Glanfeuil Abbey
Encyclopedia
Glanfeuil Abbey was a French Benedictine
monastery in Anjou
. The village of Saint-Maur is in the commune of Le Thoureil
, in the diocese of Angers and the modern department of Maine-et-Loire
.
It was founded by Saint Maurus
, according to the legendary account of abbot Odo of Glanfeuil
, or by Benedict of Nursia
himself, the teacher of Maurus. The modern common view is that the founder, one Maurus of Glanfeuil, was a distinct person. The site is thought to be that of a Roman villa, and the religious community may date back to the 6th century.
Glanfeuil claimed to be the oldest Benedictine foundation in Gaul. Rorgon I of Maine
was perhaps the founder or patron, in 824. In 868 the monks of Glanfeuil founded a second monastery, at Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
.
The abbey was destroyed by the Normans, but rebuilt. It was suppressed in 1790 in the wake of the French Revolution
. Eventually it was refounded in the surviving structures, in 1890, by Louis-Charles Couturier
.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery in Anjou
Anjou
Anjou is a former county , duchy and province centred on the city of Angers in the lower Loire Valley of western France. It corresponds largely to the present-day département of Maine-et-Loire...
. The village of Saint-Maur is in the commune of Le Thoureil
Le Thoureil
Le Thoureil is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France....
, in the diocese of Angers and the modern department of Maine-et-Loire
Maine-et-Loire
Maine-et-Loire is a department in west-central France, in the Pays de la Loire region.- History :Maine-et-Loire is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. Originally it was called Mayenne-et-Loire, but its name was changed to Maine-et-Loire in 1791....
.
It was founded by Saint Maurus
Saint Maurus
Saint Maurus was the first disciple of St. Benedict of Nursia . He is mentioned in St. Gregory the Great's biography of the latter as the first oblate; offered to the monastery by his noble Roman parents as a young boy to be brought up in the monastic life. Four stories involving Maurus recounted...
, according to the legendary account of abbot Odo of Glanfeuil
Odo of Glanfeuil
Odo of Glanfeuil was a ninth-century Benedictine abbot of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, a historian, and hagiographer.He entered the Abbey of Saint Maur de Glanfeuil not later than 856 and became its abbot in 861. In 868 Odo became also Abbot of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés.In 864 he issued a "Life of St...
, or by Benedict of Nursia
Benedict of Nursia
Saint Benedict of Nursia is a Christian saint, honored by the Roman Catholic Church as the patron saint of Europe and students.Benedict founded twelve communities for monks at Subiaco, about to the east of Rome, before moving to Monte Cassino in the mountains of southern Italy. There is no...
himself, the teacher of Maurus. The modern common view is that the founder, one Maurus of Glanfeuil, was a distinct person. The site is thought to be that of a Roman villa, and the religious community may date back to the 6th century.
Glanfeuil claimed to be the oldest Benedictine foundation in Gaul. Rorgon I of Maine
Rorgon I of Maine
Rorgon I or Rorico I was the first Count of Maine of the Rorgonid dynasty, which he founded. He was Count of Rennes from 819 and of Maine from 832 until his death....
was perhaps the founder or patron, in 824. In 868 the monks of Glanfeuil founded a second monastery, at Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 11.7 km. from the center of Paris.-The abbey:...
.
The abbey was destroyed by the Normans, but rebuilt. It was suppressed in 1790 in the wake of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. Eventually it was refounded in the surviving structures, in 1890, by Louis-Charles Couturier
Louis-Charles Couturier
Louis-Charles Couturier was a French Benedictine, abbot of the monastery of Saint-Pierre at Solesmes and President of the French Congregation of Benedictines.-Life:...
.