The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-01-24
written for The Catholic Bulletin by
Cecil Underwood.)


covered this land exists today, the
sole survivor of the wreck and ruin of
the Reformation. Various religious
houses continued in existence for
long period after the overthrow of the
Sixteenth century, but ultimately, one
after another, they died out, with the
exception of the Bridgettine Monas-
terry of Syon.
Thus this abbey, situated amidst the
hills of beautiful Devon, possesses a
character and interest unique amongst
all our religious houses, linking to-
gether the England of the far-off days,
when the Catholic Faith was the faith
of all it's children, with the far diff
ferent England of our own time.
The Order of the Most Holy Saw
iour, known as the Bridgettine Order,
was founded by st. Bridget, a princess
of Sweden, in the latter part of the
fourteenth century.
From early childhood st. Bridget
was favored with extraordinary graces
and wonderful revelations, and her
life is one of the most striking of the
many remarkable lives of that most
wonderful century. The rule of her
order, which was dictated to her
directly by Our Saviour Himself,
stands solitary and alone, unlike that
of any other order in the Church, it's
chief characteristic a most intense de-
votion to the Passion of the Saviour.
Although it's members are popularity
known as Bridgettines, after it's IA
nous foundress, it was to be founded,
so Our Lord declares, in honor Of His
Mother, and the work was to be done
chiefly by women. And the history of
the Order has been remarkable full
filment of this promise, for although
! founded originally for men and
women, the male branch of the Order
ceased to exist in the middle of the
last century, and the work of its re-
vival has only just now begun.
The monasteries were all originally
double monasteries of monks and
nuns, clustered and using the same
church, both communities being un-
der the charge of the Abbess as re-
CARDS all temporal things, while one
of the monks, under the title of Con-
fessor General, had the direction of
both communities in spiritual matters.
From it's very nature the Order has
from the first been noted for it's peni-
tentia1 character, for its principal
work was daily round of prayer,
praise, and penance, and desire that
it's members should be united with
Our Saviour in His suffering life.
Founded by King.
Syon Abbey was originally founded
at Isleworth, the first stone being laid
by King Henry V on February 22nd,
1415, "to the honor, praise and glory
of the Most Holy Trinity, and of the
Glorious Virgin Mary, as also of the
Apostles and Disciples of God, espe-
cially the most Holy st. Bridget"
In 1418 His Holiness Pope Martin
v received the monastery under the
protection of the Apostolic See, and
on February 5th, 1920, the first Eng
lish profession took place. On this
occasion twenty-four nuns, five priests,
two deacons, and four lay brothers
made their solemn vows before Henry
Chicheley, Archbishop of Canterbury,
the King being present at the cere-
mony.
The monastery received many
marks of royal favor. Henry V hber-
ally endowed the foundation, and
Henry vi, Edward w, and Henry VII
granted further favors; even Henry
VIII in his early life was benefactor,
and it is recorded that he presented
to the community copy of his book
against Luther. The many works Of
Mystical and Ascetical Theology pro-
duced during this time caused the alb
by to become one Of the greatest CEN
ters of religious life in the country,
and the fame of the learning and
sanctity of its inmates was spread
throughout the land.
syon's Golden Age.
At the very period when the storm
of the Reformation swept over the
country, the Abbey of Syon was at the
height of its renown, one of its best
known writer's at that time being
Richard Whitford, author of the
Jesus Psalter," work that was the
comfort and stay of SO many souls
during the long, dark days of persecu-
ton, that only came to an end last
century.
Syon was among the first of the
monasteries to feel the full fury of
the tempest, for Blessed Richard
Reynolds, professed at the earliest
age the Rule allowed, was one of those
who saw clearly the effects of the
struggle just beginning; he perceived
that fidelity to the Holy See was the
strong rock against which the new
heresy was directed, and with fear
less courage he opposed the preten-
sions of Henry VIII.
It was at Syon Blessed Thomas
More met the Holy Maid of Kent, the
meeting being arranged by Blessed
Richard. It was to him Blessed John
Fisher wrote for private advice, prob