ABONDANCE, MONASTERY OF

Former house of canons regular of st. augustine, and then of Cistercian Feuillants, more properly called the Abbey of Sainte-Marie d'Abondance (Latin, Abundantia ), in the valley of the Drance, in Haute-Savoie, France, former Diocese of Geneva. Its origin is often attributed to St. columban, but none of his biographies mentions it. The ascription probably stems from a confusion of names between it and remiremont (original Latin, Monasterium Habundense ). It is certain that in 1080 Louis of Féterne established canons regular at Abondance, and that the foundation was richly endowed by his family. Then in 1108, the canons of saint-maurice gave the lands of Abondance to a group of canons under Prior Herluin. In 1155 these canons were congratulated on their observance in a bull of Pope Adrian IV. Between 1128 and 1144 the monastery had achieved the status of an abbey; Rudolph of Vauserier was made first abbot (1144). In 1156 and 1158 the abbots of Abondance and Saint-Maurice signed agreements of association. But between mid-12th and early 13th century, Abondance founded or subordinated to itself five abbeys: Sixt, Entremont, Grandval, Goailles, and Filly, as well as 22 priories. Up to the 14th century, the monastery enjoyed great material prosperity; it held first place in the Diocese of Geneva. But excessive wealth and commendation (1436) led to a relaxation of discipline. Decadence proceeded at a rapid pace in the 16th century, and the number of religious diminished to half. Though the commendatory Abbot Gaspard Provana opposed the reform attempted there by francis de sales, the future bishop of Geneva, the latter finally won out in 1598. The new reform abbot, Vespasian Aiazza, came to an understanding with the Cistercian feuillants, and by a brief of Sept. 28, 1606, Pope Paul V sanctioned Abondance's concordat with the Feuillants, who, on May 7, 1607, installed Favre, vicar-general of Francis de Sales, as abbot. But these religious, isolated high up in the valley of the Drance, abandoned themselves in time to unhealthy distractions. Finally, Pope clement xiii's bull of May 9, 1761, granted King Charles-Emmanuel the right to suppress the Feuillants; another bull of May 4, 1762, allotted the goods of Abondance, with the exception of the benefices, to the Abbey of Sainte-Marie of Thonon. During the French Revolution the abbey was sold. Today, the abbey church (14th and 17th centuries), the cloister (14th century with frescoes), and the rich treasury are all classified as historical monuments. The church serves the needs of the local parish.

Bibliography: l. cibrario, ed., Scriptorum, 3 v. (Monumenta historiae patriae 3, 5, 11; Turin 1840–1863) 2:301–318, constitutions, 321–434, necrology. j. garin, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques 1:144–153. l. h. cottineau, Répertoire topo-bibliographique des abbayes et prieurés 1:9–10.

[j. daoust]