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Begijnhof 2
May. 3rd, 2005 09:44 amIf you want to have a short walk in Leuven Great Beguinage (Groot Begijnhof) here is a nice site (click on the picture):
The origin of Beguinages or Beguine Courts
In the beginning, most religious women lived apart. After the end of the double cloisters, they looked for other places. They were certainly stimulated to go and live in groups, convents, because in this way, it was easier to get overview and control over this religious movement. (about 1240) The oldest, still existing document mentions the Beguinage of Leuven in 1232. This beguine convent was founded outside the city walls of those days. Tradition has it that the beguines of Leuven originally lived in Meldert, a small village at 10 miles from the city. They would have left this village because of misery of war. Until now, no written document has been found, confirming this legend, but it is a fact that the beguinage of Leuven owned several properties in the village of Meldert.
In the Low Countries, some of these convents developed into beguine courts, i.e., extensive groups of houses around a church. In some beguinages in Flanders (e.g. Bruges), these houses are grouped in a large square, whereas other beguinages (e.g. Leuven) look like a small city, with streets. These beguinages are mostly situated on the edge of a city, outside the former city walls, and very often near a river: beguines needed water, for instance, to wash clothes.
So, we distinguish three stages in the development of beguinages. The first is the period of "beginae indisciplinatae": women inspired by the mystical movement of the 12th century, retired from the world. During the second period, these women formed small groups, to create a more stimulating atmosphere for a religious life. (beginae disciplinatae). The third step only appeared in the Low Countries and, as we will see, this is one of the reasons why only there the beguine movement survived the early troubles: the formation of extensive beguine courts or beguinages, often with hundreds of "beginae clausae". In the beginning of the fourteenth century, a new wave of foundations took place. Apart from a few exceptions, the convents erected in this era, however, did not grow into large beguine courts.
Beguines did not make perpetual vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, as classical monks and nuns did. Their promises were only temporal and poverty was not necessary: a beguine had her own possessions and her own income. She only promised celibacy and obedience as long as she remained in the beguinage. She was free to leave the community at any moment, although she mostly had to give up her rights on her house in the beguinage upon leaving.
Very nice history link
The origin of Beguinages or Beguine Courts
In the beginning, most religious women lived apart. After the end of the double cloisters, they looked for other places. They were certainly stimulated to go and live in groups, convents, because in this way, it was easier to get overview and control over this religious movement. (about 1240) The oldest, still existing document mentions the Beguinage of Leuven in 1232. This beguine convent was founded outside the city walls of those days. Tradition has it that the beguines of Leuven originally lived in Meldert, a small village at 10 miles from the city. They would have left this village because of misery of war. Until now, no written document has been found, confirming this legend, but it is a fact that the beguinage of Leuven owned several properties in the village of Meldert.
In the Low Countries, some of these convents developed into beguine courts, i.e., extensive groups of houses around a church. In some beguinages in Flanders (e.g. Bruges), these houses are grouped in a large square, whereas other beguinages (e.g. Leuven) look like a small city, with streets. These beguinages are mostly situated on the edge of a city, outside the former city walls, and very often near a river: beguines needed water, for instance, to wash clothes.
So, we distinguish three stages in the development of beguinages. The first is the period of "beginae indisciplinatae": women inspired by the mystical movement of the 12th century, retired from the world. During the second period, these women formed small groups, to create a more stimulating atmosphere for a religious life. (beginae disciplinatae). The third step only appeared in the Low Countries and, as we will see, this is one of the reasons why only there the beguine movement survived the early troubles: the formation of extensive beguine courts or beguinages, often with hundreds of "beginae clausae". In the beginning of the fourteenth century, a new wave of foundations took place. Apart from a few exceptions, the convents erected in this era, however, did not grow into large beguine courts.
Beguines did not make perpetual vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, as classical monks and nuns did. Their promises were only temporal and poverty was not necessary: a beguine had her own possessions and her own income. She only promised celibacy and obedience as long as she remained in the beguinage. She was free to leave the community at any moment, although she mostly had to give up her rights on her house in the beguinage upon leaving.
Very nice history link
