Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 9.djvu/569

 MAODALIRS

524

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dmdsehen PalAsHnavereins, XXVIII (1005). 11-20: Klcin. BeiMtgexurOeogr. u. Geaeh. Go/Oeuu (Leipsig, 1909), 76-84; van Kabterbn in Revue bibl., VI (1897), 93-9.

A. Merk.

Maffdatona, the members of certain religious com- munities of penitent women who desired to reform their lives. As time went on, however, others of blameless reputation were also admitted, until many communities were composed entirely of the latter, who still retained the name of Magdalens, or White Ladies fit>m the colour of their garb. It is not known at what period the first house was established, the date of foim- oation of the Metz convent, usually given as 1005, be- ing still in dispute. Rudolph of Worms is the tradi- tional foimder of the Magoalens in Germanjr (Mon. Germ. Script., XVII, 234), where they were m exist- ence early in the thirteenth xsentury, as attested by Bulls of Gregory IX and Innocent IV (1243-54), granting them important privileges. H^lyot quotes fetters ^dressed by Otto, Cardinal of the Title of St. Nicholas in Carcere Tulliano, Apostolic Legate in Ger- many, granting indulgences to those contributing to the support of the German Magdalens. Among the earliest foundations in Germany were those at Naum- burg-on-the-Queis (1217), and Speyer (1226). Greg- ory IX, in a letter to Rudolph, prescribed for the penitents the Rule of St. Augustine, which was adopted by most of the Magdalens, though many of the German houses later aflouiated themselves to the Franciscan or Dominican Orders. Institutions of l^dalens still exist, e. g. at Lauban (founded 1320) ana Studenz, for the care of the sick and old. Few of the German convents survived the Reformation.

Houses of the Maedalens were soon founded in France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. The first foimdation in France was made at Marseilles about 1272 by Bertrand, a saintly man who associated with himself in his work of rescuing fallen women oUier zealous men, later constituted a religious con- gr^ation by decree of Nicholas III, under the Rule of St. Augustine. In 1492 the eloquence of the Fran- ciscan P^re Jean Tisserand influenced a number of women to turn from evil ways and embrace a life of penitence. Five years later Jean-Simon, Bishop of P&ris, prescribed for them the Rule of St. Augustine and drew up special statutes for their direction. From the beginning of the seventeenth century these Mag- dalens of Rue St-Denis were all women of stainless fives. Among other prominent communities of Mag- dalens were those at Naples (1324), Paris (15921, Rome, where Leo X established one in 1520, Seville (1550), Rouen, and Bordeaux.

The MadeUmnetteSf members of another Order of St. Mary Magdalen, were founded in 1618 by the Capu- chin P^re Athanase Mol6, who, assisted by zealous lay- men, gathered a number of women who desired to reform their lives. Two years later some of these were admitted to religious vows by St. Francis de Sales, and were placed successively under Religious of the Visitation, Ursulines. and Sisters Hospitallers of the Mercy of Jesus, and trom 1720 under Religious of Our Lady of Charity. The constitutions, drawn up in 1637, were approved by the Archbishop of Pans in 1640, and the house was erected by Urban VIII into a monastery. Two branch foundations were made at Rouen and Bordeaux. The order comprised three con- gregations, (1) the Magdalens proper, who had been deemed worthy of being admitted to solemn vows, (2) the Sisters of Saint Martha, who, for some reason, could not undertake the obligation of solemn vows, and were bound by simple vows only, and (3) the Sis- ters of St. Lazarus, public sinners confined against their will. Each congregation had a separate building and observed a different rule of life. Sisters of St. Martha were admitted to the ranks of the Magdalens after two years novitiate. This order la no longer in

H^LTOT. Diet, drs ordrea rrl. (Paris, 1859); FEHn in Kirehm- Ux.t s. v.; Wadding, Annul. Min.

Florence Rupoe McGahan.

Magdeburg, capital of the Prussian Province of Saxony, situated on the Elbe; pop. 241,000; it is noted for its industries, particularly the production of sugar, ite trade, and its commerce. From 968 until 1552 it was the seat of an archbishopric.

History. — ^The town was one of the oldest emporia of the German trade for the Wends who dwelt on the right bank of the Elbe. In 805 it is first mentioned in history. In 806 Charlemagne built a fortress on the eastern bank of the river opposite Magdeburg. The oldest church is also credited to this epoch. Magdeburg first played an important part in the his- tory of Germany duringthe reign of Otto the Great (936-73). His consort Editha had a particular love for the town and often lived there. The emperor also continually returned to it. On 21 September, 937, Otto founded a Benedictine monastery at Magdeburg, which was dedicated to Sts. Peter, Maurice, and the Holy Innocents. The first abbots and monks came from St. Maximin's at Trier. Later on Otto conceived the plan of establishing an archbishopric at Magde- burg, thus making it a missionarv centre for the Wends on the eastern bank of the Elbe. He succeeded in carrying out his idea after various changes and diflS- culties. The glory of the archbishopric increased rap- idly, the town also became more important. The so- called Magdeburg Righte were also adopted by many towns in eastern and north-eastern Germany in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries (in Pomerania, Schleswig, and Prussia). The local tribunal of Magde- burg was the superior court for these towns. Magde- burg was also a member of the Hanseatic league of towns, and as such was first mentioned in 1295. -The town had an active maritime commerce on the west (towards Flanders), with the countries of the Baltic Sea, and maintained traffic and communication with the interior (for example Brunswick).

The Reformation found speedy adherents in Magde- burg where Luther had been a schoolboy. The new doctrine was introduced 17 July, 1524, and the town became a stronghold of Protestantism, being known among Protestants as " The Lord God's Chancellery ". In 1526 it joined the Alliance of Torgau, and in 1531 the Smalkaldic League, and was repeatedly outlawed by the emperor. Because it would not accept the "Interim " (1548), it was, by the emperor's commands, besieged (1550-51) by the Margrave Maurice of Saxony; it defended itseli bravely and retained its religious liberty when peace was declared. Here Flacius Illyri- cus and his companions wrote their bitterest pam-

Shlets and the great work on church history, *The [agdeburg Centuries", in which they tried to prove that the Catholic Church had become the kingdom of Anti-Christ. The town met with a terrible fate during the Thirty Years' War.

The Elector Christian Wilhelm of Brandenburg, who had been administrator of the archbishopric since 1598, exercised a policy which was hostile to the em- peror, and on this account he was deposed by the cathedral chapter in 1628, the latter having remained strictly neutral. He now hoped to regain posses- sion of the country, by means of an alliance with Gustavus Adolphus, and succeeded in forming the alliance 1 August, 1630, with the help of the Evan- gelical clergy and part of the citizens. Gustavus Adolphus sent his equerry. Colonel Diedrich von Falkenburg, to defend the town against the emperor's army. On 15 December, Tilly, commander-in-chief of the imperial army, ordered Field Marshal Pappenheim to advance upon the town. Tilly himself followed in March. The help which Was expected from Sweden, however, was not forthcoming; Falkenburg had 2400 soldiers, and Tillv 24,000. In spite of this the town did not siurender. It was besieged on the morning of 20