Arévalo

Location

Official Name Monasterio de Santa María la Real

30

Country Spain

City Ctr Madrid-Coruna Km. 127-128

Address Apartado 50

Postcode E-05200

Contact Information

Telephone [34] (920) 30.02.31

Community Email [email protected]

Website www.trapaarevalo.es

Superior Madre Esther Muñoz MartÍn, Sup. ad nutum 1991, Abadesa 1994, Sup. ad nutum 2023

Other Information

Juridical Status Abbey

Diocese Dioecesis Abulensis, (Avila)

OCSO Region RE

Founded/Restored 1951

Origins

A very old foundation of the 13th century, in the year 1200 at the place called “El Lugarejo”, a kilometer from Arévalo; In 1524, the community moved to the center of Arévalo; It was incorporated into the OCSO in 1951.

History

In 1200 two brothers, Gomez Roman, an abbot, and his brother Naron Roman rebuilt, outside Arévalo, a monastery which took the name of “The monastery of Gomez Roman for many centuries . At times it held 200 nuns.

 

In 1524 the community, composed of 60 nuns, 15 lay sisters and 4 chaplains, moved to the center of Arévalo to the royal palace of Dom Juan II, which his son, the Emperor Charles V, gave to the nuns. It was called the monastery of Santa Maria la Real.

 

The monastery enjoyed a good spirituality, forming holy nuns who gave depth and maturity to the community and their successors. One such was Mother Catherine of the Holy Spirit, who was born in Arévalo in 1578 and died in 1631. She embodied all the virtues and died in the odor of sanctity. From 1805 she was offered to the veneration of the faithful who spontaneously honored her  because of her life and aura of sanctity.

 

In 1949, wishing to live the Rule of St. Benedict more perfectly, the community asked to be incorporated into the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance. Their request was granted by the General Chapter and took place on 8 December 1951. It was the first act of Dom Gabriel Sortais as he entered into his duties as Abbot General.

 

Because of repairs needed for the monastery, a new transfer was suggested to the community.It was done by moving north to 4 kilometers from the Villa of Arévalo and building a new monastery This is the third transfer that the community of 40 nuns and 2 chaplains endured. It took place on 18 July 1973.

Father Immediate

Cardeña

Lay Associates

Laicos Cistercienses de Gradefes

Past Superiors

Reverend Mother Maria Pilar Huarte — Abbess 31/05/1953 to 1955
Reverend Mother Annunciacion Garcia — Abbess 31/05/1955 to 1960
Reverend Mother Maria del Pilar Castro — Abbess 13/07/1960 to 1978
Mother Beatriz Goicochea Tabar — Superior ad nutum 08/10/1978 -01/06/1979
Reverend Mother Maria Pilar Castro — Abbess (2) 01/06/1979 – 01/06/1991
Mother Esther Hilaria Munoz Martin — Superior ad nutum 12/06/1992 – 01/07/1994

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