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Life of Blessed Colette, Reformer of the Sisters of Saint Clare, bound manuscript

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: GTM-150528

Scope and Contents

Manuscript account of the life of Saint Colette (b.1381-1447), as related by the Abbot of Saint-Laurent (c.1750-1770). Full title in French: "La Vie de la bienheureuse Collette Reformatrice des Religieuses de Sainte Claire." Bound volume, 285 pages.

Dates

  • 1750-1770

Conditions Governing Access

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Conditions Governing Access

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers are solely responsible for determining the copyright status of the materials being used, establishing who the copyright owner is, locating the copyright owner, and obtaining permission for intended use.

Biographical / Historical

Foundress of Colettine Poor Clares; b. Nicolette Boylet (or Boellet) at Calcye, near Corbie, Jan. 13, 1381;d. Ghent, March 6, 1447. Born in answer to her parents' prayer, she lived a life marked by the unusual. At age 21 she became a recluse, after three unsuccessful attempts at the religious life, and for several years lived in rigorous penance. During this time her mission to reform the Poor Clares was made clear to her. She sought permission from antipope Benedict XIII, at Avignon, who received her into the Second Order of St. Francis, dispensed her from a novitiate, and appointed her abbess general. In 1408, with the help of Bl. Henry de la Baume, she began the work of restoring the primitive Rule of St. Clare (1253), imposing absolute poverty and perpetual fast. Many existing convents of the Urbanist Clares were reformed and some 20 new ones established during her lifetime. In 1412 the Franciscan Conventuals in northern France and Belgium established a reformed branch called Coletans. Never numerous, they were suppressed in 1517. Iconography shows Colette as an abbess, barefooted, usually with a lamb at her feet. She was canonized in 1807.

Feast: March 6.

Source: Laughlin, M. F. "Colette, Saint." New Catholic Encyclopedia. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Biography in Context. Web. 2 June 2015. URL http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/bic1/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=BIC1&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&display-query=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGroups=&sortBy=&search_within_results=&p=BIC1&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CK3407702559&source=Bookmark&u=wash43584&jsid=ab5f5dcebcee926d3fc4c7b524ca4fab

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (1 bound manuscript)

Language of Materials

French

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchase from manuscripts dealer.

Title
Life of Blessed Colette, Reformer of the Sisters of Saint Clare, bound manuscript
Status
Completed
Author
Georgetown University Library Booth Family Center for Special Collections, Washington, D.C.
Date
2015
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
Lauinger Library, 5th Floor
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Washington DC 20057