Herz-Jesu-Feste

When the Lord was carried through the town ...

In earlier times people often spoke about the ‘holy state of Tirol’.

These are traditions which are still celebrated today.

In barely no other stretch of land are there such deeply entrenched popular beliefs which are based upon old traditions. There is a crib in almost every home, ecclesiastical festivals are still celebrated, there are traditional ceremonies and crucifixes are a part of the furnishings.

Processions, which still take place in each town, are an expression of this very popular piety - to Corpus Christi (second Thursday after Whistun), on ‘Herz Jesu’ Sunday (third Sunday after Whitsun) and on the All Saints’ Day to which a local church is dedicated (Maria Himmelfahrt/ 15th August, Peter and Paul/29th June etc.). Such ‘interactions’, as the processions are commonly called, are religious spectacles, which – with respect, these are of course religious acts – are not to be missed. The day starts with gun salutes, all the bells peal, the traditional associations (‘Schützenkompanien’, marching bands) march. After a celebratory church service church-goers go through the area, in which four altars are allocated where Gospels are read.

Local priests, protected from the sun by a canopy, carry the Blessed Sacrament. Those taking part are formally dressed (often in their respective regional costume), and they help to carry the holy statues. ‘Salven der Schützen’, brass bands playing music, psalms by the choral societies, liturgical songs by the pastorate, the ringing of the church bells – all provide a very special sound, which rises heavenwards on such days.

Tirolpeople dedicate themselves to the ‘Herzen Jesu’
The ‘Herz-Jesu’ processions are directly interwoven with Tirol regional history. Even though it might sound odd, Napoleon is said to be the ‘father’ of the ‘Herz-Jesu’ processions. Of course this needs to be clarified: the processions were not introduced by the Corsican French emperor – but the Tirol nobility dedicated themselves on 1st June 1796 to ‘Herzen Jesu’ in the face of the imminent threat of war.

The pledge at that time can, in the broadest sense, be classified as the beginning of the struggle for freedom from foreign rule. At any rate, Tirol’s national hero Andreas Hofer renewed this pledge in May 1809 before the Battle of Bergisel. And this was promptly won. The fact that the third Battle of Bergisel became a fiasco, is another story …

As mentioned initially the ‚Herz-Jesu’ processions were held everywhere on the third Sunday after Whitsun. Everywhere? Well, no not. On the Weerberg the original date is kept to: ‚Herz-Jesu’ Friday, that is, the Friday before. And: The Weerberg ‚Herz-Jesu’ procession is a special reflection of this strong sense of tradition.

In addition to local associations, since 1972 colour guards from all companies of the Schwaz Schützenbataillon have participated. Even the Bavarian mountain troops, of which Pope Benedict XVI is an honorary member, have been coming to Weerberg for years with a state delegation. Moreover it has become established practice that the procession is attended by the highest church and world dignitaries.

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