Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/169

Rh Abbess of Zürich. He was murdered in the year 861, and the murderers were discovered by ravens which the holy man had fed. After Meinrad's death, the fame of his sanctity spread far and wide, and the Benedictine Monastery was built on the spot where his cell had formerly stood. Legends and dreams announced the election and consecration of the new temple by the Lord himself. A Bull of Pope Pius VIII. confirmed these and gave plenary indulgence to all pilgrims to “Notre Dames des Eremites.” The believing, or superstitious throng streamed thither, and the monastery became the richest in Switzerland, after that of St. Gall. Rudolph of Hapsburg elevated its abbot to the rank of prince. A court was formed around him, and he became lord of great territory. At the present time the Monastery of Einsiedeln is the most considerable in Switzerland, and its abbot is generally chosen from some of the principal families of the country, and is called in the Catholic Cantons “the Prince of Einsiedeln.”

The number of pilgrims amount yearly to 150,000, and it is said that since 1848 it has been on the increase.

The monks and priests of the convent employ themselves in the education of the young. A hundred pupils are received into its seminary. It has its own printing establishment, a considerable library, physical and mineralogical collections, etc.

The festival which is now about to be celebrated—one of the greatest in the course of the year—commemorates the announcement of the angels at midnight to the Bishop of Constance, that the Saviour