KOLUMBA WEIGL, VIRGIN

KOLUMBA WEIGL, VIRGIN - 31 AUGUST

KOLUMBA WEIGL, VIRGIN

Kolumba Weigl, a Dominican nun of Altenhohenau (Hohenavia vetus) in the municipality of Griesstätt near Wasserburg am Inn, in the archdiocese of Munich-Freising, who died in the reputation of holiness, is listed in the "Bavaria sancta"* (II. 505-532)

Born in Munich on March 8, 1713, she was baptised in Saint Peter's Church and received the names Elisabetha Francisca. Her father Franz de Paula Weigl was a citizen and brandy maker in the city; her mother's name was Ursula. When the girl, scarcely a few weeks old, lay in the cradle, an enemy hussar burst into the room and swung his sabre towards the child in great fury. The mother saved her baby daughter by throwing herself between the soldier and the cradle, but the shock and trauma of this incident led to her becoming ill and dying a few days later.

When the little girl was seven years old, her father entrusted her to a very pious and godly virgin of the Englische Fräulein who were still living in Munich at the time, for the child to be prepared for confession and communion, which Elisabetha then received with ardent devotion.

When she was fourteen her good father died, and if she had previously had a great inclination towards monastic life, her desire for it increased following her bereavement. Her relatives tried to dissuade her, but nonetheless on April 16, 1730, at the age of 17, entered the monastery of Altenhohenau, where she received the name of Kolumba (Maria Columba). Already in her youth she had had several apparitions; in the monastery her spiritual eyes were opened even more. She often fell into ecstatic states, and on September 14, 1730, she received the stigmata of the Lord on her hands, feet and side. From that time on she had to endure agony and pain every Friday throughout her life.

At first only her spiritual director and the mistress of novices knew about these extraordinary circumstances; later, however, they became more widely known at the monastery, especially since she was once bedridden for five weeks. Due to the reasons being kept confidential, all sorts of bad things were said about her and she was declared to be a hypocrite, etc. The prioress also did not believe her, but often gave her harsh words and humiliating punishments. But she endured all these inner and outer sufferings and tribulations out of love for God, who always comforted her. She did so with inexpressible patience. Not a word of complaint passed her lips, but rather, she prayed for those who gave her such a hard time.

By 1746, the superiors and most of her fellow sisters believed her; but the other sufferings continued, until finally God, in His inscrutable decree, deemed her ready for the eternal reward. After living in the Order as the Lord's Bride for 52 years, she died happily in the Lord on August 31, 1784. Her relatives still keep relics of hers, but nothing is known of any public veneration of her person.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 3, Augsburg, 1869, pp. 633-34)

*A hagiography source used by the authors

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

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