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Die Pfarre Mariabrunn
Mariabrunn is the most western Parish of the Municipal Deanery (almost identical with the 14th district of the community of Vienna). It is part of the vicar's office "Wien-Stadt" of the Archdiocese of Vienna. The restored church contains treasures of international renown. The Wieskapelle, the theatre of Mariabrunn, the registry as well as the Museum of Pilgrimage which has been recently installed in the "Treasure Room" are open for groups at request (www.mariabrunn.at). Guided tours around the Parish Church (and the monastery) are offered by appointment.
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The Parish of Weidlingau was the first Parish at the estuary where the river Mauerbach meets the river Vienna. It is mentioned in the documents for the first time only in 1356. The Parish Church is supposed to have been located in the area of today's war memorial (at the Kielmansegg-bridge at main road level). It was sanctified to the Holy Apostle Andrew. In the confusion of the 1st Turk siege (1529) and during Reformation the Parish of Weidlingau was abolished and their members were entrusted to the Parish of Hütteldorf.
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The pilgrimage place of Mariabrunn developed at the fork of ancient roads: the mail road (Imperial Road) of Vienna to the west ("Linzer -Straße"), passing Purkersdorf, and the road along the Mauerbachtal to Tulln, dating back to Roman times. The foundation is referred to only incidentally in legends without being mentioned in the documents. The chapel which obviously had existed belonged to the Parish of Hütteldorf and was taken care of by such.
In the course of time Mariabrunn developed to an important place of pilgrimage. As a matter of fact, the Viennese Archbishop Cardinal Klehsl gave sanction to processions in 1615. The further extension of Mariabrunn was favoured by the following coinciding interests: in 1630 Emperor Ferdinand II called the strict Order of the "Barefoot Augustinians" from Italy to the Imperial Church (Augustinian Church) to support the Counter-Reformation. The Counter-Reformation was known for its pronounced devoutness to the Virgin Mary and pilgrimage.
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Soon the Order expressed the pious hope to the Emperor that a novice school be erected - of course far from the "hustle and bustle" of the baroque town. And the Emperor already knew the pilgrimage place of Mariabrunn in the outskirts of Vienna, close to his "Lainzer Tiergarten".
In spring 1636 Ferdinand II handed over Mariabrunn and the surrounding estates to the Order for spiritual guidance giving permission for the erection of a monastery.
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The construction of the church and the relatively large monastery (including the still existing premises for the education of the novices) was initiated in 1639 and finalised in 1655, with the support of the Emperor.
The Parish of Mariabrunn was installed only after some 150 years. Although the priests of the Order, in addition of taking care of the pilgrims, also gave spiritual guidance to the few inhabitants of the small
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village of Hadersdorf (located around Laudon Palace) and Weidlingau, as well as to the small-holders in the valleys of Mauerbach and Wiental, the monastery and pilgrimage church was declared to be Parish Church by Emperor Joseph II only as of 27 February 1784, separating it at the same time from the Parish of Hütteldorf.
The abbot Prior P. Norbertus a.S. Anselmus became the first priest. Since the disintegration of the Order and its abolition in 1829 spiritual guidance has been given by priests of the Diocese.
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