30 a.m. |
| Assumption Day (brotherhood mass) |
15. September | 11.15 a.m. |
| Consecration day of the pilgrimage church | 14. October | 11.15 a.m. |
Contact
Pilgrimage church Maria Birnbaum
Maria-Birnbaum-Straße 51
86577 Sielenbach
 |
+ 49 (0) 8258 9985-0 |
|
 |
+ 49 (0) 8258 9985- 10 |
|
 |
www.kloster-maria-birnbaum.de/ |
Monastery tavern
90 Sitzplätze, Terrasse, Biergarten
|
+ 49 (0) 8258 9284-90 |
Monastery shop
Kerzen, Bernsteinschmuck, Rosenkranze, Klosterprodukte, Bücher, Andenken
|
+ 49 (0) 8258 9284-60 |
