Westmalle

Westmalle, Belgium / Male

Location

Official nameAbdij der Trappisten
Number03
  • Westmalle0
  • Westmalle1
  • Westmalle2
  • Westmalle3
  • Westmalle4
  • Westmalle5
  • Westmalle6
  • Westmalle7
  • Westmalle8
  • Westmalle9
  • Westmalle10
  • Westmalle11
  • Westmalle12
  • Westmalle13
  • Westmalle14
  • Westmalle15
  • Westmalle16
  • Westmalle17

Contact Information

Telephone[32] (3) 312.92.00
Fax[32] (3) 312 92 20
Guesthouse emailbr_albericus@abdijwestmalle.be
Websitewww.trappistwestmalle.be
SuperiorDom Benedict Van Overstraeten, Commissaire Monastique 2022

Other Information

Juridical statusAbbey
DioceseDioecesis Antverpiensis (Antwerpen)
OCSO regionNED
OriginsFounded by La Valsainte
History
  • 1794, 6 June: Foundation. July 17: Escape to Munster from the Revolutionary armies. Marienfeld.
  • 1795, 15 October: Foundation of a refuge at Darfeld, which later became a formal foundation.
  • 1802, 3 August – 14 October: the monks have to leave following their suppression by Napoleon. The real estate is not confiscated, thanks to the protests of the legal owner, the Baron de Caters. One choir monk and two laybrothers remain behind.
  • 1814, July-August: The community re-forms and on 20 August resumes regular life. At this time the community comprises 4 choir monks, 2 of whom are priests, 21 laybrothers and a few novices.
  • 1836: Westmalle had been following the observances of la Val-Sainte up to this time. But because of the union of the two French observances, Westmalle was left without any administrative links to the other houses founded by la Val-Sainte. So, in order to secure their canonical existence, the monks requested the approval of their observances. Rome refused, but in compensation for their sacrifices, offered to raise the monastery to the rank of abbey and to create a Belgian Trappist congregation, of which the abbot of Westmalle would be Vicar General.
  • 1872: The first General Chapter of the Belgian Trappist Congregation is held 1 – 3 October.
  • 1887, 30 July: Consecration of the church.
  • 1899, 20 June: re-consecration of the church, necessitated by the demolition and complete rebuilding of the presbyterium and high altar.
  • 1914-18: The community, apart from a few monks and laybrothers, is evacuated during WWI. The evacuees stayed together as a community first at Echt then at Tegelen.
Father immediateCîteaux until 1962, Sint Sixtus until 1980, thereafter Zundert; Delegate of the Father Immediate until 2020 Caldey; Zundert
Daughter houses[Schiermonnikoog]; [Rochefort]; [Orval] (since1946); [Kasanza]; [Nazareth] (since 1950); [Mvanda] (since 1991) Achel; Tegelen; Soleilmont (1922-1972); Sint Sixtus (1836-1972); Redwoods (1963-1969).
Lay associatesLes associés cisterciens de l’abbaye Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur de Westmalle
Past superiors
  • Benedictus WUYTS — Abbé— 16/03/1872 – 13/07/1896
  • Ferdinandus BROECHOVEN — Abbé — 12/08/1896 – 12/09/1911
  • Herman-Joseph SMETS — Abbé — 30/10/1911 – 16/07/1929
  • Tarcisius van der KAMP — Abbé — 17/08/1929 – 19/12/1939
  • Robertus EYCKMANS — Abbé — 20/01/1940 – 12/09/1956
  • Eduardus WELLENS — Abbé — 09/10/1956 – 15/01/1967
  • Déodat DE WILDE — Abbé — 03/03/1967 – 01/04/1975
  • Bartholomeus de STRIJCKER — Abbé — 17/04/1975 – 13/10/1987
  • Ivo DUJARDIN — Abbé — 28/10/1987 – 12/07/2004
  • Nathanaël KONINKX — Supérieur ad nutum 2004 — Abbé 2005 – 01/11/2022
Work/incomeBrewery, dairy farm
Guest facilities40 rooms
TransportationAutobus 41 Antwerpen-Turnhout (halte Westmalle : Trappisten).
FoundationsSint Sixte (1831); Meersel/Achel (1846-2011); Tegelen (1884-20…); Bamania (Belgian Congo, 1893-1925)
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