Farmer-Marterl

St. Lorenz am Mondsee, Oberösterreich, Österreich

Christian Bauer was born in Vienna on September 2, 1963, the first son of Peter and Maria Bauer (née Holzleithner). He had two younger siblings (Peter and Ulrike). After elementary school in Vienna, he attended Don Bosco Gymnasium in Unterwaltersdorf, Lower Austria, where he graduated in 1982.

Christian was a deeply religious person and called to the priesthood. He entered the Order of the Salesians of Don Bosco and began his studies in Benediktbeuern (Germany).
Family, tradition and community had a high priority in his life. He was especially connected with St. Lorenz, his mother's hometown. Whenever he could, he spent his free time there. He did not shy away from work. He was happy to help in the stable with the cows or on the field while haymaking. Christian wanted to try everything out, learn everything and constantly master new challenges. So he crossed the moon lake alone - without any security - swimming and shocked everyone when he told the family about it at dinner.
He had defeated the dragon wall several times in the usual ways. He absolutely wanted to climb her over one of the "bands". He could not find a companion for this project. Everyone immediately advised against it. Christian wanted to know if he could do it, so he left alone on July 27, 1983. When he did not arrive in the stable as usual in the evening, the relatives worried and started the search.
Christian had not made that risk. On the way back he slipped and died accidentally. With help from the helicopter, the mountain rescue team managed to find Christian and rescue him from the steep terrain.
Through intervention and personal audition by the Salesian Don Bosco representation, it was made possible that Christian was buried as a cleric of the Order in the priest crypt of the Mondseer Cemetery. The tombs were dissolved some time ago, a plaque at the entrance reminds him.
A Marterl - made by his uncle Lenz - was built by the family at the place where Christian was found. The terrain is very impassable in this area. If you do not know the job, it will be hard to find. However, Lenz was able to say that for thirty-four years this Marterl survived the rigors of the weather quite well.