ABBESS, the superior of a community of nuns. The mode of election, position, rights and authority of an abbess correspond generally with those of an abbot (q.v.) ; but she cannot exercise priestly functions. An abbess is elected by the secret votes of the sisters, installed solemnly by episcopal benediction, and has the abbatial cross, staff and ring; she holds office usually for life. The Council of Trent fixed the qualifying age at forty, with eight years of profession. In England abbesses attended ecclesiastical councils, e.g., that of Becanfield in 694, where they signed before the presbyters.
Abbesses presided over many of the early joint-houses of monks and nuns, e.g., at Whitby; and later the whole "double" order of Fontevraud (founded c. Imo) was governed by an abbess.
In the German Evangelical Church the title of abbess (Aeb tissin) has survived for the heads of abbeys which since the Re formation have continued as Stifter, i.e., collegiate foundations for the maintenance of unmarried ladies, generally of noble birth, called Stiftsdamen.