Beten, Beobachten, Berichten

The hermit monk Father Joseph Dietrich kept a diary for over thirty years at the end of the 17th century. The 18 volumes vividly depict the living conditions of that time and provide insights into Dietrich's perception of nature and weather, which changed against the backdrop of the climatic cold phase of the Late Maunder Minimum (1675–1715) and the related subsistence crisis of the 1690s. The author addresses the historical and cultural contexts of the diary's creation as well as Dietrich's development in the monastery. In addition to questions about his motivation and his network of relationships, practical aspects of diary keeping are also discussed. Building on this, approximately 6,000 daily entries on nature and weather are analyzed.