Masterpiece in the cathedral: Mariahilf attracts pilgrims in Innsbruck!

Masterpiece in the cathedral: Mariahilf attracts pilgrims in Innsbruck!

In the Innsbruck Cathedral of St. Jakob, the Mariahilf picture of Lucas Cranach is again up close to the older one. This is considered one of the most valuable images of Mary in the Renaissance and is not only very popular as a work of art, but also as a pilgrimage goal. Believers and art -interested people have been attracting for 375 years, and the holy year that celebrates the period of Pentecost until July 6th as a pilgrim month ensures a particularly rich program.

Propst Jakob Bürgler invites you to re -experience the cathedral as the goal of the pilgrimage. Under the motto "A masterpiece invites you to meet", a colorful supporting program is also offered, which also includes concerts, spiritual offers and extended opening hours. Guided tours and theater performances also enrich the experience. A caravan in front of the cathedral also provides personal encounters, conversations and the sacrament of reconciliation.

a masterpiece of the Renaissance

Lucas Cranach the Elder, born in 1472 in Kronach, painted the Mariahilf picture around 1537. In lively representation, it shows Maria with the child of Jesus and is one of his most important works. Details such as the reflection of the windows in the eyes of the Mary, which pulls the viewer directly into the picture (meinziR.at, are particularly impressive. Cranach, who is considered one of the most important painters of the Renaissance, was not only known for his paintings, but also for his printed graphics and portraits by Martin Luther.

his work is characterized by his own style in which he united nature and figure. He was the court painter of Elector Friedrich III. from Saxony and had a diverse workshop. His total work comprises around 1389 paintings, 466 prints and over 100 drawings (artinwords.de).

The veneration of the Blessed Mother

The veneration of the Blessed Mother also has miltary -historical roots. Pilgrimages and the call "Maria Hilf" served as a battle cry during the crusades and were held up until the time of Philipp II of Spain, who viewed Maria as a "Generalissima" in his colonial wars. During the Turkish Wars, Pope Pius V. even called "Obsiegerin" against the Turks (Sacerdos-Viennensis.

Since 1650, the grace of the parish church of St. Jakob has been faithfully connected, and Archduke Leopold V. It already selected it as a memorial in 1611. This deeply rooted story gives the picture additional meaning and makes it a place of reflection and spiritual renewal.

The Mariahilf picture is on the Anna side altar and is therefore not only a work of art of great historical importance, but also a center of faith that makes God's tenderness feel. Take the opportunity to experience this masterpiece and the accompanying offers for encounter and to go on the pilgrimage.