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Hildegard XII
Century Nun
who became
Abbess
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An abbess (Abbatissa Latin, feminine form of Abbas, abbot) Is a superior woman, known as Mother Superior (a), Of an abbey of nuns.
In the Catholic Church (both Eastern and Roman Catholic), Orthodox, Coptic and Anglican abbeys. The mode of election, position, rights and authority of an abbess correspond generally with those of an abbot.
The office is elective, the choice to be by secret ballot of nuns belonging to the community. As an abbot, the abbess is solemnly admitted to his office for formal blessing, conferred by the bishop in whose territory is situated the monastery, or by an abbot or another bishop, with permission. Unlike the abbot, abbess only get the ring and a copy of the rule of the order. She receives a miter, or is given a staff as part of the ceremony, however, by ancient tradition, you can take a staff to lead their community. The abbess traditionally also adds a pectoral cross of his habit as a symbol of office.
Abbesses are, like abbots, major superiors according to canon law. They receive the vows of the nuns of the abbey and have full authority in his administration. Not having received Holy Orders in the Catholic, Orthodox and Eastern churches do not have certain powers under abbots, or exercise authority over territories outside the monastery.
Historically, some Celtic monasteries are headed by abbots and are generally joint houses of monks and nuns, a famous example is St. Bridget of Kildare leadership in the founding of the monastery of Kildare in Ireland. This custom accompanied Celtic monastic missions to France, Spain, and even Rome itself. In 1115, Robert, the founder of the Abbey of Fontevraud near Chinon and Saumur, France, committed the government of the whole order, both men and women, her superiority.
Lutheran Church, the title of abbess (Äbtissin) in some cases (for example, Itzehoe) survived to the appointment of the heads of abbeys which since the Reformation have continued as Stifte. These are bases of chartered, providing a home and an income for unmarried ladies, generally of noble birth, called canons (Kanonissinen) or, more commonly Stiftsdamen. The office of the Abbess of considerable social dignity, and in the past, it was sometimes filled by princesses of the reigning houses. Until the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and the mediation of Napoleon's imperial turfs, Abbess of Quedlinburg evangelical also the head of that office Reichsunmittelbar state. The ruling last as abbess was Sofia Albertina, Princess of Sweden.