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The Holy War or The Story of Abbot de Rancé
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Trappist Reformer (1626-1700) Rancé, a worldly young priest avid for glory and freedom, was suddenly transformed by divine grace and withdrew into a fervent retreat. He then undertook the reform of La Trappe Abbey. Many elite souls from secular society and from other religious Orders were drawn to the Trappist community, thereby creating powerful enemies for its holy founder, especially among lax Churchmen. Rancé was a holy man who blazed a trail to the heights of sanctity in an age of decadence. This work, based on authentic historical documents, relates the story of the holy abbot and his many ecclesiastical difficulties.
Trappist Reformer (1626-1700) Rancé, a worldly young priest avid for glory and freedom, was suddenly transformed by divine grace and withdrew into a fervent retreat. He then undertook the reform of La Trappe Abbey. Many elite souls from secular society and from other religious Orders were drawn to the Trappist community, thereby creating powerful enemies for its holy founder, especially among lax Churchmen. Rancé was a holy man who blazed a trail to the heights of sanctity in an age of decadence. This work, based on authentic historical documents, relates the story of the holy abbot and his many ecclesiastical difficulties. 176 pages, illustrations.
The work of Abbot de Rancé, whose fruits of sanctity have left their mark on the history of the Church, has very unusual origins. It was founded, so to speak, in "disobedience" to the ecclesiatical authorities of the day, who saw in it only exaggeration and schism. Like all the Saints, Abbot de Rancé certainly desired submission farm more than a position of command, but he could not permit the will of men, whether bishops or pope, to take precedence over that of God.
We find in our own times situations somewhat analogous to those the present story contains... A great many people today are asking themselves questions; they are perplexed and do not know exactly what attitude to adopt. To what point must one pursue obedience? Where do the rights of authority end? When does obedience become a deformation, and consequently, opposed to God Himself? These questions are not easy to resolve.
It is with the intention of opening up horizons too little known, that we publish certain episodes from the life of the great Reformer of La Trappe. We believe that this account is of such a nature as to enlighten sincere minds who are asking themselves how to react in the face of the current quandary, and in particular, when faced with authorities who oppose the supernatural. Perhaps in the light of the examples of Abbot de Rancé, some will find illumination and courage... May God grant it should be so!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .....Page 7
AN OLD CONFLICT
Arrival of Father de Rancé at La Trappe (1662). - Long-standing war between the Strict and the Mitigated Observance. - Vain efforts of Cardinal de la Rochefoucauld. - Father de Rancé is deputized to go to Rome in defense of the Reform .....15FIRST DISILLUSIONMENTS (1663)
Father de Rancé is furnished with letters of commendation. - The Abbot of Cîteaux is in great favor at Rome. - Meeting with Father Bona. - Rome's prejudices against the Reform .....22THE ABBOT OF CITEAUX' GAME
Encounter of the two adversaries. - The Abbot of Cîteaux refuses all concessions. - His dishonest dealings .....27A COMFORTING CONVERSATION (1664)
Disgust of Father de Rancé over the incomprehension of Rome concerning the Reform. - Audience with Pope Alexander VII. - Encouragements and promises of the Pope. .....33LIVING REPROACH
Fury of the greater part of the religious against Father de Rancé and his monastery. - Rome wants to group the Mitigated and the Reformed under a single leader. - It is claimed that abstinence from meat is the only difference between the two Observances .....39SCANDAL AT THE SORBONNE
Father de Rancé drafts Memoranda demonstrating the true meaning of the Reform. - He almost wins his case. - The thesis of the young Dom Montulé, Reformed, causes a scandal. - Rome henceforth considers the Reform as a dangerous germ of heresy .....46A CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE
The proposed brief against the Reform. - Father de Rancé is refused an audience with the Pope. - The Queen-mother pleads for the Reform. -Rome waits for her death before issuing the brief - Father de Rancé henceforth meets a wall of silence - He suspects a secret plan. .....51A DEPARTURE WHICH CAUSES A FUROR (1665)
Following his counsellors' advice, the Abbot of La Trappe leaves Rome. - Reproaches and accusations from all quarters follow that decision .....56RETURN TO ROME
The Vicar General of the Reform persuades Father de Rancé to return to Rome. - He immediately leaves Lyon. - Letter to Mother Louise. - His departure proves to have been an excellent maneuver .....59A FACADE OF SYMPATHY
The cardinals of the Commission give hope to Father de Rancé. A new Memorandum summarizing the petitions of the Reform. - The Abbot of Cîteaux boasts of having won. Complaints of de Rancé to the president of the Commission. - The latter denies the pretensions of the Abbot of Cîteaux, but betrays his opposition to the Reform. .....65NEW MEASURES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS
Father de Rancé longs for solitude. - He wants to have no desires but those of God. - Cardinal de Retz asks for an audience with Alexander VII. - He pleads for the Reform. - The Pope assures him that he will maintain it, but refuses to permit this to become known to the Commission. - Alexander's duplicity .....71THE FAMILY'S OFFENSIVE
The relatives of Father de Rancé discover that he has stripped himself of all his wealth, and they become indignant. - Certain public declarations brand him as a madman and a visionary. - The joy of the abbot over being despised. - His detachment. .....76A FATAL LOSS (1666)
Death of the Queen-mother Anne of Austria. - Alexander VII signs his brief at once and commands it to be kept secret. - Father de Rancé has nothing more to do in Rome. - Visit to Father Bona. - He advises him of his project of officially establishing the Strict Observance at La Trappe. - Fears of Father Bona.FAREWELLS
The Abbots de Rancé and du Val Richer obtain a farewell audience with the Pope. - Conditions imposed on them. - Farewells to the cardinals of the Commission. - Unanimous recommendations made to Father de Rancé. .....83TRIUMPH OF THE MITIGATED
Return of Father de Rancé to his monastery. - Publication of the brief of Alexander VII. - He ruins the Reform while uttering its praises. - Growing temerity of the Mitigated .....86A SPECTACULAR PROTEST BY THE REFORMED (1667)
Convocation of the General Chapter at Cîteaux. - Promulgation of the brief. - Father de Rancé and his adherents oppose it openly, causing a scandal. - They appeal to Rome. .....92SPREAD OF THE REFORM
The abbeys of Orval and of the Daughters of Saint Anthony in Paris adopt the Strict Observance. Violent opposition and accusations. - A letter of encouragement from Father de Rancé is circulated in the world. - The polemics that follow. .....99EXCOMMUNICATION (1670)
More Celestines join La Trappe. - Threats and insults of their Provincial to Father de Rancé. - Pontifical brief against de Rancé. - The Provincial proposes a convention. - De Rancé judges it unacceptable in conscience; the Sorbonne theologians defend him and judge the brief to be null. - Clement X, under pain of excommunication, forbids religious of certain Orders to withdraw to La Trappe. - Recourse to the civil authorities to remove religious from La Trappe. .....109AN ATTEMPTED MURDER
The Abbot of Cîteaux dies and is replaced by Dom Petit. - The latter is poisoned because he is favorable to the Reform. - Execution of the monk Bourée. - The secular judges ask the king to put an end to the Cîteaux scandals. .....116AGAINST CLEMENT X (1672)
Letter from Abbot de Rancé to Dom Petit. - The latter cedes out of fear of his adversaries. - From being only neutral, he becomes a sworn enemy of the Reform. - Clement X grants a brief against the Reform. - Another Chapter. - Protests of the Reformed against the brief. - They declare the Chapter uncanonical and withdraw. - Other Fathers of the Reformed Observance do likewise. .....119INCORRUPTIBLE
Nominations of the Abbot of La Trappe to the post of Visitor. - He refuses out of conscience. - The Abbot of Cîteaux sees this as contempt for his authority. - La Trappe is called a "schismatic house". .....125DESERTERS OF THEIR FLOCK
The Abbot of Cîteaux wants to become Visitor to La Trappe in order to better destroy it. - Official consultation at the Sorbonne. - Letter from the Abbot Clairvaux to de Rancé asking him how to proceed. - Cowardice in the face of duty. .....129APPEAL TO THE KING (1673)
The king sends the appeal of the Reformed against the brief of Clement X to the Pope. - Father de Rancé thinks of breaking entirely with the order of Cîteaux. - His peace amidst persecution and failure. - Final petition to the king, who agrees to hear the case. - Father de Rancé is advised to win the good graces of Madame de Montespan. - His reply. - The attitude of the Mitigated: a vicious circle. .....135AGAINST AND CONTRARY TO EVERYTHING
Madame de la Vieuville, Abbess of Leime, wants to establish the Reform in her convent. - Her resistance to the Visitor and the Abbot of Cîteaux. - Instruction from Father de Rancé. - The firmness of the Abbess achieves the victory. - Defamatory libels against de Rancé. - His lack of concern about his reputation. - Louis XIV confirms the brief of Clement X. .....139THE WIND TURNS (1676)
Father de Rancé believes everything lost and withdraws to seclusion. - Dom du Tertre as official Visitor to La Trappe. - The monks' secret votes cause his prejudices to vanish. - Praise of La Trappe, first approbation. .....145A THUNDERBOLT
Visit to La Trappe of the Abbot de Saumon, the Reform's most dangerous enemy. - His conversion. - He proves by deeds the sincerity of his words. .....151A SAINT WAS NEEDED (1677-1678)
Petitions and letter of Father de Rancé to Innocent XI. - His requests are granted by the holy Pontiff. - Praises and encouragements of Innocent XI for the Abbot of La Trappe and his monastery. - Approbation of the king. - Talk of promoting Father de Rancé to the cardinalate. - de Rancé desires only solitude. Death of Innocent XI. .....155POSTSCRIPT .....163
TABLE OF CONTENTS .....165
BIBLIOGRAPHY .....171
WORKS CONSULTED .....172
0818
Specific References
- isbn
- 978-2-7623-0818-1
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Trappist Reformer (1626-1700) Rancé, a worldly young priest avid for glory and freedom, was suddenly transformed by divine grace and withdrew into a fervent retreat. He then undertook the reform of La Trappe Abbey. Many elite souls from secular society and from other religious Orders were drawn to the Trappist community, thereby creating powerful enemies for its holy founder, especially among lax Churchmen. Rancé was a holy man who blazed a trail to the heights of sanctity in an age of decadence. This work, based on authentic historical documents, relates the story of the holy abbot and his many ecclesiastical difficulties.