Begga

This room is located on the first floor of the Infirmary building. In view of our buildings’ authentic character, we do not have a lift.

A little history

Begga (+ around 693) was the sister of St Gertrude of Nivelles. After her husband’s death, she founded a convent in Andenne. She is usually depicted holding a model of the convent church.

In the late 16th century the need arose within the Beguine community to have a specific founder – just like most other monastic orders. Some believed they had discovered such a figure in Begga – from whose name the word ‘Beguine’ was supposedly derived. What they disregarded was the fact that the Beguine movement had not originated until the 12th or 13th century, long after Begga’s death. An end was finally put to the interminable debate by the bishop, who appointed St Begga as co-patroness of the Beguines alongside St Catherine. Her feast day is 17 December.

St Joseph with the infant Jesus

In the Salon Swerius, through which the Begga Room is reached, hangs a portrait of St Joseph as a young man with the infant Jesus in swaddling clothes. This is an eighteenth-century painting from the Grand Beguinage. Joseph is depicted as foster father and as bridegroom of Mary. The dove refers to the Holy Spirit and to Joseph’s chastity. Joseph is holding a lily, a symbol of chastity as well as a reference to the flowering staff. The staff appears in a legend recounting how Mary acquired her husband. When she was ready for marriage, a suitable husband had to be found for her. Various suitors came forward. The high priest had them all plant their walking stick in the ground in order to leave the choice to God. When Joseph’s staff began to flower, he was chosen as Mary’s husband-to-be.

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