CANONESSES REGULAR. - Alongside the Regular Canons, a female branch of R. C. soon formed. In this regard, the rule entitled De institutione monialium, promulgated at the imperial Chapter of Louis the Pious in 816, is of particular interest. The institution of female branches also came about from the 11th century onward for the Camaldolese, Cistercians and other orders. The nuns, called
R. C., at first had their dwelling, separated by a dividing wall, next to that of the Canons. They followed the rule, the customs and the manner of dress of the Canons, adapted for them. They were presided over by a superior with the title of abbess or prioress.
As regards jurisdiction, spiritual direction and administration, they depended on the prelate of the Canons, or on the abbot general among the Premonstratensians. These R. C. followed the fate of the Canons, and many houses were secularized, particularly at the time of the Protestant Reformation. Others returned to the primitive observance under the dependence of the various male congregations, such as the R. C. of Windesheim, the Lateranenses and others. They died out during the Napoleonic suppression; after the restoration a certain number of houses still survive in Italy, Spain, England and Belgium.
Bibliography
Nicola Widdlecher
I. MISSIONARY CANONESSES OF ST. AUGUSTINE OF LOUVAIN
The Congregation was founded in 1897 by Mother M. L. de Meester; in 1911 it received the "decretum laudis" and in 1926 its constitutions were approved. The sisters devote themselves to the missionary apostolate through the education and the primary and higher instruction of children and young women; they have their mother house in Belgium and work in many territories of Africa, India, China, the Philippine Islands, and America.
Saverio Paventi
II. REGULAR CANONESSES OF ST. AUGUSTINE
A congregation that arose in Lorraine in 1597 through the work of St. Peter Fourier and Blessed Alix Le Clerc (Marie-Thérèse of Jesus). In 1932, at the wish of the Holy See and in order to give broader impetus to its works, 29 monasteries united under the direction of the generalate in Rome. The constitutions approved by Paul V in 1615 and by Innocent X in 1645 were revised, corrected and newly approved by Pius XI in 1932. The purpose of the institute is the instruction and education of young people of every class. At present it gathers more than 1000 religious women in 30 houses scattered across Italy, France, Belgium, England, and Indochina.
Bibliography
Silverio Mattei