European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 15, 1959, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The famed Gnaden Chapel seems dwarfed Between the Magdalene Church left and stiffs Church. Thank offerings of the devout line Chapel Arcade. Pilgrims carry wooden crosses. Religious processions Are an almost daily event in the town. Fountain was a 17th Century gift. Many of the shops Deal in religious articles. Is photos by Schuettler thousands of pilgrims from near and far come every year to Pray in  decorated Chapel. \ -11 o e 11 i n g com m u n 11 y of Praye r s t. For More than a thousand years pilgrims have been journeying to the Little i ovarian town in Hope of divine guidance and help they gome by train and plane by Auto and of cart or walk scores of Miles. They Are old and they Are Young. They Pray and in their eyes is the Light of Hope. Many come from foreign lands an there Are times when the town of Altonet Ting in South Eastern Bavaria is thronged with five times its Normal population of9,000. For Alt Oetting is a place of churches and shrines the most notable of which i Gnaden Chapel mercy Chapel part of which is 1,200 years old. It was in the Days of Charlemagne when wave of deep religious Fervour was sweep ing Europe that the Gnaden Chapel was built and a statue of the Virgin Mary was erected. With the passing of the centuries Many miracles were attributed to the holy Mother by the sick and afflicted until the statue began to assume the status of shrine and became known As the pro Tec Tress of  it was the elector Maximilian i 1598-1651writing his name in blood who gave it that  Chapel is on a Square in the Center of town sections shape an in 1516. The or there bin 1300. I which is Chapel h with jew Gold and candles tree Anc me holy Trinity. It Istir Pithis Section of the Chapel that the hearts.,of Many bavarian Kings and Queens Are contained in Small Gold an Silver caskets. While the pews in the Octagon area Are rustic affairs the few pews in the Lang Haus Are of solid Wood and brass worn by centuries of use t is Small and composed of two he oldest part octagonal in the rectangular Langhaus built sinal Mary statue is no longer there is a later one designed r More than 300 years the statue in the Octagon Section of the e been attired in a Robe decorated is and Silver. On the altar of Silver brilliantly illuminated by depicted Christ s genealogical circling an Arad testimony impressions ing cures frequent ithe exterior of the Chapel is with thousands of pictures ands on the Walls. These Are sex of gratitude from those claim r from others helped in troubles devout pilgrims of both sexes by Henry b. Kraft staff writer carry Large wooden crosses Over their shoulders through the Arcade some of them bearing the Burden for hours. Alt Oetting is a town of churches More perhaps than any place of equal size in Germany. Groups of pilgrims coming by train Are greeted by a delegation of priests and town representatives. Accompanied by the tolling of Bells and praying aloud they walk to one of the larger churches where they Are addressed by. One of the Capuchin fathers. Then led by a uniformed functionary holding a Large staff and with priests As escorts they visit one Church after an  pilgrims follow an ancient tradition and walk to the shrine from their Distant Homes even when the journey requires Many Days. During a religious Celebration in sep tember 1949, 35,000 persons including two cardinals and other High clergymen visited the shrine. In 1953 a state youth meeting of 50,000 youngsters was held there in june of 1956, 30,000 men made the Pil Grimage. Alt Oetting is a Community of prayer said a Pilgrim who had come from a for eign land. The thousands of persons who visit Alt Oetting every week Are there to Pray. Opposite Gnaden Chapel is the Magda Lene Church and directly in the rear Isth old Pfarr and Stifts Church originally built in 876, replaced around 1200, an renovate in 1499, the oldest item in this Church is a frit beneath the Organ loft with its ornaments indicating it is More than too years old towers the foyer an Western Balcony Date to the 13th Century. A plaque in the Wall behind the High altar indicates that King Karlmann who died in880, is buried in the Center of the edifice. In a Corner Between the Organ Balcony and the North Gate of this Church is Grandfather clock crowned by the Skeleton of death swinging his scythe every  the treasure chamber Are gifts left in Honor of the Virgin. One of these is the Golden horse made in Paris in 1329. It has been in Alt Oetting 440 years. The Church contains a vault in which Field marshal count Johann Tilly Leader of the army of the elector Maximilian i in the thirty years War is buried. Pilgrims also visit Joseph s Chap Ejust off Magdalena Church built in 1674. There is also St. Michaels Church first mentioned in Alt Oetting records of 1383 and the towns oldest cemetery next to it. There Are other places of interest for visitors to see in this old town which figure so prominently in the religious life of Germany such As Marien Fountain on the Square where the Gnaden Chapelis located. There is a Story that during the terrible thirty years War the statue of Mary was removed from the Chapel and that from april to november 1632 it was kept in Salzburg Cathedral. In gratitude the archbishop of Salzburg directed the architect of the Cathedral to build the Fountain in 1637 As a gift to Alt Oetting. Alt Oetting is easy to reach from Munich and Passau. It is on route 12, about 60miles from Munich and 55 Miles from Pas Sau on the same Road. 12 \ saturday August 15, 1959 the stars and stripes Pago 13