Blessed Hanz Wagner

Biography

Blessed Hanz Wagner, also known as Hans and John, was born around 1456 in Riedlinger, Germany. He began his spiritual journey as a young man when he joined the Carthusians at the Ittingen convent near Frauenfeld, Thurgau, Switzerland in 1475. Hanz made his vows as a lay brother in 1476, eager to live a life of contemplation and devotion.

However, upon arriving at the Ittingen convent, Hanz discovered that the house had been abandoned for several years and required extensive rebuilding. The lay brothers, including Hanz, had to dedicate themselves to this labor, which significantly limited their time for contemplative pursuits. Realizing that this was not the life he had envisioned, Hanz petitioned Pope Innocent VIII for permission to live as a hermit while still following the Carthusian Rule.

His request was granted on 16 May 1489, and Hanz, now dressed in a simple gray sack, embarked on a new phase of his spiritual journey. He sought solitude and withdrew to a cave on Mount Pilate near Lucerne, Switzerland, where he would spend the next 20 years as a hermit.

Hanz's personal piety and commitment to a life of prayer and meditation earned him great admiration from the local people. Impressed by his devotion, the community built a humble hut for him and a chapel, which was consecrated by the diocese of Constance in 1504. The hermitage became a popular destination for pilgrims, attracting a constant flow of visitors seeking spiritual guidance and solace.

In recognition of the significant number of pilgrims drawn to the hermitage, two altars were added to the chapel to accommodate Mass celebrations. Moreover, Pope Julius II, in 1512, granted special indulgences to those who made the pilgrimage to Hanz's hermitage, acknowledging the spiritual significance and blessings associated with the site.

Over the centuries, additional churches were constructed in the area, marking the continued popularity of the pilgrimages to Hanz Wagner's hermitage. It became a place of fervent devotion and prayer, inspiring countless individuals to seek a deeper connection with God.

On 19 May 1516, Blessed Hanz Wagner passed away at his hermitage on Mount Pilate due to natural causes. He was interred in a sepulcher located on the right side of the chapel near his hermitage. When the chapel was rebuilt in 1621, his remains were re-interred, and in 1651, when a new church was built on the site, Hanz's final resting place was again relocated within the new structure.

Though not officially canonized or beatified, Hanz Wagner is venerated by the faithful for his exemplary life as a hermit and his unwavering devotion to God. His ability to inspire and uplift others through his spirituality and personal piety continues to be celebrated, making him a cherished figure in Catholic hagiography.