How Luther almost eliminated Catholicism in Saxony... but only almost!
Visitors to Upper Lusatia might get the impression of being in Bavaria when looking at the numerous crosses and wayside crosses near Panschwitz-Kuckau. After all, Germany’s south is way more famous for its connection to Catholicism than Saxony. But this faith has deep roots here as well. Especially in the anniversary year of the Reformation it is worth the while to explore the Catholic side of Saxony. What surfaces is a history partly shaped by considerable tolerance.
At the end of the 16th century, Saxony was given the honorary title “Motherland of Reformation”. Martin Luther encountered great support by the Electors of Saxony who helped leverage his ideas. Although the byname “Motherland of Reformation” could suggest otherwise, Luther did not exclusively find support but sometimes met severe resistance. For instance, George the Bearded, Duke of Saxony, became a bitter enemy after the Leipzig Debate. In order to strengthen Catholicism, the Duke of Saxony passionately advocated the canonisation of Benno, bishop of Meissen, and fought the spreading of Protestant ideas for the rest of his life. However, he could not stop the wave rolling over the land so that it eventually also got a hold of his duchy. His brother, Prince Henry the Pious introduced the Reformation after George’s death in 1539.
Preserving islands of Catholicism in Lusatia
Protestantism spread virtually over the whole area of today’s Saxony. But not in Lusatia. As the region was not part of Saxony at the time of Reformation, islands of Catholicism remained here. Especially noteworthy is the fact that two Cistercian convents from the 13th century survived these tumultuous times. The convent St. Marienthal in the east Saxon town of Ostritz is still serving its original purpose, as is the convent St. Marienstern in Panschwitz- Kuckau. And in the vicinity of the of Bautzen, Catholic customs are still kept alive by the Sorbs, Saxony’s Slavic minority – much to the delight of the guests who mostly come around Easter to participate in the traditional Easter customs. Also the pilgrimage church in the nearby Rosenthal and the cemetery in Ralbitz are representatives of Catholicism in Lusatia well worth seeing.
While the Sorbs living nearby the convent St. Marienstern remained true to their beliefs, the ideas of the Reformation encountered support in wide parts of their settlement area. Thanks to the smart equalisation policy of the Catholic clergyman Johann Leisentritt, progressive solutions were found for the gap between the confessions in Lusatia. For example, since 1524, St. Petri Cathedral in Bautzen has been used by Catholics and Protestants alike. It became the first interdenominational church in Germany. Today, only a fence in the middle of the church tells of the borderline between the two parts. An advancement in terms of tolerance considering that once a wall was dividing the believers.
New upswing for Catholicism
It was thanks to the ambitions of Augustus the Strong that Catholicism in Saxony was revived. The Saxon Elector made great efforts to become the king of Poland. Not only did he invest large parts of his wealth in the required bribery but he also converted to the Catholic faith.
In order not to anger his people, Augustus the Strong let himself be secretly trained in Catholic rites by his uncle. After converting to Catholicism in 1697, the Elector also waived his right to force the Saxons to a change of faith. Notwithstanding this leniency, he gradually alienated himself from his people. The depiction of Augustus the Strong in the famous “Fürstenzug” or "Procession of Princes" in Dresden shows this quite literally. In it the Luther rose, one of the symbols of the Reformation, is trampled by his horse.
As a consequence to the electoral change of faith many Catholics came to the Dresden court. Initially, the Holy Mass was held temporarily in the remodelled castle chapel. It was the son of Augustus, King Augustus III, who built the “Hofkirche”, the first Catholic church in Saxony following the Reformation in 1739 (known today as Dresden Cathedral). Those who visit the late Baroque building, which looks so glamorous from the outside, will be surprised by its plain interior. One of its highlights is the Silbermann organ that survived World War II without damage and can be heard on a regular basis today. And the crypt below the church is historically relevant as well. Among other things it houses the capsule with the heart of Augustus the Strong. After George the Bearded, the last of the Wettins to be buried in the Meissen cathedral, all Catholic members of the house of the Wettins were buried in this house of God. The irony of history: They remained the nominal leaders of the Protestant- Lutheran state church of Saxony until the end of World War I, thus remaining the “guardians of Protestantism”.
The history of Catholicism in Saxony does not come to an end with the building of the “Hofkirche”. Another chapter was written in 2015 when the provost church St. Trinitatis was consecrated in Leipzig. Henceforth, the biggest Catholic church building in East Germany since the reunification has dominated the city centrt. Especially noteworthy is the northern window with 22 m in length and 3 m in width. Depending on the incidence of light, it shows the complete Old and New Testament. The history of Catholicism in Saxony is quite similar to the phenomenon of this church window in Leipzig. It may seem unremarkable at first, but at a closer glance it becomes quite exciting.
Exhibition Tip:
12/05/ – 05/11/2017: “Ein Schatz nicht von Gold. Benno von Meissen – Sachsens erster Heiliger” (A treasure not made of gold, St. Benno of Meissen – Saxony’s first saint), exhibition at Albrechtsburg Castle in Meissen
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