A Benedictine abbey near Alost in Brabant, Belgium. It was
founded by a party of six knights who, after abandoning their
wild life, had resolved to do penance in the religious life on
the scene of their former excesses. After building a church,
they received, in 1084, a gift of the neighbouring lands from
the Countess Adela and her sons. The rule of St. Benedict was
adopted, a Benedictine, Wederig, having been the instrument of
their conversion, and in after times the abbey became known for
its strict observance of religious discipline. The Dukes of
Brabant and Lorraine, and the Counts of Flanders, Louvain,
Brussels, and Bologne were its patrons and protectors, and
regarded it as a coveted privilege to be buried in the abbey
church. Several monasteries, among them Maria-Laach, owe their
foundation to monks from Afflighem. St. Bernard, who visited the
abbey in 1146, declared that he had found angels there. It was
during this visit that an image of Our Lady is said to have
replied to the salutation of the Saint