Austria
Many famous personalities found their final resting place at the cemetery of Saint Stephen's Cathedral. Among these was the physician Dr. Urssenbeck, rector of the University of Vienna. Throughout all of Vienna he was known as the doctor of miracles and death, for he was the greatest diagnostician of his time.
How he achieved this ability is related in the story of Godfather Death:
Godfather Death
A poor weaver sought a patron for his twelfth child to carry it to its baptism. None of the relatives or acquaintances whom he asked would agree to serve as godfather for the little one. Disappointed and frustrated the poor man made his back to his family. While walking sorrowfully through the dense forest toward his humble cottage, he said: "If I only could die."
In the next instant the weaver felt an ice-cold hand on his shoulder. "You called me. I am Death. What can I do for you?" asked a tall, thin-boned figure.
As much as the man had previously wanted to die, he now wanted to live. "I am seeking a godfather for my youngest child. But I cannot find anyone who will carry him to his baptism," answered the weaver sadly.
"I will accept this responsibility," said Death. And thus it happened.
Following the baptism the godfather, dressed in black, took the father aside and said: "Since I possess neither gold nor silver to give to your child as a baptism present, I will make you into the most famous doctor of all times. Whenever you are called to a sick person, I -- invisible to others -- will seat myself either to the head or to the feet of the patient. If I am seated at the head, then this will show you that hope for recovery exists. If I am seated at the feet, then the patient will die.
Through this gift the weaver was able to cure many illnesses, for he knew whether the patient who had sought his treatment would be helped by medications, or whether he would die. Soon the previously poor weaver became a wealthy and respected physician.
In the year 1487 the Imperial Chamberlain Wilhelm Prince Auersperg fell seriously ill. The miracle doctor was called in, and he saw that Death was already seated at the patient's feet. Upon hearing the diagnosis, the next of kin could not be comforted, and they offered the physician a fortune if he could heal the prince. Then Urssenbeck resorted to trickery. He quickly had the patient's bed turned around, so that Death was now seated at his head. Thus the prince was rescued from Death, and he regained his health.
On the physician's way home Death suddenly appeared before him. "You unfortunate one, why have you deceived me? In return for the life that you have given back to the rich man, you yourself must now die" spoke the reaper with a threatening voice, and disappeared.
The next day they found the physician's body. Mourned by citizens from the entire city he was buried in the cemetery of Saint Stephen's Cathedral.
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