Does this imposing facade remind you of anything? The Herz-Jesu-Kapelle stands before us. It is a testament to faith and architectural evolution.
Let me tell you the story of this special church. The Jesuitenkirche, officially named Pfarrkirche Heiliger Geist and St. Ignatius, is a significant church in Heidelberg. It stands near the Universitätsplatz. The Herz-Jesu-Kapelle is the main church for the Roman Catholic Heilig-Geist-Gemeinde. Its construction spanned from 1712 to 1759. It showcases a beautiful Baroque style. Later, from 1868 to 1872, a neo-Baroque tower was added.
Interestingly, the Herz-Jesu-Kapelle faces south, not east like most churches. This makes it a remarkable and unusual building. The Jesuits first arrived in Heidelberg in 1622 during the Thirty Years’ War. Their presence was brief. They returned in 1698. Elector Johann Wilhelm called them back. He wanted them to help re-Catholicize the Palatinate. Initially, only two priests and one brother came. But the order grew to nearly 100 Jesuits. They taught at the university. They also served in schools and pastoral care. At one point, the order held seven professorships at the university.
The foundation for the college building was laid in 1703. The Elector gave the Jesuits land southwest of the Heidelberg’s old town. This area stretched from Heugasse to Kettengasse. It extended from the city wall to Merianstraße. This land was once home to grand buildings. These included the Wormser Bishop’s and Venningen family’s residences.
From 1703, the Jesuits built their complex. It resembled a monastery with a large inner courtyard. Construction was only partially complete by 1712. That was when they began building the western Herz-Jesu-Kapelle. The south wing was finished in 1732 but later torn down in the 19th century. The Jesuit College dissolved in 1773. After that, the building served various purposes. It was a home for the Lazarists until 1793. It was a barracks. It was sold and used privately. Later, it housed a higher school. Then it housed a gymnasium. Today, it houses the University’s English Department. It also houses the Heilig-Geist-Gemeinde parish office. Part of the building is private residences.
A church was planned for the Jesuit College from the start. Plans from 1703 show this. Preparations began in 1711. The design was sent to Rome for approval. The Herz-Jesu-Kapelle cornerstone was laid on April 19, 1712. That was Elector Johann Wilhelm’s birthday. Approval from Rome arrived on June 18, 1712.
Johann Adam Breunig led the construction. He first built the choir and then the nave. The Jesuit Church St. Martin in Bamberg was the model. Construction stopped in 1717 after Elector Johann Wilhelm died. His successor, Carl Philipp, preferred building the Jesuit Church in Mannheim. He did not support the Heidelberg Jesuits enough. The completed parts were walled off and used as a chapel. Work resumed in 1749. Court architect Franz Wilhelm Rabaliatti completed the church by 1759.
After the Jesuit order dissolved, the church served the Lazarists. It was then used for secular purposes like storage. From 1793 to 1797, it served as a military hospital. It remained a hospital until 1808. On November 1, 1809, the Catholic Heilig-Geist-Gemeinde received the Herz-Jesu-Kapelle from Grand Duke Karl Friedrich. The Heiliggeistkirche’s choir had become too small. The Grand Duke rejected the University’s request to use the Herz-Jesu-Kapelle as a library. The Catholic community brought the baroque furnishings. That was everything except the pulpit. The pulpit had been adapted to the Heiliggeistkirche’s columns. It could not be used in the Jesuitenkirche.
From 1868 to 1872, the church tower was built. The interior was redesigned from 1872 to 1874. The sandstone columns were exposed. The ceiling was painted dark. The Baroque furnishings were removed. Only the wooden tabernacle door remains from the Baroque altar. It shows the Pentecost miracle. The church was renovated in 1953 and 1954. The interior was painted light. The last renovation was from 2001 to 2004. The altar area was redesigned. The church received new seating and windows.
The Herz-Jesu-Kapelle is a testament to Heidelberg’s complex religious history. It is a place where Baroque splendor meets modern renewal. Take a moment to appreciate the faith, art, and history. It is embedded in these walls.