As part of the monastic vespers, the evening prayer of the monks at 5:30 pm, the former Federal Minister of Education and Ambassador to the Holy See Annette Schavan will preach. "We are looking forward to Annette Schavan, whom we can call a long-time friend of Maria Laach. In her many roles in the Federal Republic of Germany and at the Vatican in Rome, she has always been guided by her Catholic faith. We are delighted to be able to hear her thoughts on an important passage from the Gospel of John in our abbey church," says Father Prior Petrus Nowack OSB.

Following the Lenten sermon, the monastery restaurant will open and offer a Lenten meal, providing a space to meet the preachers and the monks. Reservations are welcome at klostergaststaette@maria-laach.de. The series of Lenten sermons is taking place for the first time this year in cooperation with the Catholic Adult Education Center in the Diocese of Trier.

Further information on the Lenten sermon series can be found at www.maria-laach.de.