thumb|xaveria gasser, abbess of the elisabeth sisters convent in klagenfurt, carinthia, austria in 1756 an abbess (latin abbatissa, feminine form of abbas, abbot) is the female superior of a community of nuns, often an abbey.catholic encyclopedia. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01007e.htm ==description== in the catholic church (both the latin church and eastern catholic), eastern orthodox, coptic and anglican abbeys, the mode of election, position, rights, and authority of an abbess correspond generally with those of an abbot. she must be at least 40 years old and have been a nun for 10 years. the office is elective, the choice being by the secret votes of the nuns belonging to the community. like an abbot, after being confirmed in her office by the holy see, an abbess is solemnly admitted to her office by a formal blessing, conferred by the bishop in whose territory the monastery is located, or by an abbot or another bishop with appropriate permission. unlike the abbot, the abbess receives only the ring and a copy of the rule of the order. she does not receive a mitre nor is given a crosier as part of the ceremony; however, by ancient tradition, she may carry a crosier when leading her community.tradition in action. http://www.traditioninaction.org/questions/e010_olgs_scepter.html the abbess also traditionally adds a pectoral cross to the outside of her habit as a symbol of office, though she continues to wear a modified form of her religious habit or dress, as she is unordainedânot a male religiousâand so does not vest or use choir dress in the liturgy. ===roles and responsibilities=== upright|thumb|princess maria theresia isabella of austria, a noble abess with her crozier abbesses are, like abbots, major superiors according to canon law, the equivalents of abbots or bishops (the ordained male members of the church hierarchy who have, by right of their own office, executive jurisdiction over a building, diocesan territory, or a communal or non-communal group of personsâjuridical entities under church law). they receive the vows of the nuns of the abbey; they m
Abbesses Christian_nuns Christian_religious_occupations Religious_leadership_roles Roman_Catholic_Church_offices