#abbesses

“In reality, a great part of the better known abbesses descended from the noblest and more influential families. Often they were, therefore, invited from other monasteries or even enthroned as children as young as eleven or twelve year olds, although the outside candidates had, nevertheless, to accept the way of life and rule of their new convent.”

“Thus, until the twelfth century, most abbesses seem to have been nominated by royal or noble families, and nunneries, therefore, must have been influenced to elect the already nominated candidates. On the other hand, it has been argued that the nunnery itself would have been disposed to elect the woman with the best political connections and noblest family background to secure its own interests. Furthermore, difficulties could arise from medieval society’s notions of status and nobility; as when the abbess was less noble than other community members.”

“In accordance with the rule or the statutes of the particular order, the abbess could demand complete obedience from her nuns and ordain whatever was necessary for the maintenance of discipline in the community and the proper observance of the rule. Furthermore, she decided on the distribution of food and clothing and assigned the duties.”

“Therefore, she was only allowed to bless her nuns in the way a mother blessed her children, and, although she had to hear their daily confessions to impose discipline, she was deprived of the right to administer the sacrament of penance in the ninth century. Neither was the abbess allowed to preach publicly; she had to exhort her nuns in chapter to instruct them about the Christian faith and the interpretation of the Bible.”

Rue Lepic, Paris — 06.02.18

guillermo gomez