Abbess - Wikipedia An abbess (Latin: abbatissa) is the female superior of a community of nuns in an abbey [1] In the Catholic Church (both the Latin Church and Eastern Catholic), Eastern Orthodox, Coptic, Lutheran and Anglican abbeys, the mode of election, position, rights, and authority of an abbess correspond generally with those of an abbot [2]
Abbess | Monasticism, Nuns, Convents | Britannica abbess, the title of a superior of certain communities of nuns following the Benedictine Rule, of convents of the Second Order of St Francis (Poor Clares), and of certain communities of canonesses The first historical record of the name is on a Roman inscription dated c 514
What Is the Role and History of an Abbess in the Catholic Church? An abbess in the Catholic Church is a woman who leads a community of nuns, typically within a monastery or abbey Her role combines spiritual guidance, administrative oversight, and representation of her community in ecclesiastical matters
ABBESS | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary In return for the aid, the abbess expected to reap the fruits of royal patronage once the king's fortunes were reversed The introductory essay provides a vivid account of some of the last abbesses and prioresses drawn mainly from episcopal and archiepiscopal visitation records
Abbess: Her Role in Womens History - ThoughtCo An abbess is the female head of a convent of nuns A few abbesses headed double monasteries including both women and men The term Abbess, as a parallel to the term Abbott, first came into wide use with the Benedictine Rule, though it was used occasionally before that
What is an Abbess? - PopeHistory. com Picture a wise, strong-willed woman in flowing robes, striding purposefully through the echoing stone corridors of a medieval abbey That’s an abbess for you – the female equivalent of an abbot and the boss lady of a convent or monastery
Abbess - Encyclopedia. com ABBESS Term derived from abbot (Aramaic abba, father), "abbess" is the title of a female superior of a monastic community of nuns Superiors were referred to as mater monasterii, mater monacharum, praeposita; the term "abbess" appeared for the first time in the West on the tomb of a certain "Serena, abbatissa" (d c
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Abbess - NEW ADVENT An Abbess can exercise supreme domestic authority (potestas dominativa) over her monastery and all its dependencies, but as a female, she is debarred from exercising any power of spiritual jurisdiction, such as belongs to an abbot
Abbess vs. Prioress — What’s the Difference? An abbess is the head of an abbey of nuns, holding considerable autonomy and authority, whereas a prioress serves under an abbess in larger communities or leads smaller ones without the full authority of an abbess