a revolt of the monastery's subjects was crushed by the Vogt of Sargans. On 11 November 1798, during the French Revolutionary Wars, the county of Sargans was released by the Confederation and Abbot Benedict Bochsler had to free his subjects in a similar manner. After the French invasion, the monastery was abolished and partially destroyed. In 1801, the abbot returned with some brothers and, in 1803, the monastery was formally restored, after the founding of the canton of St. Gallen. 19th century Financial struggles prompted the last abbot of the monastery Plazidus Pfister to request the secularization of the abbey, a request to which Pope Gregory XVI acceded in a letter dated 20 March 1838. On 20 November 1838, the Great Council of the canton of St Gallen declared that the monastery be secularised and removed its assets. The Catholic Church tried to claim the assets in vain, conceding them to St Gallen in November 1839. On 14 November 1845, in the buildings of the abbey was founded the cantonal asylum of St. Pirminsberg, today's St Pirminsberg Psychiatric Hospital. The precious artefacts from the abbey were auctioned and scattered in museums around the world. Konrad von Ritter from Wolfurt took possession of the famous Wolfurter cup (), created in the monastery in the 13th century. In 1853, the archives of the monastery were passed to Stiftsarchiv St Gallen, the archives of the Abbey of Saint Gall. From 1619 to 1845 the bones of the archpriest Nicolò Rusca were kept in the Pfäfers monastery; he is currently nominated for beatification. Today these relics are in the Collegiate Church of Sondrio in Valtellina. Sources This article is based on a translation of the article Kloster Pfäfers from the German Wikipedia. The following references are cited there: Historisch-Biographisches Lexikon der Schweiz: Volume V, Neuchâtel, 1929. 414 pages. Paul Diebolder: Aus dem Kulturleben der Benediktiner-Abtei Pfäfers im Mittelalter und deren Beziehungen zu Liechtenstein, 1931 Das Kloster Pfävers, edited by the St Gallen Historical Society, St. Gallen, 1883 Die Abtei Pfäfers — Geschichte und Kultur'', Stiftsarchiv St Gallen, 1983 and 1985. References External links Website of the St. Gallische Psychiatrie: Region Süd, with the Klinik St. Pirminsberg — gives a very detailed history of the abbey Official website of the municipality of Pfäfers — lists many articles and other publications on Pfäfers Abbey Benedictine monasteries in Switzerland Buildings and structures in the canton of St.