abbesses
Heads of convents
Abbesses is the plural of abbess, a woman who heads a convent or abbey of nuns.
The role parallels that of an abbot in a monastery of monks.
Historically, abbesses wielded considerable authority within their communities and sometimes beyond: The abbesses of medieval Europe often controlled vast estates.
Female monastic superior
- conventReligious sisters' dwelling
- nunneryMonastery for women
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- governanceHow authority is exercised
monastery · cloister · community · vows · religious order · rule · chapter · sisterhood
Religious sisters' dwelling
- cloisterCovered monastic walkway
- enclosureConfined, bordered space
- habitSettled regular tendency
- veilFabric that obscures
choir · refectory · scriptorium · dormitory · chapel · cell · bell · matins
Of the Middle Ages
- HildaFemale given name
- WhitbyNorth Yorkshire coastal town
- HildegardMedieval polymath saint
- feudalOf tiered landownership
landowner · noble · scriptorium · illumination · patronage · cathedral · Saxon · Benedictine
Sacred spiritual purity
- sanctityQuality of being inviolable
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
blessing · intercession · mysticism · vision · revelation · devotion · faith · vocation
prioress
Female monastic superior
governance · monastery · cloister · community · vows · religious order · rule · chapter · sisterhood · office
convent
Religious sisters' dwelling
veil · choir · refectory · scriptorium · dormitory · chapel · cell · bell · matins · vespers
medieval
Of the Middle Ages
feudal · landowner · noble · scriptorium · illumination · patronage · cathedral · Saxon · Benedictine · dowager
holiness
Sacred spiritual purity
discernment · blessing · intercession · mysticism · vision · revelation · devotion · faith · vocation · calling
- believersbeliever, believers, adherent, devotee, theist
- monasticismabbeys, abbots, cloister, convents, cloisters
- asceticsascetic, ascetics, hermit, hermits, recluse
- Catholic figurescardinals, archbishops, abbots, bishops, friars
- Catholic monasticismabbeys, abbots, brothers, sisters, friars
- Catholicsparishioners, parishioner, communicant, archbishops, lapsed Catholic
abbessesnovices
Inexperienced newcomers
nuns · postulants · oblates · prioresses · mother superiors