The Oldest Enclosed Carmelite Monastery in the World Marks 555 Years of Foundation
The oldest Carmelite Monastery of Carmelite nuns celebrated its 555th anniversary in 2024. It was the fourth and final foundation of Bl. John Soreth, being canonically erected on February 11, 1469. The Carmel of Our Lady of Consolation in Vilvoorde was founded by nuns fleeing from the monastery of Liege during the “Siege of Liege” in 1468.
In March 1966, the Carmel of Vilvoorde, chose to transition from the OCARM Order to the Teresian Carmel (OCD). The nuns were given the freedom to choose whether to join an OCARM monastery in the Netherlands or make profession as Discalced Carmelites.
The community decided not to celebrate the monastery’s 555th anniversary publicly.
According to Joachim Smet’s Mirror of Carmel, during the wars between the Spanish Netherlands and Holland and France, Vilvoorde often found itself in the path of the armies. The Carmelites were forced to flee in 1621, 1635, 1667, 1695, and 1702. Despite the hardships, they managed to construct a new church building in 1671. During the 18th century, the nuns enjoyed an extended period of peace and twice—in 1728 and 1778—celebrated anniversaries of their miraculous statue of Our Lady of Consolation believed to have been acquired in 1228.
Two of the nuns gained fame for sanctity which outlived them. Mary of St. Joseph (d. 1660), was from a noble family and became prioress. Petronella van der Elst (d. 1674) was a lay sister whose brother was abbot of Grimberg in Brabant.
Nuns from Vilvoorde founded "Elzeldaal" in the town of Boxmeer. At some point Vilvoorde began educating young women which is thought to have saved it from Emperor Joseph II’s aversion to cloistered religious life.
In May 7, 2006, the monastery church was elevated to a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI, upon the recommendation of Cardinal Godfried Danneels, archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels.
On January 6, 2020, two children set the Christmas crib at the entrance of the monastery church afire. Damage to the church building was limited although the interior suffered some smoke damage, requiring cleaning and painting.
