Congregation of Saint Maur

Maurists were at the Benedictine Congregation of Saint Maur ( Maurists Congregation ), they were a religious order of monks in the Roman Catholic Church. In a narrower sense is meant by Maurists a particular direction of church historians in the 17th century, who have the history of the Church and to review the relevant sources critically.

Formation

On the initiative of the Cluniac monk Laurent Bernard (1573-1620) was developed in close connection to the Congregation of Lorraine, the French Benedictine Congregation of Reform Maurists. This was in 1618 by King Louis XIII. and in 1621 by Pope Gregory XV. approved. The first chapter Order decided in 1618 the name of the saint Maurus to take over (500 (512) -584 ), this was a disciple of the founder of the Order of the Benedictines, St. Benedict of Nursia ( 480-547 ). In no time, several French Benedictine monasteries joined the " Maurists " so that the congregation in 1675 numbered about 3,000 monks in 178 monasteries. The daily flow was prayer and the celebration of the liturgy, the monks were obliged to silence, fasting and abstinence.

Organization

The first Superior General, Dom Grégoire Tarisse (1575-1648) laid in 1630 the basic rules of the order established, its chief ingredient was the commitment to a strict religious discipline. The Congregation was centrally organized, the supreme body was made ​​up of 33 members of the Order section, this met every three years and voted for the same period of the Superior General, the visitators and provincial priors of individual monasteries.

Historical Research

Already the first religious superiors had suggested the Maurists for research in areas such as the patristic and history. Dom Luc d' Achery laid in 1648 the General Chapter of the Congregation a study plan. As the largest Maurist Dom Jean Mabillon applies, founder of diplomatics ( diplomatics ). The largest historic success was achieved by the Maurists of the monastery of Saint- Germain -des- Prés in Paris with the compliance of their " historical-critical method ". Furthermore, we are indebted to the monks the excellent editions of the works of Doctor of the Church Augustine of Hippo.

Decline

At the end of the 18th century led to long disputes with the Jansenism and the burgeoning conflict with the Jesuits to the decline of Maurists. A cautious new start was made in 1837, but could not connect to the past success.