Tongerlo Abbey
Encyclopedia
Tongerlo Abbey is a Premonstratensian
monastery at Tongerlo in Westerlo
near Antwerp, Belgium
.
, who not only gave the land, but also himself became a lay brother
in the new community. The first monks were sent from St. Michael's Abbey, Antwerp, under Henry, who had come with Saint Norbert
, founder of the Premonstratensian Order, to Antwerp to extirpate the Tanchelm
ite heresies. The charter of its foundation was signed, amongst others, by Bernard of Clairvaux
and by Waltman, first abbot of Antwerp. The Bishop of Cambrai granted synod
al rights to the abbots.
From small beginnings the abbey became influential in the district called Campine
, now in north-east Belgium and the south of the Netherlands, then a wild area. The bishops of Cambrai, the chapters of Liège
and Maastricht
, and several landowners, entrusted the charge of parishes, with the right of patronage, to the abbey. In time the abbey had to provide priests for some forty parishes in these parts.
With the erection of new dioceses (1559–60) in Belgium and the Netherlands, heavy burdens were cast on the abbey, for not only had it to provide funds for the new Diocese of Bois-le-Duc, but the new bishop was put at its head as abbot. This state of affairs lasted until 1590, when, to obtain its independence, the abbey had to give up much property in support of the new diocese. The abbey was a centre of education. It possessed one of the largest libraries, and was able to take up the work of the Bollandists
The rise of Calvinism
in the Netherlands caused conflict. Three monks of Tongerlo became Catholic martyrs: Arnold Vessem and Henry Bosch
in 1557, and Peter Janssens in 1572. In the seventeenth century Francis Wichmans
of the abbey rallied local Catholics.
The abbey's property was confiscated and sold by the French occupying forces in 1796, but in 1840 was bought back under its post-revolutionary re-founder, Peter Hubert Evermode Backx
.
The abbey is also the site of a Leonardo da Vinci
Museum, which contains a 16th century copy on canvas of Leonardo's Last Supper
, in approximately original size. The copy reveals many details that are no longer visible in the original fresco due to deterioration.
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
monastery at Tongerlo in Westerlo
Westerlo
Westerlo is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises seven towns:- Westerlo centrum - Oevel - Tongerlo - Heultje...
near Antwerp, 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...
.
History
It was founded in 1128 in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by Giselbert of KasterleeKasterlee
Kasterlee is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Kasterlee proper, Lichtaart and Tielen. On January 1, 2006 Kasterlee had a total population of 17,908. The total area is 71.56 km² which gives a population density of 250 inhabitants per...
, who not only gave the land, but also himself became a lay brother
Lay brother
In the most common usage, lay brothers are those members of Catholic religious orders, particularly of monastic orders, occupied primarily with manual labour and with the secular affairs of a monastery or friary, in contrast to the choir monks of the same monastery who are devoted mainly to the...
in the new community. The first monks were sent from St. Michael's Abbey, Antwerp, under Henry, who had come with Saint Norbert
Norbert of Xanten
Saint Norbert of Xanten was a Christian saint and founder of the Norbertine or Premonstratensian order of canons regular.- Life and work :...
, founder of the Premonstratensian Order, to Antwerp to extirpate the Tanchelm
Tanchelm
Tanchelm , also known as Tanchelm of Antwerp, Tanchelijn or Tanchelin, was a heretical itinerant preacher, critical of the established Roman Catholic church, active in the Low Countries around the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries....
ite heresies. The charter of its foundation was signed, amongst others, by Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux, O.Cist was a French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian order.After the death of his mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order. Three years later, he was sent to found a new abbey at an isolated clearing in a glen known as the Val...
and by Waltman, first abbot of Antwerp. The Bishop of Cambrai granted synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
al rights to the abbots.
From small beginnings the abbey became influential in the district called Campine
Campine
The Campine is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-western Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands...
, now in north-east Belgium and the south of the Netherlands, then a wild area. The bishops of Cambrai, the chapters of Liège
St. Lambert's Cathedral, Liège
St. Lambert's Cathedral, Liège was the cathedral of Liège, Belgium, until 1794, when its destruction began...
and Maastricht
Basilica of Saint Servatius
The Roman catholic Basilica of Saint Servatius, situated in Maastricht at the Vrijthof square, is a mainly Romanesque church dedicated to Saint Servatius.- History :...
, and several landowners, entrusted the charge of parishes, with the right of patronage, to the abbey. In time the abbey had to provide priests for some forty parishes in these parts.
With the erection of new dioceses (1559–60) in Belgium and the Netherlands, heavy burdens were cast on the abbey, for not only had it to provide funds for the new Diocese of Bois-le-Duc, but the new bishop was put at its head as abbot. This state of affairs lasted until 1590, when, to obtain its independence, the abbey had to give up much property in support of the new diocese. The abbey was a centre of education. It possessed one of the largest libraries, and was able to take up the work of the Bollandists
The rise of Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
in the Netherlands caused conflict. Three monks of Tongerlo became Catholic martyrs: Arnold Vessem and Henry Bosch
Henry Bosch
Henry Bosch is an Australian businessman, CEO, Chairman and Governance advocate. He has worked to increase standards of corporate governance leading to his authorship of such reports as the 1991 Bosch Report: “Corporate Practices and Conduct”, The Workings of a Watchdog and The Director at Risk –...
in 1557, and Peter Janssens in 1572. In the seventeenth century Francis Wichmans
Francis Wichmans
Francis Wichmans was a Belgian Norbertine abbot.-Life:Having finished his classical studies, he received the white habit in the Norbertine Abbey of Tongerloo, Belgium, 21 September 1612...
of the abbey rallied local Catholics.
The abbey's property was confiscated and sold by the French occupying forces in 1796, but in 1840 was bought back under its post-revolutionary re-founder, Peter Hubert Evermode Backx
Peter Hubert Evermode Backx
Peter Hubert Evermode Backx was a 19th century abbot of Tongerlo Abbey, in Belgium.-External links:*...
.
The abbey is also the site of a Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
Museum, which contains a 16th century copy on canvas of Leonardo's Last Supper
Last Supper
The Last Supper is the final meal that, according to Christian belief, Jesus shared with his Twelve Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. The Last Supper provides the scriptural basis for the Eucharist, also known as "communion" or "the Lord's Supper".The First Epistle to the Corinthians is...
, in approximately original size. The copy reveals many details that are no longer visible in the original fresco due to deterioration.