Traditions

Wien (Vienna) - Home of the Holy Roman Empire

In the 16th century, under Habsburgs rule, Vienna was established as the seat of the of the Holy Roman Empire. This continued nearly continuously for over 200 years with the creation of the Austrian Empire in 1804. At this point Vienna became the capital of all the Empire's successor states, which continued until World War I. Vienna continues to this day to hold a central place in music, the arts and sciences. Professionally, one of my most significant collaborations has been with the Universität für Bodenkultur (BOKU) here in Vienna. It was here where I delivered my last scientific presentation in September, exactly one year ago.

St. Stephan's Dom from St. Stephansplatz

Nave of St. Stephan's Dom

As the seat of the Holy Roman Empire, Vienna is home to many great churches including the famous St. Stephan's Dom, named after the first Christian martyr (see Acts 7:54-60). Construction began in 1368. It is a beautiful cathedral, fully active and serving the community today. Distinctive is the single south tower, which stands 446 feet tall, and was historically legislated to be the tallest structure across the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.

Trudy at Café Sacher, Wien

With great culture also comes a tradition for culinary arts as well. Wiener schnitzel (a thin, breaded and pan-fried veal or pork cutlet) is world famous and can be found throughout Austria.

There are many other famous dishes and desserts and we'll dive into that more at another time, but while visiting Wien this last month we did walk past the restaurant that made Sachertorte famous. It's a delicious chocolate cake.

A fun way to learn more is to watch the 2022 romantic comedy, Sachertorte, where the lead character comes each day for a piece hoping his chance encounter with true love will repeat.

Of course, we found true love nearly 50 years ago, but it doesn't hurt to have it rekindled in such a wonderfully romantic place.

Auf Dem Milch Bauernhof - On the Dairy Farm

Back home in the Steiermark, there are many timeless traditions. One leading tradition is the small family dairy farm. One of the delightful members of our church branch lives on a small family dairy farm. Such farms dot the hills and mountain sides. You met Melanie and her family and friends in last month's post. This month you get to meet the cows.

Open Pastures at Hocheggerwirt, Steiermark

In this landscape you can see the rolling pastures just around the bend from Melanie's family dairy farm. Everywhere you look, the forests and pastures intertwine, balancing out the other, creating some of the most beautiful scenery you can imagine.

Here is Melanie's husband walking the cows up the hill from the lower pasture. On most occasions, they come at his call, but today they needed a little encouragement. When one or two cows get underway, the others follow. It's a routine the cows know all too well, first, coming around the barn and then on to the milking stable where each knows exactly their place at the feeding trough.

Milking takes place morning and evening. Each cow delivers a substantial quantity of milk. If I remember correctly, it's around 3 to 5 gallons a day.

As much as the barn may appear antiquated, a pair of milking machines allow multiple cows to be milked at the same time. The milk has a central refrigerated hold. Every other day the milk is picked up for further distribution.

Austrians are quite proud of their milk. It's most common to find whole milk in the stores, and it comes in several varieties, including both 3.6 and 3.8 percent milk fat and Heumilch, milk that comes from cows that graze in the grass fields in the summer and are fed hey in the winter, instead of processed feed.

It doesn't stop with milk, but continues with the rest of the outstanding dairy products, such as cream, sour cream, Topfen or Quark (fresh curds), all the way to Bergkäse (mountain cheese).

The farm is also home to a roost of chickens. Today, Trudy got to help Melanie gather eggs. They're great-tasting. Something that I enjoy most every morning is soft boiled eggs, where the whites are firm and the yolks are not, ranging anywhere from soft to fluid, making a great 'sauce' for the whites.

In another month or two when the snow starts to build up it will be difficult to come out to see Melanie. People, here, know what it means to help each other. They have too. The gospel of being your brother's keeper is in full in force.

When the cows come home

Twice a day

Counting your eggs

On the way home, we traversed our way through the mountains and along streams and past small lakes. This home, nestled against the trees on the shore, casts a lovely reflection, which caused me to stop and enjoy the moment.

Reflection of a Home, near Lachtal, Steiermark

A Tradition of Looking Up - Being Lifted Up

Much closer to our home in Leoben is the town of Trofaiach where Trudy and I have been working to connect with a few members that have lost a connection to the branch. As we've traveled out to Trofaiach there is a beautiful church high up on the hillside. For those that live in a metropolis like Wien, it's possible to worship in a beautiful Dom where their gaze is pulled upward to vaulted arches and stain glass windows. It occurred to me, that for those here in a more rural setting, this lovely church placed up on the hill is a reminder that we should look up and think about what's most important in life.

Just as looking heavenward can change our perspective, Music too, can lifts one's spirit. Two weeks ago on a Sunday evening, Trudy and I attended a wonderful musical event, an Organ - Clarinet duet performance in Leoben's St. Xavier Church. While Trudy can certainly give a more compelling musical description, may I offer what I experienced. A duet is a beautiful thing. It brought multiple voices from the organ together with the beautiful voice of the clarinet, uniting lovely rich melodies and movements. The two blended and supported each other. It was inspiring. It occured to me - if we can team our lives together, either with our fellow man, or with God, we too are lifted up.

Wallfahrtskirche Maria Freienstein, above Sankt Peter-Freienstein

Clarinet and Organ Concert, St. Xavier Church, Leoben, Steiermark

Church President, Russell M. Nelson, Celebrates 100th Birthday - A Tradition of Helping the One

On Monday, September 9th, Russell M. Nelson, President and Modern Day Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, reached his 100th birthday.

Each Monday, we meet with the young missionaries from the cities of Graz and Wiener Neustadt. We decided it was a great opportunity to celebrate the auspicious moment from a far. Trudy made a delicious chocolate Bundt cake and we sang "Happy Birthday".

President Nelson's request to all as a 'birthday gift' was to do as the Good Shepherd invites - to seek out and help the ONE. To be honest, it wasn't our efforts that made good on President Nelson's invitation. The Lord brought the ONE to us.

Celebrating Pres. Russell M. Nelson's 100th Birthday

Earlier that week we received a message that a family from Slovakia had returned to Leoben. The family, Jozef, Jana together with their two young sons had joined the church a year ago, but soon thereafter had return to their home country. We were delighted to meet them and glad to help. It's never easy to be away from home. With Jozef's ability to speak some German, and with the help of Google Translate and Jana's quick typing on her cell phone we were able to communicate.

Staying with family and earlier friends and co-workers, they had a roof over their heads. We were able to help them with food and necessities which the church provided. Their stay was not long-lived, but because of getting to know them, after their return to a remote town in Slovakia, we were able to put them in contact with the church where they live. We're so very happy the Lord sent us Jozef and Jana.

Jana, Jozef and Sons

A Closing Shot, A Closing Thought

Returning to the Steiermark from Salzburg Mission Conference

It's difficult to imagine a place more beautiful and full of wonderful tradition. Each of us has traditions. They give us a basis on which we build our lives and understand the world around us. Beyond the beautiful historic and cultural traditions we are enjoying is a reality that extends far beyond. These are the gifts and 'traditions' we inherit by being children of God. His 'tradition' is to love Him, His Son, and to love one another, and finally, to return to Him. The way back to Him is open, having offered up His Son in our behalf. This is a 'tradition' that will last forever.

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