King Louis XIII Asks the Pope to Exempt the Benedictine Maurist Order from Taxation

Benedictine monks in France instituted reforms in Paris and then St-Augustin de Limoges in the second decade of the 17th century, requiring that those who desired to embrace the monastic life spend one year as postulants, a second as novices, and then, when they had completed the five years’ course of philosophy and theology, spend a year of contemplation before they were admitted to the priesthood.

The discipline was marked by a return to the strict rules of St. Benedict. All monks labored with their hands, all abstained from eating meat, all embraced poverty; the Divine Office was recited at the canonical hours with great solemnity, silence was observed for many hours, and there were regular times for private prayer and meditation. In 1618, it was decided that a congregation independent of Rome should be organized for the reformed houses in France, having its superior residing within that kingdom. This proposal was supported by Louis XIII as well as by Cardinal Richelieu, and letters patent were granted by the King. The Pope’s approval followed. The new organization was named the Congregation of St-Maur, or Maurists. Dom Maur Dupont was elected head in 1627. In 1629, he sought to step down, which meant that an election would have to be held for his successor.

Letter Signed in French, Fountainbleau, September 6, 1629,  to Cardinal Guido Bentivoglio, who was entrusted by King Louis XIII with the management of French affairs at the papal court, and whom he addresses as “my cousin the Cardinal Bentivoglio, Protector  of the Affairs of France at the court of Rome.” “Having by my letters patent of the month of January 1627, recorded in my Grand Council, bestowed on Dom Maur Dupont the position of Abbot to the monks of the Abby of St. Augustin near my town of Limoges…and the congregation of St. Maur, and having arrived at the departure of the said Dupont, Abbot – the said position being up till now elective as it has been by virtue of the concord made between the Holy See and this Crown – and that the said election might be made by the general chapter of the monks of the said congregation for a person professed and nourished in reform and regularity and of no other, I write you this letter to tell you that I would have great pleasure if you would ask the Pope in my name for confirmation of the right to hold the election that I accorded to the monks, without obliging them to pay the rights of annata [tithes of office] because of the poverty and destitution of the said abbey, in which you would make me happy.” 

Dom Gregorian Tarisse was elected as Dupont’s successor and given the title of Superior-General, the first to hold that office. He was an important leader and strictly maintained the Maurists as an all-French order. When his years as leader ended, the group included over 80 monasteries.