Easter candle as a sign of gratitude and solidarity
A special tradition was once again continued this year at St. Pölten University Hospital in cooperation with Karl Landsteiner University: The ceremonial handover of the Easter candle to the hospital chaplaincy of St. Pölten University Hospital.
The artistically designed Easter candle was painstakingly handcrafted by Dr Gerlinde Maria Gruber, research assistant at the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Karl Landsteiner University (KL). She has been designing the candle for several years as a sign of gratitude - this year for the third time for the chapel of St. Pölten University Hospital.
Each candle is unique
Inspired by the ornaments of the hospital chapel, Dr Gruber develops a new design every year that blends harmoniously into the sacred space. Symbols such as the cross, alpha and omega, the year and the five stigmata of Christ are artfully crafted in the classic colours of red and gold. The detailed decorations are the result of several hours of precise manual work, with all the ornaments being moulded from wax and applied.
"For me, every Easter candle is something very personal. I try to capture the special atmosphere of the chapel and make it visible in wax. At the same time, it is a sign of gratitude and appreciation to the body donors who make such an important contribution to education and research," says Dr Gerlinde Maria Gruber.
The candle also has a special history with the KL body donation programme: the blanks come from a traditional candle manufacturer in the Waldviertel region (Gföhl), which came into contact with a body donor who had worked there for decades. Since then, the candle blanks have been deliberately sourced from this family business - a sign of lived appreciation and solidarity.
Cooperation between hospital chaplaincy and KL
The handover of the Easter candle is part of a growing collaboration between the hospital chaplaincy at St. Pölten University Hospital and Karl Landsteiner Private University. "Over the past few years, an initial cooperation has developed into a harmonious tradition," emphasises Prof. Dr Johannes Streicher, Head of the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology. For example, an ecumenical service at the grave of honour of body donors in November and a mass for the souls after Easter are fixed parts of the annual calendar. These events bring together donors, relatives, students and employees and create space for encounters, thanks and remembrance.
As part of this tradition, the Easter candle was presented to Canon Martin Hochedlinger, Head of Hospital Chaplaincy, and is lit at the Easter Vigil. For him, this collaboration is of particular importance: "The close ties with Karl Landsteiner University are very important to me and I look forward to the shared moments - from personal conversations to memorial services and masses for the souls - with great appreciation."
As part of this tradition, the Easter candle was presented to Canon Martin Hochedlinger, Head of Hospital Chaplaincy, and will be ceremonially lit at the Easter Vigil. For him, this collaboration is of particular importance: "The close ties with Karl Landsteiner University are very important to me, and I hold the shared moments - from personal conversations to memorial services and masses for the souls - in great esteem."
The annual handover of the Easter candle is therefore much more than a symbolic act: it stands for gratitude, remembrance and a lively community that extends far beyond everyday hospital life.
