Conceptionists
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The Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, also known as the Conceptionists' were a Spanish order of nuns.[1]
Founded in 1484 at Toledo, Spain, by St. Beatrix de Silva, sister of Blessed Amadeus. On the marriage of Princess Elizabeth of Portugal with King John II of Castile, Beatrix had accompanied the queen to the court of her husband, but her great beauty having aroused the jealousy of the queen, she escaped with difficulty and took refuge in the Dominican convent at Toledo. Here for forty years she led a life of holiness, without becoming a member of the Order. Inspired by her devotion to the Blessed Virgin to found a new congregation in her honour, Beatrix, with some companions, took possession of a castle set apart for them by Queen Isabella of Castile.
In 1489, by permission of pope Innocent VIII, the sisters adopted the Cistercian rule, bound themselves to the daily recitation of the Office of the Immaculate Conception, and were placed under obedience to the ordinary of the archdiocese. In 1501 Pope Alexander VI united this congregation with the Benedictine community of San Pedro de las Duenas, under the Rule of St. Clare, but in 1511 Julius II gave it a rule of its own, and in 1616 special constitutions were drawn up for the congregation by Cardinal Francis Quiñones.
The second convent was founded in 1507 at Torrigo, from which, in turn, were established seven others. The congregation soon spread through Spain, Italy, and France. The foundress determined on the habit, which was white, with a white scapular and blue mantle.
The foundress, Beatrice da Silva Meneses (sometimes "Brite") (1424-90), was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1976; her feast day is 1 September.
[edit] References
- ^ "Congregation of the Immaculate Conception". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). New York: Robert Appleton Company.
This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.
