Editing Abbess (section)

== History ==
Historically, in some [[Celtic Christianity|Celtic]] monasteries, abbesses presided over joint-houses of monks and nuns,{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} the most famous example being Saint [[Brigid of Kildare|Brigid of Kildare's]] leadership in the founding of the monastery at [[Kildare]] in [[Ireland]]. This custom accompanied Celtic monastic missions to France, Spain, and even to [[Rome]] itself. In 1115, Robert, the founder of [[Fontevraud Abbey]] near [[Chinon]] and [[Saumur]], France, committed the government of the whole order, men as well as women, to a female superior.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}{{sfnp|Fletcher|2007}}

In [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] churches, the title of abbess ({{langx|de|Äbtissin}}) has in some cases survived  (for example, in the [[Itzehoe Monastery|Itzehoe Convent]] to designate the heads of abbeys which since the [[Protestant Reformation]] have continued as monasteries or convents ({{langx|de|[[Stift]]e}}).{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} These positions continued, merely changing from Catholic to Lutheran. The first to make this change was the [[Quedlinburg Abbey|Abbey of Quedlinburg]], whose last Catholic Abbess died in 1514.{{sfnp|Oestreich|1913}}  These are collegiate foundations, which provide a home and an income for unmarried ladies, generally of noble birth, called canonesses ({{langx|de|Kanonissinen}}), or more usually, {{lang|de|Stiftsdamen}} or {{lang|de|Kapitularinnen}}. The office of abbess is of considerable social dignity, and in the past, was sometimes filled by princesses of the reigning houses.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} Until the dissolution of [[Holy Roman Empire]] and [[German Mediatisation|mediatisation]] of smaller imperial fiefs by Napoleon, the evangelical Abbess of [[Quedlinburg Abbey|Quedlinburg]] was also per officio the head of that {{lang|de|[[reichsunmittelbar]]}} state. The last such ruling abbess was [[Sofia Albertina, Princess of Sweden]].<ref>{{harvnb|Rambler|2010}}</ref> The abess [[Hildegard (abbess of Fraumünster)|Hildegard]] of Fraunmünster Abbey sat in the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Imperial Diet]] among other princes of the Holy Roman Empire.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Julie |title=Nuns: powerful women of the Middle Ages |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/multimedia/monastic-life-_nuns--powerful-women-of-the-middle-ages/45905498 |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=Swissinfo |date=21 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref> The oldest women's abbey in Germany is [[St. Marienthal Abbey]] of [[Cistercian nuns]], near [[Ostritz]], established during the early 13th century.

In the [[Hradčany]] of [[Prague]] is a Catholic institute whose mistress is titled an Abbess. It was founded in 1755 by the [[Empress Maria Theresa]], and traditionally was responsible for the coronation of the [[Queen of Bohemia]]. The Abbess is required to be an Austrian Archduchess.{{sfnp|Oestreich|1913}}

{{As of|alt=In 1997|1997|post=,}} it was estimated the Catholic Church had around 200 presiding abbesses.<ref name=Colliers/>