Black sisters of Tournai

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The monastery of the Zwartsters of Tournai was one of the social monastery foundations of the Middle Ages , which had proven itself in the concern for fellow Christians.

The community was founded by a citizen of the city named Jean de Haulte, who lived in 1361. Initially residing at the Sainte-Catherine church, in 1501 there were no fewer than 33 sisters. But towards the end of this century tensions arose in the community, which led to the former superior withdrawing to Lessines ( Zwartstersters Lessines ) in 1584 and some sisters from Mons ( Augustine Soeurs Noires de Mons ) moved for five years . While they shrank to eight sisters during this time, in 1660 they again had 18 members and as such were even given permission to attend high mass in their chapel in the following year . Three years later, a brotherhood in honor of St. Apollonia was established in the chapel .

In 1669 they had to leave their monastery and move into the sanctuary of the Benedictine abbey of Cysoing . But they don't seem to have stayed here for long, because in 1676 they inaugurated their new chapel in honor of St. Ursula in their new monastery on Rue des Soeurs Noires . In the next few years the sisters also gave lessons and in 1780 had no fewer than 40 boarders. But the days of fellowship were numbered. After the French takeover, they submitted the required property register on August 6, 1796. On March 15, 1797, they were ordered to take off their religious dress and the monastery itself was closed on May 14, 1979. The sisters then left it on January 20, 1798, but do not seem to have responded to a reorganization request on May 10, 1807.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Black Sisters of Tournai, Sion. A voice in the church for our time. Catholic church magazine. With the participation of well-known Catholic experts and scholars, Dr. Johann Sg. Außenecker, Augsburg 1872 in the Google book search
  2. ↑ Black Sisters of Tournai, Maria Ward's Institute before Roman Congregations (1616-1630), by Josef Grisar SJ Roma 1966, Pontificia Università Gregoriana in the Google book search