Also known as Kapelle der Hl. Familie auf dem Bürgermoos
Chapel of the Holy Family
Location, Object
Municipality of Beromünster, district of Sursee, Canton of Lucerne. Freestanding chapel on a high plateau southeast of the village centre, built in 1652–1654 (choir), 1660–1661 (nave), 1758–1759 (sacristy), and 1851 (portico). Main altar of the Holy Family and side altars of St Francis Xavier and St Anthony of Padua, all dating from between 1661 and 1684. Interior decoration from 1758–1759, including stucco work by Konrad Rüscher and paintings on the ceiling and gallery parapet attributed to Josef Ignaz Weiss. Restored in 1884 and 1994.
Emblems (4)
Context
Nave, four corner stucco cartouches arranged symmetrically at the corners of the ceiling, each enclosing an bird emblem.
Authorship, Date
Josef Ignaz Weiss (1722–1792), attributed, 1758/59.
Significance
Religious devotion, piety and sacrifice as exemplified by the saints and martyrs of the Christian church.
Source
Unidentified. All motifs occur with similar or identical (no. 4) mottoes in Picinelli/Erath 1681 and later editions.
Literature
KdS LU 4: 165–168; KF 1: 323; Graf 1974: 162.
exterior from north-east.
exterior from south-west.
interior, view from entrance (west) to choir.
interior, view from choir (east) to gallery and entrance.
ceiling with emblems nos. 1 and 2 bfore choir.
ceiling with emblems nos. 3 and 4 above gallery.
An eagle flying towards the sun.
AD ASTRA TELLURE RELICTA.
A pelican feeding its young with its own blood (‘the pelican in her piety’).
VITAM EXHAUSIT AMOR.
A swimming swan.
VICINA MORTE CANORUS.
A phoenix in its burning nest,
CUPIO DISSOLVI [cf. Phil 1.23–24].
Copyright note: Added 2026. All photos taken by the author, September 2026.