Mary Lovel facts for kids

Mary Lovel, also known as Jane Roper or Mary Roper, was an important woman who lived from 1564 to 1628. She is famous for starting the first English Carmelite convent (a type of religious community for women) in Antwerp.

Early Life and Family

Mary Lovel was born Jane Roper in 1564. Her parents were Elizabeth Parke and John Roper, who was known as Baron Teynham. Her family lived in a large house called The Lodge in Lynsted, Kent, England. Her father had an important job as the chief clerk of the common pleas, which meant he handled many legal documents.

Mary married a soldier named Sir Robert Lovel. They had two daughters, Christina and Elizabeth. Sadly, Sir Robert Lovel passed away before 1606, making Mary a widow.

Challenges and Religious Calling

In 1606, Mary Lovel was questioned about her connections to the Gunpowder Plot. This was a famous plan to blow up the Houses of Parliament in England. She knew some of the people involved, like Sir Robert Catesby, who had visited her home. Her house in Highgate was a known meeting place for Catholics at a time when their religion faced difficulties in England.

Around 1608, Mary decided she wanted to become a nun. She considered joining the English Benedictine convent in Brussels. This decision was a big step, as it meant she would dedicate her life to God.

However, Mary had strong opinions. She disagreed with the prioress (the head nun) of the Brussels convent, Joanne Berkeley, about which priests should hear confessions. Because of these disagreements, Mary left the convent in 1609.

Founding Convents

Mary Lovel was determined to follow her religious path. She decided to create a new English Carmelite convent in Antwerp. She invested a large amount of her own money, about £2,200, to start this new community. This included £600 for beautiful church ornaments.

The new convent opened in May 1619. Anne Worsley, who had experience as a prioress, joined the new house and was elected its leader. Mary Lovel, however, sometimes disagreed with how the convent was managed. She even spoke outside the convent about her concerns.

In 1622, Mary returned to England to raise more money for the convent. When she came back, she was unhappy that two Flemish (Belgian) nuns had joined the community. Mary threatened to stop funding the convent if the Flemish nuns stayed, so they had to leave.

By 1625, Mary Lovel lost interest in the Antwerp convent. She then decided to start another new convent in Bruges.

Later Life and Legacy

Mary Lovel passed away in Bruges on November 12, 1628. She died before she could establish her new convent there. She was buried in a special place near the main altar of the Church of Our Lady, Bruges in Bruges. Mary Lovel is remembered for her dedication and efforts to establish English convents abroad during a challenging time for Catholics in England.