ALVASTRA (Alwastra, Alvastrum, Alvaster). - An ancient Cistercian abbey in Sweden, on the eastern shore of Lake Vätter, south of Vadstena, in the diocese of Linköping, in the province of Östergötland. The fortieth foundation of Clairvaux, the first house of the Cistercians in the Scandinavian countries, it arose, while St. Bernard was still alive, in 1143 with the support of King Sverker and his wife Ulvilde (Alfhild, Alvida), patrons of the monastic life in the nation. In memory of the queen it was named Alfhildrum (Alvilstad), whence later Alvastrum. It quickly grew in splendor and renown. Its first abbot was Robert; the monk Stephen, most learned, venerated in the Order as blessed, was, in 1164, elected first archbishop of Uppsala and primate of Sweden. With the same founding king began the series of sovereigns buried in A. Gustavus Vasa (1523-60) suppressed the famous community, confiscating its goods: the last abbot, Torkil, imposed by the government as royal administrator, resigned in 1529. The important library was dispersed. Today only imposing ruins remain, especially of the church, a testimony to its ancient grandeur.
A. is particularly linked to the memory of St. Bridget, whose son Benedict died there as a young student, while the saint's husband, Prince Ulf, with her consent, was received there until his death and numbered among the familiares or "confratres" of the monastery (cf. Menologium Cisterc., under 21 March and 26 July). Bridget herself, after the death of her spouse (12 Feb. 1344), wished to lead a solitary life there (1344-1346), until her departure for Rome, where the prior of the monastery, Peter Olaf, followed her.
From A. originated (filiae) the abbeys of Varnhem, Saba (Julita or Juleta) and Gudsberga (Mons Domini; Husaby).
Bibliography9 worksG. Iongelinus, Notitia Abbatiarum Ord. Cisterc., VII, Cologne 1640, p. 36; A. Manrique, Annales Cisterc., year 1143, ch. 7, no. 5, Lyon 1642
BIBL.: G. Iongelinus, Notitia Abbatiarum Ord. Cisterc., VII, Cologne 1640, p. 36; A. Manrique, Annales Cisterc., year 1143, ch. 7, no. 5, Lyon 1642, pp. 452 ff.; P. Ekermann, Alvastra in Ostrogathia, Uppsala 1722; A. Rhyzelius, Monasterologia Sinogathica, Linköping 1740, pp. 121-32; L. Janauschek, Origin. Cisterc., I, Vienna 1877, pp. 73-74; Fr. Hall, Beiträge zur Geschichte der Cistercienser-Klösser in Schweden (trans. from the Swedish), in Cistercienser-Chronik, 15 (1903), pp. 167-77 and 193-202 (with a drawing of the ruins); U. Berlière, s. v. in DHG, II, col. 892 (with a list of the abbots); Wdw. Ortved. Cisterciorodenem og dens Klostere i Norden, II, Copenhagen 1933, pp. 53-141; L. H. Cottineau, Répertoire Topo-Bibliographique des Abbayes et Prieurés, I, Mâcon 1939, col. 75 f.
Cecchetti, Igino. “Alvastra (Alwastra, alvastrum, alvaster[8]).” In Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. I, col. 955. Città del Vaticano: Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico, 1948. https://azioneromana.com/article/alvastra-alwastra-alvastrum-alvaster-8.
MLA
Cecchetti, Igino. “Alvastra (Alwastra, alvastrum, alvaster[8]).” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. I, Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico, 1948, col. 955. Azione Romana, https://azioneromana.com/article/alvastra-alwastra-alvastrum-alvaster-8.
BibTeX
@incollection{ec1_alvastra_alwastra_alvastrum_al,
author = {Cecchetti, Igino},
title = {Alvastra (Alwastra, alvastrum, alvaster[8])},
booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica},
volume = {I},
pages = {955},
note = {Cited by column},
publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico},
address = {Città del Vaticano},
year = {1948},
url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/alvastra-alwastra-alvastrum-alvaster-8}
}
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