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An Austrian monastery has installed a firemen's
pole to make sure monks get to their prayers on time.
The pole runs from their second floor sleeping
quarters to the ground floor, where religious sessions take
place.
The head of Pupping Monastery, in Northern Austria,
came up with the idea during renovations which left little room
for a staircase.
Father Superior, Fritz Wenigwieser, spent £30
on the pole at a local shop, and visited the fire brigade in
Linz, to get advice on how to install it.
He said: "We had to weld two pieces together
to make it long enough, but it has worked out really well. Plunging
seven metres in two seconds is a great way to start the day."
"Some people say something like this is
a bit too modern for the Church, and that it belongs to children
playing games - but that's what I like about it. Since we've
had the pole, nobody has been late for prayers."
The pole is fitted with a sponge-cushioned base
to make landings more comfortable for the more portly or older
brethren, reports The Sunday Telegraph.
It is popular with the monks, but the monastery's
nuns, however, have yet to be converted to the means of travel.
So far they have all refused to use it.
Sister Marie-Theres said: "I'll just have
to accept that it will take me more effort to use the stairs
at the other end of the corridor, considering there are none
at this end any more."
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