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Port-Royal Abbey, Paris

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A wing of the cloisters in Port-Royal-de-Paris

Port-Royal Abbey was an abbey in Paris that was a stronghold of Jansenism. Cistercian nuns moved from the older abbey, Port-Royal-des-Champs, founded in 1204, to Paris and founded Port-Royal-de-Paris in 1626. There were frequent controversies as the sisters struggled against authorities in the church and at court. Some of the sisters returned to the medieval convent. Until its decimation in 1709, the Parisian abbey was highly influential and often in the news. It is today the site of an urban hospital.

History

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In 1625, the nuns' community left Port-Royal because of the climate and the danger of tuberculosis.[1] In 1626, the abbey left the Cistercian Order and was placed under the authority of the Archdioces of Paris.[2] Sébastien Zamet, bishop of Langres, was one of the abbey's major advisors at the time and became its ecclesial protector.[3] Angélique Arnauld retired in 1630.[4] In addition to the urban monastery, the nuns established a further house of prayer, namely the Institut du Saint-Sacrement, which was officially recognized by church and state in 1633. It did not survive for long. When it merged again, the nuns of Port-Royal adopted the large red cross on the front of their scapulars.[3] This adapted Cistercian habit became characteristic of Port-Royal.

The original abbey, in which the nuns had lived earlier, became known as Port-Royal-des-Champs. It was at times deserted, at other times occupied by men attracted to the circles around Port-Royal-de-Paris. They called themselves solitaires.[5] Some of the nuns later returned to Port-Royal-des-Champs, so that by 1648 there were two prioresses (one for each location), but one abbess.

In 1661, the powerful Cardinal Mazarin died and Louis XIV seized control of the government under the influence of his Jesuit confessor, Annat. In the same year Abbess Angélique died. Pascal died in 1662, which meant the loss of another influential person. In 1665, the two communities split. Both were dissolved in 1709. While the buildings of the rural abbey were torn down on orders of the king, the Parisian abbey was preserved.[6]

From 1793 remains of the abbey were used as a prison under the name Prison de Port-libre or Prison de la Bourbe. Chrétien Guillaume de Lamoignon de Malesherbes (lawyer for Louis XVI during his trial) and Madame de Tourzel, former governess of the "children of France", were held here.[7] Today its main cloister (pictured above) forms part of the modern Hôpital Cochin.[8]

Significance in philosophy, literature, and art

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The details of monastic life at the abbey often inspired painters (Philippe de Champaigne[9] and Louise Magdeleine Hortemels[10]) and writers (Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve).[11] In 1954, Henry de Monthernant published a play called Port Royal.[3]

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Abbaye de Port-Royal de Paris.
  1. ^ McKenna, Antony (2016), "Port-Royal", Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (1 ed.), London: Routledge, doi:10.4324/9780415249126-da063-1, ISBN 978-0-415-25069-6, retrieved 2024-11-03
  2. ^ Kostroun, Daniella (2003). "A Formula for Disobedience: Jansenism, Gender, and the Feminist Paradox". The Journal of Modern History. 75 (3): 483–522. doi:10.1086/380236. hdl:1805/15187. ISSN 0022-2801.
  3. ^ a b c Weaver, F. Ellen (1978). The Reform of Port Royal. From the Rule of Cîteaux to Jansenism. Editions Beauchesne. pp. 25, 62. ISBN 978-2-7010-0104-3.
  4. ^ Romanes, Ethel Duncan (1907). The Story of Port Royal. E.P. Dutton. p. 59.
  5. ^ Romanes, Ethel Duncan (1907). The Story of Port Royal. E.P. Dutton. p. 155.
  6. ^ Casey, Michael (2012-11-22), Birkedal Bruun, Mette (ed.), "The Cistercian Order since 1600", The Cambridge Companion to the Cistercian Order (1 ed.), Cambridge University Press, pp. 50–62, doi:10.1017/cco9780511735899.006, ISBN 978-1-107-00131-2, retrieved 2024-11-03
  7. ^ Barnard, Howard Clive (1913). The Little Schools of Port-Royal. University Press. p. 9.
  8. ^ Bacha, Myriam (1999-01-01). Le 14e arrondissement : itinéraires d'histoire et d'architecture (in French). FeniXX. p. 65. ISBN 978-2-402-40529-4.
  9. ^ Marin, Louis (1970). "Signe et représentation: Philippe de Champaigne et Port-Royal". Annales. Histoire, Sciences Sociales. 25 (1): 1–29. doi:10.3406/ahess.1970.422197. ISSN 0395-2649. JSTOR 27577482.
  10. ^ "[Map of Port-Royal-des-Champs Abbey by Louise-Magdeleine Horthemels] (The J. Paul Getty Museum Collection)". The J. Paul Getty Museum Collection. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  11. ^ "Charles-Augustin Sainte-Beuve, by George McLean Harper ..." HathiTrust. Retrieved 2024-11-03.

48°50′19″N 2°20′18″E / 48.83861°N 2.33833°E / 48.83861; 2.33833

Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 | Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port-Royal_Abbey,_Paris
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