Oratory of the Paraclete
Encyclopedia
The Oratory of the Paraclete is a Benedictine
monastery
founded by Peter Abelard
in Ferreux-Quincey
, France
, after he left the Abbey of St. Denis
about 1121.
In 1125 he was elected by the monks of the Abbey at Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys
, near Vannes
, Brittany
, to be their abbot
, so he turned the Paraclete over to Heloise
, his love, who had been in a convent in Argenteuil
since taking the veil. She became the Paraclete's abbess and spent the rest of her life there. She and Abelard were buried together there from 1142 (when Abelard was buried, then Heloise when she died in 1164) to 1792, when their remains were transferred to the church of Nogent-sur-Seine
nearby.
Paraclete
comes from the Greek
word meaning "one who consoles" and is found in the Gospel of John
(16:7) as a name for the Holy Spirit
.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
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...
founded by Peter Abelard
Peter Abelard
Peter Abelard was a medieval French scholastic philosopher, theologian and preeminent logician. The story of his affair with and love for Héloïse has become legendary...
in Ferreux-Quincey
Ferreux-Quincey
Ferreux-Quincey is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France.-References:*...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, after he left the Abbey of St. Denis
Saint Denis Basilica
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Denis is a large medieval abbey church in the commune of Saint-Denis, now a northern suburb of Paris. The abbey church was created a cathedral in 1966 and is the seat of the Bishop of Saint-Denis, Pascal Michel Ghislain Delannoy...
about 1121.
In 1125 he was elected by the monks of the Abbey at Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys
Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys
Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.Its French name refers to Saint Gildas, who was a monk at Rhuys.-References:* * -External links:* *...
, near Vannes
Vannes
Vannes is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It was founded over 2000 years ago.-Geography:Vannes is located on the Gulf of Morbihan at the mouth of two rivers, the Marle and the Vincin. It is around 100 km northwest of Nantes and 450 km south west...
, Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, to be their 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...
, so he turned the Paraclete over to Heloise
Heloise (student of Abelard)
Héloïse d’Argenteuil was a French nun, writer, scholar, and abbess, best known for her love affair and correspondence with Peter Abélard.- Background :...
, his love, who had been in a convent in Argenteuil
Argenteuil
Argenteuil is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. Argenteuil is a sub-prefecture of the Val-d'Oise department, the seat of the arrondissement of Argenteuil....
since taking the veil. She became the Paraclete's abbess and spent the rest of her life there. She and Abelard were buried together there from 1142 (when Abelard was buried, then Heloise when she died in 1164) to 1792, when their remains were transferred to the church of Nogent-sur-Seine
Nogent-sur-Seine
Nogent-sur-Seine is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France.-Population:-Personalities:Camille Claudel lived in Nogent-sur-Seine with her family from 1876 to 1879....
nearby.
Paraclete
Paraclete
Paraclete means advocate or helper. In Christianity, the term most commonly refers to the Holy Spirit.-Etymology:...
comes from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
word meaning "one who consoles" and is found in the Gospel of John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
(16:7) as a name for the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
.