Prémontré Abbey
The Abbey Prémontrés in Prémontrés west of Laon ( Aisne, France) was the mother house of the Premonstratensian order.
History
Norbert of Xanten founded the abbey in 1120 on fallow land, previously the abbey of Saint -Vincent, Laon ( the monks of Saint -Vincent had tried in vain to cultivate the land ) and had later heard a Bishop of Laon. In the deed of gift of the place was called Præmonstratus or pratum monstratum ( Pré- Montré or Prémontrés ). This related perhaps to a clearing in the woods, but was possibly inspired by the expression locus praemonstratus, " shown ( by God) place ," as he appears in the biographies of Godfrey of cap hill, one of the first students Norbert ( 1127 ): " Venit ad locum vere juxta nomen suum, a Domino premonstratum, electum et prædestinatum. " An old tradition relates that the Bishop of Laon and Norbert of Xanten Prémontrés had visited in mid-January and that the Bishop Norbert the white habit on January 25, have the feast of the conversion of Paul of Tarsus (Damascus experience ) passed.
After the end of the Council of Liege 1131 came Pope Innocent II and Norbert to Laon to Bishop Bartholomew. Together they visited the Abbey Prémontrés, where by this time about 500 priests, clerics and lay brothers under the guidance of Abbot Hugh of Fosses lived. In the General Chapter of 1141 was decided, the convent (it was originally the custom of the Premonstratensians to build double monasteries ) be installed so that it was at least a mile away from the monastery. On February 10, 1161 died Abbot Hugh, his successor was Philip, previously abbot of Belval in the Ardennes. Another important abbot in the history of Prémontrés was abbot John II, who founded the College of the Premonstratensian at the Sorbonne in 1252.
After the death of the 43rd Abbot General of Prémontrés, Virgilius, succeeded Cardinal Francis of Pisa, to also be used as a benefice of Prémontrés, and thus to secure the abbey and its total revenue from 1535 onwards. He was succeeded by Cardinal Ippolito II d' Este († 1572), papal legate in France. Taiée calls these two cardinals somewhat polemic " les fléaux de Prémontrés " ("the scourges of Prémontrés "). After the death of Estes came a free Abtwahl, was elected in the Jean Des Pruets, theologian at the Sorbonne; this choice was on December 14, 1572 by Pope Gregory XIII. confirmed. In Pruets to arrange the financial circumstances in Prémontrés, and other houses of the order again and consolidate succeeded. He died on May 15, 1596th With his successors, Longpré and Gosset, Prémontrés got more capable abbots. Their successors eventually became the Cardinal Richelieu, again as a benefice.
The last Abbot General, l' Ecuy, was elected in 1781. In the French Revolution, the abbey was dissolved, their property confiscated and sold the building to a certain Cagnon who tore down some parts and sold the stones. After a few more changes of ownership, the abbey finally came into the hands of Paul -Armand de Cardon de Garsignies, Bishop of Soissons, whose successor sold it to the Aisne, which in turn made from the abbey to a mental institution.
Building
From the medieval abbey is hardly survived something. Only three buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries are still standing, one of which is used as Norbert of Xanten consecrated church. The remaining part continues to serve as a psychiatric hospital