On the 20th anniversary of his death

Herbal priest: God’s pharmacy for eternity

Herbal priest Weidinger, seen in the ORF program "Ins Land einischaun - Dreimal Thayatal".(Bild: ORF/Ali Schafler)

On the 20th anniversary of the death of herbal priest Weidinger: his life for God, medicine and the "Krone".

"My predecessor Hermann-Josef Weidinger, who was so inspired by goodness, entered the heavenly abode almost exactly 20 years ago, on March 21. This was and is the feast day on which the Benedictine abbeys commemorate the passing of their monk father every year," recalls our current "Krone" herbalist Benedikt Felsinger. This order has always been inextricably linked to the development of European monastic medicine and the art of medicine in general. Perhaps the most shining example for Mr. Benedikt: the Monte Cassino monastery in Salerno, which was hotly contested and largely destroyed during the Second World War, had an important medical school from as early as the 11th century, from which one of the first universities on the continent emerged.

Oldest pharmacopoeia dates back to the 13th century
In Germany, on the other hand, the oldest pharmacopoeia that has survived to this day comes from the former monastery in Lorsch, Hesse. "From the 13th century, Lorsch became a Premonstratensian abbey, within whose walls the tradition of the Benedictines who had previously worked here was guarded," says Felsinger, who for his part keeps the legacy of his fellow brother Hermann-Josef close to his heart.

Herb priest Benedikt is grateful to his predecessor Weidinger.(Bild: Reinhard Holl)

Throughout his earthly existence, our first columnist for floral health hovered over the meadows and fields around his monastery in Geras in the far north of Lower Austria. Here in the Waldviertel and in the typical strip meadows, he collected many a medicinal herb from God's pharmacy in "reverence for the Creator". This is, of course, a neologism of the healer in the robes of the order. To this day, what has been handed down is a valuable treasure of health care. "I can draw from the full", says Benedikt Felsinger gratefully.

Hans Dichand cultivated a close friendship with Mönch
The fact that Weidinger was able to bring the wonders of nature closer to the readers of the "Krone" - not forgetting the needs of people's bodies and souls - is thanks to our founder Hans Dichand, who was visionary in so many ways. The legendary newspaperman offered the then herbalist a daily column. He was able to pass on his wisdom as a reservoir of knowledge and sheer infinite kindness of heart all the better because he was able to gain life experience and knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine during his almost 16-year stay in China as a missionary.

"Want to continue our work"
Who better to appreciate this than our current herbalist: "It is thanks to Hermann-Josef's dedicated work that it is now a matter of course to feel with nature. We want to continue this. After all, herbs and health are both great gifts from God that should allow us to live gratefully."

It is precisely this legacy that should enable today's challenges such as health care, living close to nature and contributing to a peaceful and paradisiacally untouched world. A concern probably also of Hans Dichand ...