Klaarland Priory
Encyclopedia
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
or the Priory of Our Lady of Klaarland (Priorij Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Klaarland) is a Trappistine monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in Lozen in Bocholt
Bocholt, Belgium
Bocholt is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2006 Bocholt had a total population of 12,355. The total area is 59.34 km² which gives a population density of 208 inhabitants per km². The Priory of Our Lady of Klaarland of the Trappistins is located in...
in the province of Limburg
Limburg (Belgium)
Limburg is the easternmost province of modern Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern Belgium. It is located west of the river Meuse . It borders on the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège, Flemish Brabant...
, 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
In 1970, six nuns from the Abbey of Our Lady of Nazareth at Brecht started a new foundation: first in the district of Kiewit in HasseltHasselt
Hasselt is a Belgian city and municipality, and capital of the Flemish province of Limburg...
and, since 1975, on the present site in Bocholt
Bocholt, Belgium
Bocholt is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2006 Bocholt had a total population of 12,355. The total area is 59.34 km² which gives a population density of 208 inhabitants per km². The Priory of Our Lady of Klaarland of the Trappistins is located in...
. The priory remains subordinate to Brecht Abbey
Brecht Abbey
Brecht Abbey, also known as the Abbey of Our Lady of Nazareth, is an abbey of Trappistine nuns located in Brecht, in the Campine region of the province of Antwerp...
.
Daily life
Life in the prioryPriory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
is characterized by prayer, reading and manual work, the three basic elements of Trappist life. The rhythm of the day is interrupted at set hours for celebrating the Liturgy of the Hours
Liturgy of the hours
The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office is the official set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited at the canonical hours by the clergy, religious orders, and laity. The Liturgy of the Hours consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and readings...
. These seven prayer services which take place throughout the day are accessible to everyone, both guests and visitors. On each day there is considerable time foreseen for mental reading, Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina
In Christianity, Lectio Divina is a traditional Catholic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's Word...
. As in all other communities, the nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s work for their daily bread. Throughout the years some small businesses have been developed, such as brewer's yeast, hand-woven ornaments, candles, herb salve, massage oil and greeting cards. There is also a small guesthouse where women who seek silence and prayer can stay a few days. The priory cannot be visited casually, however.