Silja Walter
Encyclopedia
Silja Walter was a Swiss author and Benedictine
nun in the Fahr Abbey
in Switzerland. Born as Cécile Walter in Rickenbach, Solothurn
, in Switzerland
, at the age of 30 she became a nun: her religious name was Maria Hedwig (OSB
). Her brother, Otto F. Walter, was also a popular Swiss author.
. Due to a life-threatening lung disease she had to break. In 1944, her first poetry collection "Poems" was published, as relatively popular author, in 1948 she joined the Benedictine convent of Fahr Abbey
.
s and theological texts reflecting her life as nun. Silja Walter has received many awards, among them literary and cultural prices of the city of Zürich
, of the Swiss Schiller Foundation in 1956 and 1992 and the art prize of the canton of Solothurn. Her book «Eine Insel finden» ("To find an island", 1984) was a best selling work, based on a radio show that confronted Silja Walter with her brother Otto F. Walter. The Walter siblings had a completely different literary activity: Her brother was a dedicated social critics, Silja Walter wrote lyrics "far away from the world" in a monastery. «Der Wolkenbaum» ("The tree in the clouds", 1992) was even more successful, reflecting Silja Walter's family history. In 2009, her biography was published, «Das dreifarbene Meer» ("The three-colored sea"), written probably on her computer: at the age of 80 she started to use computers, in 2010, she was allowed by the Prioress of the Fahr Abbey to use an Internet access.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
nun in the Fahr Abbey
Fahr Abbey
Fahr Abbey, is a Benedictine nunnery located in Würenlos in the Canton of Aargau, Switzerland. Situated in different cantons, Einsiedeln Abbey and the convent in Fahr are a double monastery, controlled by the abbot of Einsiedeln.- Geographical and administratively special situation :In fact, the...
in Switzerland. Born as Cécile Walter in Rickenbach, Solothurn
Rickenbach, Solothurn
Rickenbach is a municipality in the district of Olten in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland.-Geography:Rickenbach has an area, , of . Of this area, or 31.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 52.9% is forested...
, in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, at the age of 30 she became a nun: her religious name was Maria Hedwig (OSB
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
). Her brother, Otto F. Walter, was also a popular Swiss author.
Biography
Cécile «Silja» Walter's father Otto was a publisher, writer and member of the Swiss National Council, her mother wrote lyrics for domestic use. Silja was the second oldest of eight daughters, her only brother was the writer Otto F. Walter (1928–1994). Silja Walter studied five years at a teachers' training college and began her studies of literature at the University of FribourgUniversity of Fribourg
The University of Fribourg is a university in the city of Fribourg, Switzerland.The roots of the University can be traced back to 1582, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg. In 1763, an Academy of law was founded by the state of Frobourg...
. Due to a life-threatening lung disease she had to break. In 1944, her first poetry collection "Poems" was published, as relatively popular author, in 1948 she joined the Benedictine convent of Fahr Abbey
Fahr Abbey
Fahr Abbey, is a Benedictine nunnery located in Würenlos in the Canton of Aargau, Switzerland. Situated in different cantons, Einsiedeln Abbey and the convent in Fahr are a double monastery, controlled by the abbot of Einsiedeln.- Geographical and administratively special situation :In fact, the...
.
Work and reputation
Silja Walter's work of about 60 publications includes poetry and prose, as well as festivals, oratorioOratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
s and theological texts reflecting her life as nun. Silja Walter has received many awards, among them literary and cultural prices of the city of Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, of the Swiss Schiller Foundation in 1956 and 1992 and the art prize of the canton of Solothurn. Her book «Eine Insel finden» ("To find an island", 1984) was a best selling work, based on a radio show that confronted Silja Walter with her brother Otto F. Walter. The Walter siblings had a completely different literary activity: Her brother was a dedicated social critics, Silja Walter wrote lyrics "far away from the world" in a monastery. «Der Wolkenbaum» ("The tree in the clouds", 1992) was even more successful, reflecting Silja Walter's family history. In 2009, her biography was published, «Das dreifarbene Meer» ("The three-colored sea"), written probably on her computer: at the age of 80 she started to use computers, in 2010, she was allowed by the Prioress of the Fahr Abbey to use an Internet access.
Literature
- Ulrike Wolitz: Der neue Mensch. Theologische Grundlinien im Werk Silja Walters. Universitätsverlag (Praktische Theologie im Dialog 17), Fribourg 1998, ISBN 3-7278-1182-X
- Simon Peng-Keller (publisher): Aufbruchsfreude und Geistesgegenwart. Gestalten einer erneuerten christlichen Spiritualität. Theologischer Verlag (Edition NZN bei TVZ), Zürich 2007, ISBN 978-3-290-20039-8
- Eve Pormeister: Grenzgängerinnen. Gertrud Leutenegger und die schreibende Nonne Silja Walter aus der Schweiz. SAXA Verlag, Berlin 2010, ISBN 978-3-939060-26-0