The Holy Souls Altar and Charnel House of St. Leonhard's Parish in Metnitz, Austria

As we continue on during this month of the Holy Souls, we turn our attention to the parish church of St. Leonhard (St. Leonard) in the town of Metnitz in Austria.  

Now the church is generally of interest, being established in the early twelfth century and combining Romanesque, gothic and baroque elements, all of which are still in evidence in one way or another today, but most especially the confluence of the gothic and baroque elements. 

Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Raul de Chissota, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The church also has an associated charnel house -- in other words, a place where the exhumed bones of previous deceased are visible, extracted from old tombs to make room for those more newly deceased to be buried. Associated with that charnel house is a mural of the "Dance of Death" that is wrapped around the outside of the structure.  Due to constant exposure to the elements, the original fresco was removed into a museum associated with the parish order to preserve it from further degradation and a replica of the original fresco was put in place. 

For those not familiar, the "Dance of Death" was a popular medieval theme that emphasized both the reality of death and the fact that death was the great equalizer, coming for all, regardless of one's social status, wealth or class. 

The charnel house with its Dance of Death fresco wrapped around it
Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 4.0, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the removed, original sections of the Dance of Death fresco now in the parish museum.
Rollroboter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The interior contains many treasures from both the gothic and baroque periods -- particularly of interest are the recovered gothic era frescoes, some of which have an almost 'other modern' quality to them.

Samson and the Lion. Located on the south wall of the chancel.
Wolfgang Sauber, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

But amidst all of these and the many other artistic treasures that can be found in the parish church of St. Leonard, for our present month and moment what primarily draws our interest here today is one of the side altars of the parish, the altar of the Holy Souls. 

Wolfgang Sauber, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Holy Souls altar was constructed sometime around the 1770's by Johann Pacher, an Austrian born woodcarver. The altarpiece is characterized by its depiction of the Holy Souls of Purgatory, represented by three naked figures engulfed in flames, above which we find an allegorical image of "Faith" set between two angels. To either side we see the "tree" of the Cross upon which Christ is crucified and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil with the apple-wielding serpent from the Garden of Eden -- thus representing salvation and atonement on the one hand, and sin and death on the other.  Above are God the Father and the Holy Spirit.  

The depiction is visually complex on the one hand, but the core symbolism is quite simple on the other. Through Christ's atoning and redeeming sacrifice, we can be delivered from the pains of sin and death and brought to atonement and salvation. 

Raul de Chissota, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Some further details of the altarpiece for your consideration.

The Holy Souls engulfed in the purifying flames of Purgatory
Raul de Chissota, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Detail of the serpent wrapped around the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, the fateful apple clenched within its jaws.
Raul de Chissota, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The allegorical figure of Faith, holding a chalice containing the redeeming Blood of Christ
 Raul de Chissota, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

An angel upholding a child. Presumably this represents the soul of the pure and innocent child being welcomed into the presence of the Holy Trinity.
Raul de Chissota, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The figure of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit
Raul de Chissota, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Christ Crucified on the new Tree of Life
Raul de Chissota, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Altars such as these are not only a good reminder of Church's teaching on the Four Last things, but also a powerful reminder to not neglect the Holy Souls of Purgatory in one's daily prayers and Mass offerings. 

-------

Do you like Liturgical Arts Journal's original content? You can help support LAJ in its mission and vision to promote beauty in Catholic worship either by: 

Making a one-time donation or

Subscribing monthly/yearly 

You choose the amount! Your support makes all the difference.