THE HOSPITAL 1231 - 1611
It was at first a simple hostelry, a free shelter at night-fall for passers-by and travellers. The name of the hostel 'St. Nicholas de Bruille' was the same name as that of the neighbouring parish.
In the spirit of the Middle Ages, hospitality was understood not only as a material service - in offering to whoever presented themselves with food, shelter from the dangers of the night - but also a spiritual service by welcoming and serving the poor like Christ himself.
Around the fireplace of the main room on which in the middle was boiling the large cauldron, the life of the sisters was centred around the prayer of the community and the service of the guests.
Pope Innocent IV granted them his protection in 1249.
From the end of the XIII century the hostel was transformed into a hospital. The century of long pilgrimages and distant journeys gave way to a period of famines and epidemics. It was the poor who were the first to fall sick and they were welcomed into the house without charge. As the hospital lived on public charity, the bishop of Cambrai restricted the number of sisters to six, so that they "should not eat the bread of the poor". This restricted number remained the rule until the XVII century.
In the XV century the hospital was dedicated to Saint Andrew, no doubt to distinguish it from the hospital of Saint Nicholas, which had opened in the town of Tournai. Under the influence of the Prioress Marie de Corbehen, the primitive Augustinian Rule was revised, translated into French and adapted to the life of the community. By now the hospital was flourishing.
The XVI century was a time of trials and hardship. The town was besieged and occupied by the troops of Henry VIII, the king of England. The community was, a few years later, afflicted by the plague. In the Netherlands however, the public authorities were responsible for the organising of the welfare of the people and at Tournai, two large hospitals were opened to look after the sick. The hospital of Saint Andrew started to take in the most distressed cases, and the elderly who were bedridden. This long-term care of the sick allowed the sisters to live a more regular form of community life with the majority aspiring towards a more contemplative way of life consecrated entirely to prayer. This orientation towards a monastic life was moreover very much encouraged by the decrees of the Council of Trent.
Under the authority of Marie de la Chapelle, the hospital became a monastery, and was officially recognized as such on the 16th September 1611.
