The Monastery

The monastery is located in the Aachen suburb Kornelimünster. It is dedicated to Saint Cornelius whose name the village and the monastery bear and to Saint Benedict of Aniane. In their daily life, the eight monks of the abbey focus on hospitality and intend their guest house to be a place of encounter in an environment of Benedictine spirituality.

The History

Today’s monastery of Kornelimünster was founded on 12 February 1906 by monks of Merkelbeek Abbey (Netherlands) and was elevated to an abbey in 1953. The present abbey is located about one kilometre away from the village centre and the buildings of the former Kornelimünster Imperial Abbey which was dissolved in 1802 in the time of German secularisation and whose buildings are now a museum of modern art. Today’s abbey is the honor successor of the former Imperial Abbey. The monks of the new monastery initially worked in parish ministry. From 1948 to 1988 they ran a boarding school. Since the closure of the school, the community’s work has focused on hospitality.

The Activities

• Guesthouse – The monks understand their monastery as a place of encounter in an environment of Benedictine spirituality. It is hoped that this setting helps people in their own search for God. The monks are available for accompaniment and spiritual direction.
• Programme of retreats – The monks offer a programme of various retreats and spiritual events in the wider context of Benedictine spirituality and contemplation.