Virgilia Lütz (born Caroline Antonie Lütz, March 27, 1869 – June 8, 1949) was a German Benedictine. She was the reigning abbess of Nonnberg in Salzburg from 1921 until her death in 1949. ^[1]

Biography

Lütz was born in the town of Sigmaringen, located in the state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany ^[2] and decided at a young age to enter a convent. She began her novitiate in Nonnberg abbey on October 15, 1890 and made her first vows on January 17, 1892. During her first years in the monastery, she was employed as a music and language teacher in the abbey's boarding school and later became a cantor, vestment embroiderer and novice mistress. When the former abbess of Nonnberg died in 1921, Lütz was elected abbess. She was dedicated on September 25, 1921. ^[3]

One of her first decisions was to give up the priory of St. Hemma in Gurk, which had been founded by her predecessor Anna Scherer. The community there moved to Kellenried Abbey near Ravensburg, which was built in 1924. Lütz led Nonnberg abbey during World War II, beginning with Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria in 1938. ^[4]

Since January 1949, Lütz's health deteriorated; she died on June 8, 1949. Erentrudis Steidl was elected as her successor on July 15, 1949. ^[5]

Portrayal in media

Virgila Lütz inspired the character of the "Mother abbess" in the films and musicals on the life of Maria Trapp. She was portrayed by German actress Agnes Windeck, in the original 1956 feature-film. In the 1959 Broadway musical The Sound of Music, Lütz was portrayed by Patricia Neway, who won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance. The song Climb Ev'ry Mountain, written by Rodgers and Hammerstein, is sung by the Mother Abbess to Maria, encouraging her to be strong and follow her heart. ^[6] In the 1965 film The Sound of Music, the abbess was portrayed by Peggy Wood.

References

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