Martinus Dom
Encyclopedia
Martinus Dom, born Frans Daniël Dom, (Kontich
, 24 December 1791-Westmalle
, 9 December 1873), was the first abbot
of the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle in Belgium
and founded the Trappist brewery
. He was a son of Jan Frans Dom, a cattle merchant, and Elisabeth Van Berckelaer. He was baptised
on Christmas
day 1791, the day after his birth, in the Church of Saint Martin
in Kontich.
. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1814, he returned home to everyday life. He became a notorious partygoer and became engaged. But after some brawls at home with his father and with his life in turmoil, he decided to go on pilgrimage to the Church of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Van Goede Wil in Duffel
to help him decide whether he should marry or enter the Trappist convent of Westmalle. The story goes that he let fate decide by throwing his hat up in the air. If it fell with the opening up he would go to Westmalle, but if it fell with the opening down he would ask for forgiveness and marry. The hat fell with the opening up and he went to the Trappist priory of Westmalle, where at first they didn’t take him seriously. But on 11 November 1817, feast day of the patron saint
Saint Martin
, of Kontich and Westmalle, he entered the convent. In 1817, he took his vows and on 23 December 1820 he was ordained and given the name Martinus. He became one of the teachers of the orphan boys who were educated in the abbey. In 1826 he was elected prior
of the priory
(the first elected prior), which position he retained until 1836 when he was elected abbot
.
. On 14 July 1836, already prior of the convent, Martinus was chosen to be the first abbot of the abbey of Westmalle. When the priory obtained the status of an abbey, the strict rule that the monks could only drink water with their meal was relaxed. Cider or beer was then allowed to be drunk in the refectory of the abbey. Rather than buy beer from outside the abbey, Martinus decided to brew their own beer. They started brewing on 1 August 1836, and on 10 December 1836 the monks tasted their own beer for the first time. Local sales began in 1856, and sales to traders commenced in 1921.
Martinus Dom died at Westmalle on 9 December 1873, after he had been prior for 47 years and abbot for 37 years.
Kontich
Kontich is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Kontich proper and Waarloos. On December 31, 2010 Kontich had a total population of 20,584...
, 24 December 1791-Westmalle
Westmalle
Westmalle is a village which is located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The village itself is part of the municipality of Malle.-Tourism:...
, 9 December 1873), was the first abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle 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...
and founded the Trappist brewery
Westmalle Brewery
Westmalle Brewery is a Belgian trappist brewery located in the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle. It produces three beers, which are designated trappist beer because they follow the rules of the International Trappist Association...
. He was a son of Jan Frans Dom, a cattle merchant, and Elisabeth Van Berckelaer. He was baptised
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
on Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
day 1791, the day after his birth, in the Church of Saint Martin
Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours was a Bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Around his name much legendary material accrued, and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints...
in Kontich.
Early life
As a young man Frans served as a fourrier in the French army of NapoleonNapoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1814, he returned home to everyday life. He became a notorious partygoer and became engaged. But after some brawls at home with his father and with his life in turmoil, he decided to go on pilgrimage to the Church of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Van Goede Wil in Duffel
Duffel
Duffel is a municipality in the Belgian province of Antwerp.The municipality comprises only the town of Duffel proper. On January 1, 2006 Duffel had a total population of 16,019...
to help him decide whether he should marry or enter the Trappist convent of Westmalle. The story goes that he let fate decide by throwing his hat up in the air. If it fell with the opening up he would go to Westmalle, but if it fell with the opening down he would ask for forgiveness and marry. The hat fell with the opening up and he went to the Trappist priory of Westmalle, where at first they didn’t take him seriously. But on 11 November 1817, feast day of the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
Saint Martin
Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours was a Bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Around his name much legendary material accrued, and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints...
, of Kontich and Westmalle, he entered the convent. In 1817, he took his vows and on 23 December 1820 he was ordained and given the name Martinus. He became one of the teachers of the orphan boys who were educated in the abbey. In 1826 he was elected prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
of the priory
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...
(the first elected prior), which position he retained until 1836 when he was elected abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
.
Abbot of the abbey
In 1836, the priory of Westmalle obtained the status of abbey from Pope Gregory XVIPope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
. On 14 July 1836, already prior of the convent, Martinus was chosen to be the first abbot of the abbey of Westmalle. When the priory obtained the status of an abbey, the strict rule that the monks could only drink water with their meal was relaxed. Cider or beer was then allowed to be drunk in the refectory of the abbey. Rather than buy beer from outside the abbey, Martinus decided to brew their own beer. They started brewing on 1 August 1836, and on 10 December 1836 the monks tasted their own beer for the first time. Local sales began in 1856, and sales to traders commenced in 1921.
Martinus Dom died at Westmalle on 9 December 1873, after he had been prior for 47 years and abbot for 37 years.
Source
- Jan B. Van Damme o.c.r., Cistercienzers of Trappisten te Westmalle, Westmalle, 1974
- Jan B. Van Damme o.c.r., Geschiedenis van de Trappistenabdij te Westmalle (1794-1956), Westmalle, 1977
- J. Van Remoortere, Ippa's Abdijengids voor Belgie, Lanno, 1990