Floreffe Abbey

The Abbey Floreffe was the second establishment of a branch by the Premonstratensian order. The abbey is in the village on the river Sambre Floreffe, about eleven kilometers southwest of the Belgian city of Namur.

History

In the year after the founding of the order of the Premonstratensian Order of the Founder Norbert of Xanten returned on his way from Cologne to Prémontrés with those intended for the new church in Prémontrés relics Gottfried, Count of Namur, and his wife Ermesinde in their castle in Namur one. His manner impressed his co-hosts probably so strong, that they asked him to found a house of his order also in the nearby town Floreffe.

The donation agreement for a church and for the Abbey useful building to the Premonstratensian was signed on 27 November 1121, therefore, the branch in Floreffe is chronologically the second abbey of the Order. Norbert laid the foundation stone for the church, which was to be called Salve, for the Abbey ( " Mary flower " ) is the name Flos Mariae was chosen.

According to the records of the Abbey Norbert saw fall on the paten during the show a drop of blood from the sacred Host. To his question out to him the deacon also present confirmed his observation. The altar on which Norbert then celebrated Mass, still stands in Floreffe.

Richard, one of the first, who had joined Norbert, was appointed by him for the first abbot. The second abbot Almaric was sent by Pope Innocent II to preach the gospel to Palestine. Some brothers from Floreffe accompanied him to the Holy Land, where he founded in 1137 the Abbey of St. Habacuc. Had Philip, Count of Namur, gave the sixth abbot Weric a big piece of the cross of Christ, which he I. by his brother Baldwin, the ruler of Constantinople Opel obtained. The records two years have mentioned, namely 1204 and 1254, in which the Feast of the Exaltation blood dripping from the relic, each in the presence of the clergy and a great crowd. At the time of dissolution of the monastery, the relic was brought to safety and them years later, when expelled from France canons had acquired an old Augustinian monastery at Bois- Seigneur- Isaac returned.

From the Abbey Floreffe from various abbeys were founded, including in 1138 in Mol - Postel first as a priory later Postel abbey, in the year 1152 in the Abbey of Leffe and already in 1122 the abbey in Wenau. 1135 Premonstratensian populated at the request of the bishop of Trier discontinued by the Benedictine abbey Rommersdorf.

Count Henry IV was buried in Floreffe.

Dissolution of the monastery

Elected in 1791, Abbot Louis de Fromantau was the 55th and last abbot in Floreffe. With the occupation of the Austrian Netherlands by the army of the First French Republic, all clergy were expelled and confiscated the abbey with all their possession. In 1797 it was for sale and was purchased by Canon Richald, who passed himself off as a Republican, for the abbot and his convent. After the Concordat of 1801, the abbot returned with some of the brethren back to the abbey. The difficulties were insurmountable, however, after the death of the last member the convent abbey fell to the Bishop of Namur, the seminar was set up in Floreffe.

Seminar

The seminar consists in the Abbey today. Many of the former buildings have been preserved and can be visited on the opening times of the seminar.

Beer

The monastery's own beer Floreffe is since 1983 under license by Brasserie Lefebvre in Quenast, the suburbs of the village of Rebecq, brewed and distributed; there Floreffe in grades Blonde, Dubbel, Tripel and Prima Melior.

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