When Professor Follastrini of the Florentine Academy of Arts discovered his artistic talents, he invited him to study at the Academy in Florence. According to testimony, during winter semester of 1862-1863 he attended first, the Scuola di Architectura , then the Scuola del Disegno (school for drawing).
On the 28 th of August, 1863, the Scuola di Disegno in Figura attested a buona disposizione e non commune intelligenza (“ a good disposition and above average intelligence”) and predicted that he may become a competent artist. In the autumn of 1864,the artist-disciple returned to Switzerland, from where soon after, he left for Munich did not appeal to him. So in autumn of 1865, he continued further studies in Paris. There he worked at a literary publication on the concept of beauty and occupied himself with philosophy in general and the wisdom and ethics of China and India in particular.
As Amrhein expressedly stated, two religious experiences comprised a turning point and gave his life new direction. Both experiences surprised him in Paris; one on Palm Sunday 1866, the other, which determined his vocation, on Pentecost Sunday of the following year. Definitely, Amrhein turned away from profane art, never to return to it.
In the summer of 1870, Josef Amrhein entered the monastery in Bueron. In his curriculum vitae he gives Pentecost as the date of his entrance, as at other times he uses high ecclesiastical feasts to mark important happenings in his life including his retreats. Only July 10 he was clothed as a candidate and on December 21 was admitted to the Novitiate as Brother Andreas. On Christmas 1871 he pronounced his first vows (simple perpetual vows). After a few months the Major Orders followed. He was ordained priest in St. Peter/Black Forest, on July 16, 1872, and 12 days later, he said his first Mass in the Abbey Church of Beuron. Solemn Profession took place on Candlemass Day 1875.
Amrhein was therefore a Beuronese Benedictine and priest.
Thus, Father Amrhein was a Beuronese Benedictine monk and priest. But he was not content with monastic life. While he loved so much “The Rule of St. Benedict” that governed the lives of Benedictine monks, he felt and was compelled to move on. For his spirit was to reach out to people in areas where God's Good News have not been received. For this he had to undergo too many difficulties and criticism.
On March 15, 1885, a ministerial decision , considered an approval, gave Amrhein's beginning neither rights nor protection. But it offered him possibility to start activity. The Mission Society and Mission Institute now accepted women for profession.
With missionary work, Father Andreas Amrhein, OSB achieved a great synthesis between the early Missionary Benedictines (of the 7 th and 8 th centuries) and the monk of Cluniac-Beuron type and paved the way for a pluralistic development of Benedictine Monasticism in Germany. He founded the Sister's Community St. Ottilien, where from the Mission House of St. Ottilien was founded later the Mission House of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing.
Father Andreas's inspiring work could be fully appreciated with admiration in a document written by Abbot Placidus at the conclusion of the Visitation at St. Ottilien.
God which the Founder of St. Ottilien, the work of the Benedictine Missionary Congregation began with so much love and insight, with such courage and holy enthusiasm, and which he founded and was continued by equal-minded spiritual sons, visibly enjoys the blessing of heaven… Besides, God, you owe special and deep gratitude to your former Superior General and Reverend Father, with rare talent and idealistic steadfastnerss up to the sacrifice of his health, he created everything which you see here with regard to buildings and interior equipment and grounds; in addition he led you by faultless, pure and correct teaching along the paths of the Lord .
Father Amrhein was laid to rest close to a big crucifix, the place of honor reserved to him, on the uppermost story of the monastic cemetery. A marble slab on the ground bears the inscription.
Father Andreas Amrhein, O.S.B. is an inspiration and in whose works we move on. We look back to his early years in life, as an artist. We humbly dedicate our art space in his memory, THE AMRHEIN GALLERY.
THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED
Biographical Source: “The Five-Branch CANDLESTICK”
by Dom Frumentius Renner, OSB
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2006 PICONG®
