Cornillon Abbey
Encyclopedia
Cornillon Abbey was a Premonstratensian
monastery which occupied a site close to Liège
in Belgium
. In 1288 the abbey having moved to a new location, it became known as Beaurepart Abbey. It was the home of Saint Juliana of Liège
.
had formed the Premonstratensian Order. The abbey, intended for Canons Regular
of Prémontré from Floreffe Abbey
near Namur
, stood on the right bank of the Meuse
on an elevation called Mont Cornillon which overlooked the city of Liège.
In the early years of the order all Premonstratensian abbeys were double abbeys
, that is to say, the canons lived on one side of the church and the nuns, who had charge of the hospital for women, on the other side. Where an abbey stood on an elevation, as was the case at Cornillon, both the nunnery and the hospital were built at the foot of the hill. Saint Juliana of Liège
(born 1193; died 1258), whose name is connected with the institution of the feast of Corpus Christi on account of her visions, was a nun of this convent.
The first abbot of Cornillon was Blessed Lucas, one of Saint Norbert's disciples, a learned and holy religious, some of whose writings have been published in the "Bibliotheca Magna Patrum", and also by Migne
.
The Bishop of Liège, wishing to build a fortress on the heights of Cornillon, gave the canons in exchange in 1288 another site in his episcopal city where the abbey, from that time on called Beaurepart Abbey ("Bellus Reditus"), stood until it was suppressed by the French Republic in 1796.
All the religious refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Republic; some were exiled and one was put to death. The abbey was declared to be of public utility and consequently was not sold. For a time it served as an arsenal and for other government purposes, but by decree of 11 June 1809, Napoleon gave the abbey to the Bishop of Liège as his residence and as the diocesan seminary.
On the abbey's original site on Mont Cornillon the Little Sisters of the Poor
have built an old people's home, and the former nunnery at the foot of the hill is now occupied by Carmelite nuns.
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...
monastery which occupied a site close to Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
in 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...
. In 1288 the abbey having moved to a new location, it became known as Beaurepart Abbey. It was the home of Saint Juliana of Liège
Juliana of Liège
Saint Juliana of Liège was a religious woman and visionary from Retinnes in the Bishopric of Liège, now in Belgium. She was known in her community for her "capacious memory," her gift of prophecy, and religious devotion...
.
History
The abbey was founded by Albero I, Bishop of Liège, in 1124, three years after Saint NorbertNorbert of Xanten
Saint Norbert of Xanten was a Christian saint and founder of the Norbertine or Premonstratensian order of canons regular.- Life and work :...
had formed the Premonstratensian Order. The abbey, intended for Canons Regular
Canons Regular
Canons Regular are members of certain bodies of Canons living in community under the Augustinian Rule , and sharing their property in common...
of Prémontré from Floreffe Abbey
Floreffe Abbey
Floreffe Abbey is a former Premonstratensian monastery, the second of the order to be founded, situated on the Sambre at Floreffe, about 11 km southwest of Namur, Belgium.-History:...
near Namur
Namur (city)
Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
, stood on the right bank of the Meuse
Meuse
Meuse is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.-History:Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
on an elevation called Mont Cornillon which overlooked the city of Liège.
In the early years of the order all Premonstratensian abbeys were double abbeys
Double monastery
A double monastery is an institution combining a separate monastery for monks and an abbey for nuns. Examples include Coldingham Monastery in Scotland, and Einsiedeln Abbey and Fahr Abbey in Switzerland, controlled by the abbot of Einsiedeln...
, that is to say, the canons lived on one side of the church and the nuns, who had charge of the hospital for women, on the other side. Where an abbey stood on an elevation, as was the case at Cornillon, both the nunnery and the hospital were built at the foot of the hill. Saint Juliana of Liège
Juliana of Liège
Saint Juliana of Liège was a religious woman and visionary from Retinnes in the Bishopric of Liège, now in Belgium. She was known in her community for her "capacious memory," her gift of prophecy, and religious devotion...
(born 1193; died 1258), whose name is connected with the institution of the feast of Corpus Christi on account of her visions, was a nun of this convent.
The first abbot of Cornillon was Blessed Lucas, one of Saint Norbert's disciples, a learned and holy religious, some of whose writings have been published in the "Bibliotheca Magna Patrum", and also by Migne
Migné
Migné is a commune in the Indre department in central France.-References:*...
.
The Bishop of Liège, wishing to build a fortress on the heights of Cornillon, gave the canons in exchange in 1288 another site in his episcopal city where the abbey, from that time on called Beaurepart Abbey ("Bellus Reditus"), stood until it was suppressed by the French Republic in 1796.
All the religious refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Republic; some were exiled and one was put to death. The abbey was declared to be of public utility and consequently was not sold. For a time it served as an arsenal and for other government purposes, but by decree of 11 June 1809, Napoleon gave the abbey to the Bishop of Liège as his residence and as the diocesan seminary.
On the abbey's original site on Mont Cornillon the Little Sisters of the Poor
Little Sisters of the Poor
The Little Sisters of the Poor is a Roman Catholic religious order for women. It was founded in the 19th century by Saint Jeanne Jugan near Rennes, France. Jugan felt the need to care for the many impoverished elderly who lined the streets of French towns and cities.This led her to welcome an...
have built an old people's home, and the former nunnery at the foot of the hill is now occupied by Carmelite nuns.