Room 8

The Whole Person

Once again one-sidedness, in this case the emphasis on human reason, was to start processes which were intended to separate something integral. There are so many aspects to human beings that are all important. Faithful inwardness gave way to a well-organized devoutness, which, however, could not stand up to an increasingly atheistic and secularized world. These thoughts penetrated deeply into Austria’s monasteries, which, contrary to German developments, had not all been closed. The number of monasteries was reduced, but many continued to exist.

In Austria’s monasteries the 19^th century was characterized by a deeply liberal position; monks had become men of the monastery. New life was able to come into the monasteries only slowly and with great difficulty. It became clear that living faith fulfills the reason and heart of man, that institution must be supported by inwardness, that the whole human being is more important than individual aspects. This whole person in his ups and downs lives from faith, fulfills his duties, is culturally effective, and sees his economic and social relationships. He knows his limits, knows he has not achieved his goal, but perceives himself as on the way to this goal. He is open to his God.

In 11 steps, the nearly complete image of a human body appears gradually in this room. The 12^th step, which is man in his entirety, is the visitor himself.