Bonne-Espérance Abbey
Encyclopedia
Bonne-Espérance Abbey was a Premonstratensian
abbey that existed from 1130 to the end of the 18th century, located in Vellereille-les-Brayeux in the Walloon municipality of Estinnes
, province of Hainaut, Diocese of Tournai
, in present-day Belgium
.
, but Norbert of Xanten
brought him back to Roman Catholicism. In gratitude his parents, Rainard and Beatrix, gave land to Norbert for the foundation of an abbey at Ramignies, while William followed Norbert to Prémontré
. Ramignies having been found unsuitable, Odo, the first abbot, led his young colony to another locality in the neighbourhood.
"Bonne-Espérance" is French
for "good hope". A legend says that when Odo saw the place that became the site of the new abbey, he exclaimed: "Bonæ spei fecisti filios tuos" ("O God, Thou hast made Thy children to be of good hope"). Another explanation of the name is it refers to the veneration here of the statue of Our Lady of Good Hope.
The abbey grew and Odo was succeeded by Philip of Harvengt, a significant theological writer. Oda, whose defence of her virginity has been described by Abbot Philip, was a Premonstratensian nun in a subirdinate house at Rivreulle under the direction of the abbot of Bonne-Espérance.
, in 1792 and again in 1794, when the community was dispersed. At the time of its suppression the abbey counted sixty-seven members. Although they wished to live in community, they were not allowed to do so during the French Republic, nor after 1815 under King William I of the Netherlands
. The last surviving religious gave the abbey to the Bishop of Tournai for a diocesan seminary.
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The church is still Norbertine in its appearance. In 1616 or 1617 the remains of Saint Frederick of Hallum
were brought here from the Premonstratensian Mariengaarde Abbey in the Netherlands to save them from the Calvinists. The relics were concealed in Vellereille during the French Revolution. In 1938 they were moved to Leffe Abbey near Dinant
.
The church still contains the statues of Saint Norbert, of Saint Frederick, and of two Premonstratensian bishops of Ratzeburg
, Saints Evermod
and Isfried. At the time of the suppression the statue of Our Lady of Good Hope was hidden; and when peace was restored, it was brought to the church of Vellereille of which one of the canons of Bonne-Espérance was the parish priest. In 1833 it was solemnly brought back to the abbey church, or, as it is now, the seminary church.
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
abbey that existed from 1130 to the end of the 18th century, located in Vellereille-les-Brayeux in the Walloon municipality of Estinnes
Estinnes
Estinnes is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Estinnes had a total population of 7,413. The total area is 72.73 km² which gives a population density of 102 inhabitants per km²....
, province of Hainaut, Diocese of Tournai
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tournai
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tournai, also called , is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church in Belgium. The diocese was formed in 1146, by the splitting of the diocese of Noyon and Tournai that had existed since the 7th century. It is now suffragan of the archdiocese of...
, in present-day Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
History
The abbey owed its foundation to the conversion of William, the only son and heir of Rainard, the Knight of Croix. William had followed the heretical teaching of TanchelmTanchelm
Tanchelm , also known as Tanchelm of Antwerp, Tanchelijn or Tanchelin, was a heretical itinerant preacher, critical of the established Roman Catholic church, active in the Low Countries around the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries....
, but Norbert of Xanten
Norbert of Xanten
Saint Norbert of Xanten was a Christian saint and founder of the Norbertine or Premonstratensian order of canons regular.- Life and work :...
brought him back to Roman Catholicism. In gratitude his parents, Rainard and Beatrix, gave land to Norbert for the foundation of an abbey at Ramignies, while William followed Norbert to Prémontré
Prémontré Abbey
Prémontré Abbey was the mother house of the Premonstratensian Order and was located at Prémontré about twelve miles west of Laon, département of Aisne, France.-History:...
. Ramignies having been found unsuitable, Odo, the first abbot, led his young colony to another locality in the neighbourhood.
"Bonne-Espérance" is French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
for "good hope". A legend says that when Odo saw the place that became the site of the new abbey, he exclaimed: "Bonæ spei fecisti filios tuos" ("O God, Thou hast made Thy children to be of good hope"). Another explanation of the name is it refers to the veneration here of the statue of Our Lady of Good Hope.
The abbey grew and Odo was succeeded by Philip of Harvengt, a significant theological writer. Oda, whose defence of her virginity has been described by Abbot Philip, was a Premonstratensian nun in a subirdinate house at Rivreulle under the direction of the abbot of Bonne-Espérance.
Suppression
In the time of the forty-sixth and last abbot of Bonne-Espérance, Bonaventure Daublain, the abbey was twice occupied and pillaged by the French Revolutionary ArmyFrench Revolutionary Army
The French Revolutionary Army is the term used to refer to the military of France during the period between the fall of the ancien regime under Louis XVI in 1792 and the formation of the First French Empire under Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804. These armies were characterised by their revolutionary...
, in 1792 and again in 1794, when the community was dispersed. At the time of its suppression the abbey counted sixty-seven members. Although they wished to live in community, they were not allowed to do so during the French Republic, nor after 1815 under King William I of the Netherlands
William I of the Netherlands
William I Frederick, born Willem Frederik Prins van Oranje-Nassau , was a Prince of Orange and the first King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg....
. The last surviving religious gave the abbey to the Bishop of Tournai for a diocesan seminary.
Church
Frederick of Hallum
Saint Frederick of Hallum was a Premonstratensian priest and monk, founder and first abbot of Mariengaarde Abbey in Friesland in the Netherlands....
were brought here from the Premonstratensian Mariengaarde Abbey in the Netherlands to save them from the Calvinists. The relics were concealed in Vellereille during the French Revolution. In 1938 they were moved to Leffe Abbey near Dinant
Dinant
Dinant is a Walloon city and municipality located on the River Meuse in the Belgian province of Namur, Belgium. The Dinant municipality includes the old communes of Anseremme, Bouvignes-sur-Meuse, Dréhance, Falmagne, Falmignoul, Foy-Notre-Dame, Furfooz, Lisogne, Sorinnes, and Thynes.-Origins to...
.
The church still contains the statues of Saint Norbert, of Saint Frederick, and of two Premonstratensian bishops of Ratzeburg
Bishopric of Ratzeburg
The Bishopric of Ratzeburg , centered on Ratzeburg in Northern Germany, was originally a suffragan to the Archdiocese of Hamburg, which transformed into the Archdiocese of Bremen in 1072.- History :...
, Saints Evermod
Evermode of Ratzeburg
Saint Evermod was one of the first Norbertines. In 1134 he became abbot of Gottesgnaden and later of Magdeburg. In 1154 he became the first bishop of Ratzeburg. Succeeded by Saint Isfrid as Bishop of Ratzeburg after his death in 1178.He was buried in Ratzeburg cathedral.His feast day is 17...
and Isfried. At the time of the suppression the statue of Our Lady of Good Hope was hidden; and when peace was restored, it was brought to the church of Vellereille of which one of the canons of Bonne-Espérance was the parish priest. In 1833 it was solemnly brought back to the abbey church, or, as it is now, the seminary church.