Festive Rose Day in Kaufbeuren: A tribute to Saint Crescentia

Festive Rose Day in Kaufbeuren: A tribute to Saint Crescentia

On June 11, 2025, the Crescentia Monastery in Kaufbeuren was a place of reflection and celebration. On the occasion of Rose Day, which was organized by the Friends of Sophie La Roche together with the monastery, numerous people gathered to commemorate Saint Maria Crescentia Höss. The event took place at the tomb of the saint, known for her piety and wisdom and whose life was marked by deep faith.

Saint Crescentia, who was born Anna Höss in 1682, not only led an impressive life - she was beatified in 1900 and canonized in 2001. Her literary work includes, among other things, extensive correspondence with high-ranking personalities of her time. This connection to the literary world was also revived at the event, when poems and prayers of the saints were recited in the monastery church. The highlight was the premiere of the song of suffering “O sweet hand of God encourages my heart”, set to music by Richard Waldmüller, which made a deep impression on those present.

A tradition continues

A poet's rose day took place on the first weekend in June to commemorate the importance of local poets. This tradition was continued in Kaufbeuren, even if the central nationwide campaign was paused this year. The Sophie La Roche Circle of Friends placed great emphasis on preserving the memory of Saint Crescentia and her connection to the poet Sophie of La Roche. Clemens Brentano, grandson of Sophie, and Achim von Arnim included the Passion Song of Saint Crescentia in the song collection “Des Knaben Wunderhorn”, which underlined the important connection between literature and spirituality.

After a musical reading and the ceremonial laying of roses at the saint's sarcophagus, the sisters received a “Brentano rose” that was intended for the Klosterberg garden. Not only was Saint Crescentia commemorated, but also the shared cultural heritage that lives on through the connection to the La Roche family.

Insights into the lives of the saints

Maria Crescentia Höss lived in a time full of challenges. After she was born as the sixth of eight children, five of her siblings died in infancy. Nevertheless, she showed her extraordinary abilities and great faith early on. In 1703 she entered the Franciscan monastery in Kaufbeuren and received the religious name Maria Crescentia. Despite initial adversities, such as mistreatment and prejudice, she rose in the convent and was finally elected superior in 1741. Her tireless commitment and vision made her a valued advisor - even Prince Abbot Rupert II von Bodmann sought her advice.

To this day, her grave attracts pilgrims, which testifies to the enduring veneration that the saint enjoys among the population. Her canonization in 2001 by Pope John Paul II is the final act in a long and eventful beatification process that began in 1775. Although repeated interruptions caused by secularization and the chaos of war delayed the process, their memory remained alive.

Rose Day in the Crescentia Monastery was not only a homage to a saint, but also a living witness to the connection between faith, literature and community in Kaufbeuren. Although the central action of Poet Rose Day has been suspended, the celebrations show that the traditions and values ​​embodied by Sophia of La Roche and Maria Crescentia are strongly rooted in the city.