St. Marx Abbey
Encyclopedia
St. Marx Abbey or St. Mark's Abbey was a Benedictine nunnery in Gueberschwihr
(Geberschweier) in Alsace
, founded in about 1105. Since 1845 it has been the principal house of the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Marc, rebuilt in 1852 after a disastrous fire.
, of which until the 18th century it was a priory.
Before the foundation of the nunnery there had been a community of monks on the site, which came to an end after a serious fire. Abbot Theoger of St. George's (1088-1119) replaced it with the nunnery, which was made subordinate to St. George's in 1184, according to a deed of Pope Lucius III
. In about 1400 a monk of St. George's was mentioned as the prior here, as were possessions of the nunnery in Geberschweier and Osenbach. In 1754 the priory was transferred from St. George's to Ebersmünster Abbey in Alsace.
In 1845 the premises, empty since the French Revolution
, were used by Abbé Pierre Paul Blanck to establish a women's community under the Benedictine Rule combining the veneration of the Holy Sacrament with manual labour and the care of orphans. The buildings burnt down in 1852 and the difficulties facing the new community were so great that it seemed impossible for it to survive. Against all odds it did continue and was constituted as a formal order on 9 October 1868 with the election and appointment of Sister Maria Xavier as superior.
At the end of World War I
the German
sisters were expelled from Alsace and obliged to look for new premises in Germany, which in 1919 they found in the former St. Trudpert's Abbey
in Münstertal
. These are now the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Trudpert
.
The French
community continues as the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Marc.
Gueberschwihr
Gueberschwihr is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
(Geberschweier) in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, founded in about 1105. Since 1845 it has been the principal house of the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Marc, rebuilt in 1852 after a disastrous fire.
Benedictines
The nunnery was under the supervision of the Benedictine St. George's Abbey in the Black ForestSt. George's Abbey in the Black Forest
St. George's Abbey in the Black Forest was a Benedictine monastery in St. Georgen im Schwarzwald in the southern Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.-Foundation to Reformation:...
, of which until the 18th century it was a priory.
Before the foundation of the nunnery there had been a community of monks on the site, which came to an end after a serious fire. Abbot Theoger of St. George's (1088-1119) replaced it with the nunnery, which was made subordinate to St. George's in 1184, according to a deed of Pope Lucius III
Pope Lucius III
Pope Lucius III , born Ubaldo, was pope from 1 September 1181 to his death.A native of the independent republic of Lucca, he was born ca. 1100 as Ubaldo, son of Orlando. He is commonly referred to as a member of the aristocratic family of Allucingoli, but this is not proven...
. In about 1400 a monk of St. George's was mentioned as the prior here, as were possessions of the nunnery in Geberschweier and Osenbach. In 1754 the priory was transferred from St. George's to Ebersmünster Abbey in Alsace.
In 1845 the premises, empty since the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, were used by Abbé Pierre Paul Blanck to establish a women's community under the Benedictine Rule combining the veneration of the Holy Sacrament with manual labour and the care of orphans. The buildings burnt down in 1852 and the difficulties facing the new community were so great that it seemed impossible for it to survive. Against all odds it did continue and was constituted as a formal order on 9 October 1868 with the election and appointment of Sister Maria Xavier as superior.
At the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
sisters were expelled from Alsace and obliged to look for new premises in Germany, which in 1919 they found in the former St. Trudpert's Abbey
St. Trudpert's Abbey
St. Trudpert's Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery in Münstertal in the southern Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, now the principal house of the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Trudpert.-History:...
in Münstertal
Münstertal
Münstertal may refer to:*Val Müstair, Switzerland*Münstertal, Black Forest, Germanysee also* Taufers im Münstertal, Italy...
. These are now the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Trudpert
Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Trudpert
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Saint-Marc are a Roman Catholic congregation of Religious Sisters, based in the town of Saint-Marc, Alsace, France.-History:...
.
The French
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...
community continues as the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Marc.
Sources
- Wollasch, H.-J., Die Anfänge des Klosters St. Georgen im Schwarzwald. Zur Ausbildung der geschichtlichen Eigenart eines Klosters innerhalb der Hirsauer Reform (Forschungen zur oberrheinischen Landesgeschichte 14), Freiburg i.Br. 1964
- Wollasch, H.-J., Die Benediktinerabtei St. Georgen im Schwarzwald und ihre Beziehungen zu Klöstern westlich des Rheins, in: 900 Jahre Stadt St. Georgen im Schwarzwald 1084-1984. Festschrift, publ. by the municipality of St. Georgen, St. Georgen 1984, pp.45–61