Marian Eleganti was born as the second of four children to the contractor Eugen Eleganti and Irma Egli. Eleganti attended the Benedictine Einsiedeln seminary frpm 1967, where he completed his studies in 1974. Later that year, he joined the Benedictine Congregation at the monastery of Einsiedeln in 1975, taking the name "David". Later that year, Eleganti resigned from the monastery and took over, alongside Gebhard Paul Maria Sigl, the pastoral roles left vacant by the suspension of the member of the Austrian priest Joseph Seidnitzer. Eleganti continued his education, studying Catholic Theology at the Pontifical Lateran University. In 1978, he took over leadership duties for the Catholic community in Innsbruck, leaving it in 1990, entering the Abbey of the Missionary Benedictines in St. Otmarsberg in Uznach, where he assumed the religious name "Marian". In 1994 he finished his studies of Theology in Salzburg. On 16 November 1994, Eleganti was ordained a Deacon by Bishop Otmar Mäder, and received his ordination on 23 June 1995 by the Bishop of St. Gallen, Ivo Furer. In 2003, Eleganti completed a Doctorate of Theology at the University of Salzburg on Romano Guardini's concept of truth. In 2009, Eleganti supported the minaret ban in Switzerland.
Abbot
On 15 July 1999, the monks of St. Otmarsberg Abbey elected Eleganti as the monastery's second abbot, succeeding Ivo Auf der Maur, receiving his Benediction by Bishop Ivo Fürer on 29 August 1999. The Missionary Benedictines in Uznach belong to the Benedictine Congregation of St. Ottilien near Munich with branches in Europe, East, West and South Africa, South America, Cuba and the United States, India, Korea, China, Kazakhstan and the Philippines.
Auxiliary Bishop
On 7 December 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Eleganti the titular bishop of Lamdia and auxiliary bishop in Chur. Eleganti received his episcopal ordination on 31 January 2010 by the Bishop of Chur, Vitus Huonder, in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, including the co-Consecrators, the Apostolic Nuncio in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Archbishop Francesco Canalini, and the emeritus Bishop of Chur, Amédée Grab. On 1 February 2010, Eleganti became episcopal vicar in the regional general vicariate for the cantons of Zurich and Glarus, with responsibility for pastoral work, representation and administration. Succeeding Denis Theurillat, he represented German-speaking Switzerland at Ticino at the Swiss Bishops' Conference Youth bishop since 2011. He resigned from this position in early March 2018 due to disagreements with the other bishops of the Youth Synod Conference in the fall of 2018. From 23 February 2011 to 1 July 2014, Eleganti succeeded Ernst Fuchs Regens of the St. Lucy Seminary in Chur. Since 7 April 2011, Eleganti has been the Episcopal Vicar for Religious and Monastic communities and for the philosophical and theological training and for the training and development of the pastor.
Other
Eleganti is the Honorary Conventual Chaplain of the Order of Malta's Helvetic Association.
