Vadstena Abbey
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The Abbey Church | |
Monastery information | |
---|---|
Order | Bridgettines |
Established | 1346 (first time) 1963 (second time) |
Diocese | Stockholm |
Abbess | Jenny Maria Schaub (2016– ) |
Site | |
Location | Vadstena, Östergötland County, Sweden |
Coordinates | 58°27′02″N 14°53′29″E / 58.45056°N 14.89139°E |
![Medieval parchment letter hung with multiple seals.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Kung_Magnus_och_drottning_Blankas_testamente_1346_-_SDHK_nr_5307.jpg/249px-Kung_Magnus_och_drottning_Blankas_testamente_1346_-_SDHK_nr_5307.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Vadstena_kloster%2C_den_24_juni_2008%2C_bild_13.jpg/250px-Vadstena_kloster%2C_den_24_juni_2008%2C_bild_13.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Vadstena_kloster_fr%C3%A5n_luften.jpg/250px-Vadstena_kloster_fr%C3%A5n_luften.jpg)
The Abbey Pax Mariae (
The abbey started on one of the farms donated to it by the king, but the town of Vadstena grew up around it. It was the motherhouse of the Bridgettine Order from 1346 to 1595.
History
Foundation and duration
The abbey was founded in 1346 by
The daughter of Saint Bridget,
In 1400 Duke
Bridgetine literature consisted mostly of translations into Swedish of portions of the Bible or of the legends of the saints. Such writings as are extant have been published for the most part by the Svenska fornskriftsällskapet (Old Swedish Texts Society) of Stockholm. The manuscripts are held in the Royal Library, Stockholm (including two in Swedish in Birgitta's handwriting), and at the University Libraries of Uppsala (which also has contemplative manuscripts in English connected with the English mission), and Lund.
Of these authors, the best known belonging to Vadstena are perhaps Margareta Clausdotter (abbess 1473, died 1486), author of a work on the family of St. Bridget (printed in "Scriptores Rerum Svecicarum", III, I, 207-16), and Nicolaus Ragvaldi, monk and General Confessor of the abbey (1476–1514), who composed several works.
The abbey was a
The abbey was greatly favored by the royal house and nobility and became the spiritual center of the country as well as the greatest landowner in Sweden. The abbey was known to manage a hospital and retirement home, which is recorded from 1401. Early on, Vadstena Abbey supported
Vadstena Abbey also had international fame as the
Post-reformation and dissolution
After the introduction of the
The Abbey had a favorable position because of its international fame and because of its strong ties with the Swedish nobility, due to its foundress. Many of the monks and nuns were from the nobility, including the King's own sister, Anna. It also served as a burial ground for many noble families. The nuns and monks of Vadstena Abbey were, however, allowed to leave the abbey if they wished. Among the most notable who did leave was Abbess Birgitta Botolfsdotter, who left the abbey to marry. In 1544 the King, reportedly after having been asked by some of the monks and nuns,[3] issued an instruction which specifically allowed the nuns and monks to leave the Vadstena Abbey to marry if they wished to, and specifically forbade the abbess and the other members of the abbey from stopping them. The younger nuns were reportedly more willing to leave than the older, but the nuns in general stayed more often than the monks. In large part, this may be due to the fact that the monks, after having converted to Lutheranism, were provided with the professions of medical doctor, pastor or teacher, while the nuns seldom had a choice other than marriage. As a result, far more of them remained in the abbey than did the monks.
In May 1540, the Abbey was visited by the local Protestant bishop. The Catholic Mass and the veneration of saints were banned and Protestant services were ordered to be held in the Abbey church. The nuns are reported to have plugged their ears during the sermon. An inventory of the abbey's valuables was made by the Crown, and in 1543, most of the books and valuables were confiscated. The abbey was allowed to receive private donations on condition that the monks refrain from the public Catholic sermons they had evidently been preaching until then.
Vadstena Abbey was granted large donations by private benefactors, both from the public and from the Royal Palace. Among the notable benefactors were Queen Margaret Leijonhufvud and her family, the former Abbess Birgitta Botolfsdotter and her wealthy husband, Queen Karin Månsdotter, Anna Hogenskild and Jöran Persson. In 1549, the majority of the monks were ordered to leave the abbey. In 1550, the nuns were moved to the smaller part of the abbey, the wing previously belonging to the monks, and in 1555 the male contingent of the abbey was formally abolished and Vadstena Abbey became an all-female community. During the Northern Seven Years' War of 1567, the abbey was looted by Danish soldiers. In 1568, the number of nuns was counted as 18.
During the reign of King
Later in 1594, however, the Protestant Duke Charles, later
When
can still be seen today.Post-dissolution
After Karin Johansdotter left the former abbey in 1605, the buildings were left empty for almost 40 years. There were plans to found a university in them, but nothing came of this. In 1641, a Krigsmanshus (home for veterans) was founded for retired and invalid soldiers and their families, and was housed in the former nuns' wing for over 140 years. It also provided a school for the soldiers' children. The home was closed in 1783.
In 1795, a hospital for
In 1935, the
The abbey church is still standing and contains a few memorials of St. Bridget. This devotional site, known as The Blue Church, is visited by both Lutheran and Roman Catholic pilgrims.[4] The Blue Church contains relics of Saint Bridget in a red-coloured casket[4][5] as well as medieval sculptures of Saint Bridget, Saint Anne and the Blessed Virgin Mary and other medieval art.
Three other buildings also remain: the best preserved is the royal palace/nuns' chapterhouse/museum mentioned above; the other two have been converted into a hotel and restaurant.
Modern abbey (1991– )
The present-day monastery of Bridgettine nuns, situated near the ancient abbey, is named Mary's Peace (
Chronology
- 1346 - King Magnus IV and Queen Blanche donate the royal estate Vadstena kungsgård to the foundation of a future monastery.
- 1370 - Pope Urban Vgives his approval to the plan of St Bridget.
- 1373 - Bridget dies in Rome.
- 1374 - The remains of Bridget are taken to Vadstena. Her daughter, Saint Catherine of Vadstena is elected Abbess of Vadstena.
- 1384 - The Abbey is officially blessed.
- 1391 - Bridget is declared a saint.
- 1430 - Queen Philippa is buried here and the Church of Vadstena Abbey is blessed.
- 1451 - Queen Catherine is buried here.
- 1495 - A printing press is installed at the abbey.
- 1527 - The Reformation bans the Abbey from accepting any new novices without special permission from the monarch. The nuns and monks are given permission to leave the community if they so wish.
- 1540 - The Catholic Mass is banned and Protestant services are held in the abbey.
- 1541 - The Abbey is allowed to receive private donations again, but most of its assets are confiscated.
- 1544 - The monarch specifically bans the abbey from preventing members from leaving.
- 1549 - The majority of the monks are evicted from the abbey.
- 1550 - The Abbey church is closed to the members of the abbey, who are limited to use of the former monks' chapel. The nuns and the few remaining monks are limited to the use of only the small wing of the abbey formerly the monks' section.
- 1555 - The male contingent of the Abbey is dissolved, and the monks leave Vadstena Abbey.
- 1567 - Danish soldiers loot the abbey during the Northern Seven Years' War.
- 1575 - King John III of Sweden allows the Abbey to accept novices without restriction again.
- 1580 - The Abbey is visited and reformed by the Papal Legate Antonio Possevino.
- 1587 - The first public Solemn Mass since the Reformation is celebrated in the presence of the King and Crown Prince.
- 1592 - A seminary for the education of Catholic priests is founded.
- 1595 - Duke Magnus is buried here and the monastic community of the Abbey is dissolved.
- 1641 - A home for retired and invalid soldiers is founded in the former abbey. It is closed in 1783.
- 1795 - A hospital for venereal diseases is founded in the former abbey. It is closed in 1909.
- 1810 - A prison is founded in the former nuns' wing. It is closed in 1825.
- 1826 - The former nuns' wing is transformed into a lunatic asylum. That is closed in 1951.
- 1935 - Sisters of the Order of Saint Bridget open a rest home on the estate.
- 1963 - The Monastery of Pax Mariæ of Saint Bridget is opened.
- 1991 - The monastery is raised to the status of an autonomous abbey.
The abbesses of Vadstena
- 1374–1381 : Catherine of Vadstena (not officially installed)
- 1381–1385 : Margareta Bosdotter (Oxenstierna) (not officially installed)
- 1385–1403 : Ingegerd Knutsdotter (officially installed in 1388)
- 1403–1422 : Gerdeka Hartlevsdotter
- 1422–1447 : Bengta Gunnarsdotter
- 1447–1452 : Ingeborg of Holstein (first time)
- 1452–1456 : Katarina Bengtsdotter
- 1457–1457 : Katarina Ulfsdotter
- 1457–1465 : Ingeborg of Holstein (second time)
- 1465–1473 : Katarina Petersdotter
- 1473–1486 : Margareta Clausdotter
- 1487–1496 : Anna Paulsdotter
- 1496–1501 : Margareta Thuresdotter
- 1501–1518 : Anna Bülow
- 1518–1529 : Anna Germundsdotter
- 1529–1534 : Katarina Eriksdotter
- 1534–1539 : Birgitta Botolfsdotter
- 1539–1548 : Katarina Mattsdotter (died 1559)
- 1548–1553 : Margareta Nilsdotter
- 1553–1564 : Katarina Bengtsdotter Gylta(first time)
- 1564–1565 : Ingegerd Larsdotter
- 1565–1593 : Katarina Benktsdotter Gylta (second time)
- 1593–1595 : Katarina Olofsdotter
- 1991–2016 : Karin Adolfsson
- 2016– : Jenny Maria Schaub
See also
- Bjärka-Säby Monastery
- Pirita Convent
- Christina Brask, 15th c. nun
References
- ^ Berömda nunnor i Vadstenas historia i Wilhelmina Stålberg, Anteckningar om svenska qvinnor (1864)
- ^ Frans Oscar Vågman (Swedish): Vreta Kloster. Historik jämte vägledning vid besök i Vreta klosters kyrka och dess omgifning (Vreta Abbey. History and guidance during visits at the Vreta Church and convent) Stockholm, P. A. Norstedt & Sönders Förlag (1904)
- ^ Anjou, Lars Anton (1850). Svenska kyrkoreformationens historia (in Swedish). Leffler och Sebell.
- ^ a b "Not So Secular Sweden by Matthew Milliner". First Things. Institute on Religion and Public Life. June 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
But the Lutheran pastor who met us there was not the steward of an empty shell, but instead oversaw a living devotional site frequented by Protestants and Catholics alike. (It does not hurt that Birgitta's forceful critique of the papacy led some to see her as proto-Protestant.) After placing our fingers in the holes, my companions and I entered the complex, and were met with a beautiful cross celebrating Birgitta and her daughter Catherine, painted by a Pentecostal icon painter. Most remarkable was the vaulting of this massive Gothic complex. Brigittine nuns wear the "Crown of the Five Holy Wounds" with five red symbolic stones. In the same way, the five bosses connecting the Gothic ribbing are here painted red, causing pilgrims to momentarily become Brigittines themselves, their heads enclosed with the five wounds as they step under every vaulted bay. Although there was some destruction and damage to statues from invading Danish soldiers, most here have survived. We make our way to the still-preserved relics of Birgitta, but are interrupted by a bell. Thirty pilgrims stop to gather in the rear of the church for a Taizé prayer service before a gorgeous Byzantine icon of Christ made by that same Pentecostal painter.
- ^ "Not So Secular Sweden by Matthew Milliner". First Things. Institute on Religion and Public Life. June 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
Martin Luther may have called her die tolle Brigit, "crazy Birgitta," but there was her body—enclosed in a red casket, now tastefully tended by Lutherans.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Abbey of Vadstena". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- C[arl] S[ilfverstolp]e ([revised by] [K.] R. G[eete]), "Vadstena kloster", in Nordisk familjebok, vol. 31 (1921), col. 263 ff.
- Vadstena monastery and city
- Signum svenska kulturhistoria (Swedish ): Renässansen (2005)
- Register
- Carl Silfverstolpe (Swedish) : Vadstena klosters uppbörds- och utgiftsbok
- Wilhelmina Stålberg (Swedish) : Anteckningar om svenska qvinnor
- Lennart Jörälv (Swedish): Reliker och mirakel. Den heliga Birgitta och Vadstena (2003)
- (Swedish) Studier i Vadstena klosters och Birgittinordens historia intill midten af 1400-talet microform
- Vadstena klosters minnesbok microform (Swedish): Diarium vazstenense
- (Swedish) Historiskt bibliotek utgifvet af Carl Silfverstolpe
External links
- Website of the Abbey of Mary's Peace, Vadstena
- Website of the Vadstena Klostermuseum (Vadstena Monastery Museum)