|
|
St. Bridget of Sweden, her community of Nuns and Monks, along with church and state authorities.
|
|
Syon Abbey South Brent Devon TQ10 9JX England Tel: 01364 72256 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Syon Abbey, located today in South Brent (abbey picture at right, lower left image - double click the thumbnail to see the full view) is the only English community with an unbroken existence up to the present since its foundation (1415) before the Reformation. The Abbey was originally located near London at Isleworth on the River Thames. However, the dissolution of the English monasteries during the Reformation forced the community into exile on the European continent until, after more than 200 years, they would return to England in the late 19th century. The Syon community has always been known and respected for its zeal, its loyalty to the Church, and its observance of the rule and contemplative ideals of St. Bridget. The Abbey numbers among its former members (when men were attached to the community), the authors of the Jesus Psalter and the Mirror of Our Lady. St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher were friends of the Syon monk, St. Richard Reynolds (image at right) , who was one of the first to be martyred at Tyburn, May 4th, 1535. He is also called "The Angel of Syon". In its exile, the community took with it a section of the old gateway (the upper far right image) from the Isleworth property. « It is believed that, as was the executioners' custom of the time, parts of St. Richard's body were put on the gateway of the Abbey , a gruesome reminder to others who were willing to die for their faith. The community venerated it as a relic, and managed, even with its tremendous weight, to take it with them on their journeys of exile through the continent and eventually, bring it home to England.» In the early 1990's, the Nuns sold their large Abbey building and some of their land, and, keeping their cemetery and some additional acreage, moved to a newly renovated existing smaller building, making it suitable as a convent for Nuns who are, primarily, enclosed contemplatives. Bridgettine life continues. Today, the Nuns continue to live their vocation as given in their Rule and in The Syon Additions. They still pray, in choir, the Bridgettine Office of Our Lady, revised, however, according to the spirit of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. (The last monk of the Community died at the house in Portugal during the exile from England.) Associates, either lay or clerical, somewhat like Oblates, affiliate themselves to the Abbey as Brothers and Sisters of the Chapter. These Brothers and Sisters of the Chapter are united in prayer with the Nuns. They are formally received as such by the Abbess on behalf of the Community. The Nuns also publish a newsletter for these associates and other friends from time to time. |
St. Richard Reynolds, monk of Syon Abbey, the "Angel of Syon", martyred at Tyburn, May 4th, 1535, canonized October 25, 1970.
|
A section of the original gateway from the Abbey's pre-Reformation Isleworth property.
An artist's rendition of the original Isleworth Syon Abbey Church (ca 1530) based on current archaeological excavations at Syon Park, London. It is a huge building, the size of an English cathedral.
|
Mother Abbess and some of the Nuns in 1984 * (after a long day with photographers) |
Study remains a strong Bridgettine tradition. * Most of the photographs of Syon are taken from SYON ABBEY: The Spirituality of the English Bridgettines by Roger Ellis. (Some copies are still available. Please write or call the Abbey for information). |
|
The cloister of the recent Abbey |
The Nuns' Choir in the recent Abbey Church
|
|
Syon Abbey today |
One of Syon's Nuns in quiet prayer (in the former Abbey building)
|
|
Teaching Bridgettine life to new candidates |
Bridgettine Nuns share kitchen tasks daily. |
|
Praying the Office in the former Abbey Church |
Daily work at the Abbey's grounds. |
|
 The Bridgettine Office (Last Latin edition printed in 1908). It is chanted in English today at Syon Abbey, updated in the spirit of the reforms of Vatican Council II. |
Daily work at the Abbey's grounds. |
|
|
The Abbeys of UDEN and WEERT |
||
|
Abdij Maria Refugie
The Nuns, (called Birgittinessen, in Dutch) have been in Uden since 1713, although the Abbey was founded as Mariënwater ca 1437 in Rosmalen . A foundation was made in Weert in 1843, and in 1963 the Uden community sent Sisters to refound the original Abbey of the Order in Sweden at Vadstena. There is at Uden a museum of Religious Art. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Abdij Maria Hart The Abbey at Weert was founded from Uden in 1843. |
|
|
|
The Abbey of Altomünster |
||
|
Birgittakloster 85250 Altomünster Germany The Bridgettine Order came to Altomünster, Germany, in 1497. While the entire Abbey complex still exists, the property was secularized in 1803 and is owned privately. While the Abbey had been built to provide separate buildings and grounds for the Nuns and the Monk Confessors, most of the property is now part of a thriving parish complex. There is a cloistered section of the property buildings, and the Nuns maintain their contemplative life there. The Nuns, who have a page on the parish website (see below), pray the current (Roman) Liturgy of the Hours in German. The parish church, although done in high rococo style, offers a good idea of what a Bridgettine Abbey Church might look like. There are three floors: the main floor, where the local people would come to hear Mass and preaching, the second floor, where the Monks had their choir and where there was the original High Altar, and the third floor, where the Nuns had their choir. The photos at right are taken from the parish website. The Nuns may also be contacted via e-mail. |
The Abbey Church (now parish Church) was used by both the Nuns and the Monks for their offices (at different times, of course), in the Bridgettine manner. The picture shows one cloister for the Nuns, to one side of the Church, and another cloister, for the Monks, on the other side. |
The three levels of the Church are clearly visible: the ground level, for the local people, the Monks' choir and the High Altar on the second floor, and the Nuns' choir on the top floor. The parish has built its principal altar on the ground, or main floor. |
|
|
 |
|
| The Abbey of Vadstena, Sweden |
|
The
Abbey of Vadstena was St. Bridget's original foundation but was suppressed
in 1550 after the Reformation, and the monks of the community
dispersed. The remaining nuns finally left Sweden in 1595, and
moved |
to Danzig, where there was another Abbey of the order.
In 1963, the Vadstena was refounded as a daughter house of Uden, but since
1991 has been an independent abbey. The Nuns maintain their own
|
The "active" Bridgettine Sisters |
|
SUORE DI SANTA BRIGIDA Casa
di Santa Brigida, Piazza Farnese 96 Tel: 06.68.89.24.97 The active community of Bridgettine Sisters, founded by Mother Elizabeth in 1911 and headquartered in Rome, received its approval in 1941. The Sisters have several houses and are located in Europe, India, the United States, and continue to grow. The community also maintains its own websites. There is e-mail and other contact information provided at the various websites. |
| The Brigittine Monks of Amity, Oregon |
|
The Brigittine Monks of Oregon were founded in 1978 by Brother Benedict Kirby. The monks at Our Lady of Consolation are not members of the original male branch of the Order (which ceased when the last monk of Altomünster, Fr. Johannes Müller, died in 1863), but are a new expression of St. Bridget's contemplative ideals. The monks live a quiet contemplative life. They also maintain a website. Contact information is offered there, as well. |
Added December 21, 2000
|
"Short Breviaries" |
Bridgettine |
Bridgettine |
|
Bridgettine |
Bridgettine |
Bridgettine |
|
Bridgettine |
Bridgettine |
Bridgettine |
|
Thumbnails |
Psalter Schemas |
Bridgettine |