Bloch, Joseph (1754-1799)
The St. Gall Conventual P. Joseph Bloch (1754−1799) compiled this history of the lay brothers of the Monastery of St. Gall from numerous sources in 1793. The text is written partly in Latin and partly in German. In the first part (fol. 6r−21r), Bloch introduces the institution of the lay brothers. He describes the residences of the lay brothers or conversi over the centuries, he discusses their tasks and duties and their conduct with respect to worldly goods, and he describes their seal. In the second part he recounts, in chronological order, important episodes and stories about the lay brothers from the 15th century to the year 1793 (fol. 22r−79v). A third part lists the names of all the lay brothers who were part of the community from the abbacy of Eglolf Blarer (1426−1442) until 1793 (fol. 89r−101r). Between parts 2 and 3 the author inserted, like a transcript and written by another hand, serious exhortations by Prince-Abbot Beda Angehrn (1767−1796) to the lay brothers from the year 1775 (fol. 80r−83v). Because of several problems, the St. Gall abbot had called all the lay brothers to him. The manuscript's frontispiece (fol. 4v) shows a lay brother in 16th century garb.
Online Since: 06/25/2015
- Bloch, Joseph (Author) Found in: Standard description