Admont - The Reverend Father Bruno Hubl OSB, the 67th Abbot of Admont Abbey in Austria (1996–2017), has returned to the Father's House. The Benedictine monastery in Styria announced the passing of their confrere today, Friday, 27 February 2026.
Who was Abbot Hubl?
Born as Franz Hubl on 17 March 1947 in Upper Austria, he grew up in a deeply devout family. From a young age, he embarked on a formative journey closely tied to Admont: first attending the abbey’s college and then entering its preparatory programme. After completing his education at the Abbey’s grammar school, he began his novitiate in the Benedictine community. He received a strong liturgical formation as the master of ceremonies under Abbot Koloman Holzinger OSB, an experience that led him to serve for decades on various liturgical commissions within the Order. After completing his theological studies in Salzburg, he was granted a dispensation from Rome to make his solemn profession on 15 August 1969. He was ordained a priest on 27 June 1971 in the abbey church.
His pastoral ministry was primarily centred around the abbey’s territory: chaplain in Admont (1971–1983), parish administrator in Selzthal (1982–1995), and later parish priest of Admont (1995–1996). Alongside this, he was deeply involved in internal formation: from 1977 to 2007, he served as novice master, a role he carried out with passion and “spiritual depth,” introducing many monks to the Rule of St Benedict and the abbey’s history. In 1978, at the age of 32, he was appointed prior, a position he held for 18 years. On 1 August 1996, the chapter elected him abbot. From then on, he took on roles in ecclesiastical and economic bodies, including the presidency of the Austrian Benedictine Congregation (1999–2009) and a supervisory board position at GRAWE AG (1999–2019). His abbacy concluded in 2017 upon reaching the age of 70.
Abbot Hubl was renowned for his dedication to liturgy, his reputation as a preacher, and his approachable temperament, marked by humour and closeness to people. His leadership style was characterised by kindness and gentleness. In his later years, he suffered from rapidly advancing Alzheimer’s disease and other physical frailties, including a fractured femur and subsequent acute kidney failure. His abbatial motto was “Aus Liebe und im Vertrauen auf Gottes Hilfe” (“Out of love and in trust in God’s help”).
The Funeral Rites at Admont
From Thursday, 5 March 2026, the body will lie in state in the Chapel of St Joseph (Josefskapelle) within the abbey church (Stiftskirche). A vigil with the Vespers for the Dead (Totenvesper) is scheduled for Friday, 6 March, at 5:00 PM. The Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, 7 March, at 1:00 PM in the abbey church, followed by burial - according to the deceased’s wishes - in the crypt of the abbots at the Parish and Pilgrimage Church of Frauenberg an der Enns.
Admont Abbey
The Benedictine Abbey of Admont, officially the Abbey of St Blaise, is located in Styria, in the town of Admont, on the edge of the Gesäuse National Park. It was founded in 1074 by Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg, on lands associated with Saint Hemma of Gurk, with an initial community of 12 monks from the mother abbey of St Peter’s in Salzburg. It is considered the oldest surviving Benedictine monastery in Styria. Over the centuries, Admont has been a spiritual and cultural beacon: in 1120, it was joined by a women’s monastery (later dissolved during the Reformation), and in the 12th century, it housed a scriptorium that produced significant manuscripts. Among its notable figures is Abbot Engelbert of Admont (1297–1327), remembered as a scholar of exceptional breadth and the author of over 40 treatises. After enduring wars and crises, the Counter-Reformation ushered in a period of renewal. In the 17th century, the complex took on Baroque forms, and between 1765 and 1776, the library wing was constructed. Recent history is marked by two pivotal events. The first is the fire of 1865, which destroyed much of the monastery: the library was spared, but most of the archives and the grand organ of 1782 were lost. Reconstruction began in 1866 in Neo-Gothic style; the abbey church of St Blaise was also rebuilt, and its two towers (73 and 74 metres) still dominate the valley’s skyline. The second turning point came in the 20th century: the economic crisis of the 1930s brought the abbey close to bankruptcy. After the Anschluss, the monastery was suppressed, its assets confiscated, and the community expelled in early 1940. The Gestapo conducted interrogations, made arrests, and seized property, including the natural history collections.
Today, Admont is best known for its Stiftsbibliothek (completed in 1776), described as the largest monastic library hall in the world, housing approximately 70,000 volumes in the hall and a total collection of around 200,000 books, including medieval manuscripts and incunabula. Since 2003, the abbey has also hosted an extensive museum with art and natural history sections, attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually. The community comprises about 26 monks, led by Abbot Gerhard Hafner OSB, and oversees 26 parishes, as well as the abbey’s grammar school and other works. In this context, the death of Abbot Bruno Hubl OSB, who led this remarkable community for over two decades, is deeply felt. Admont entrusts him to the memory of the faithful, in the spirit of fidelity to the monastic rhythm - choir, Eucharist, and fraternal life - and asks for prayers to accompany him.
fr.F.C.
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