Île d'Ouessant et le rite de la proëlla

Ouessant

Ouessant is the westernmost of the islands of Brittany, surrounded by dangerous currents, and its inhabitants long lost sailors whose bodies were never found. For them a unique rite was born, the proëlla, a funeral without a corpse. When news of a death at sea reached the island, a delegation presented itself in the evening before the dead man's house with the formula ‘il y a proëlla chez toi ce soir’. The processional cross of the church was placed in front of the window; on the table, covered with a white cloth, two candlesticks, holy water and two strips of headdress in the shape of a cross were placed, with a small cross at the centre, at first of wicker or wood, then of wax. It represented the missing man. A vigil was kept all night without a priest, then the procession went to the church for an ordinary funeral. The word is cited in 1734 by Admiral Thévenard, who speaks of an already ancient practice. After 1868 the crosses were put away in an urn at the church, listed as a historic monument in 1983. The last proëlla dates from 1958. Advances in navigation and radio made the custom disappear; the thesis of a ban by a bishop in 1962 is confirmed by no archive according to the author read.

Getting there: Island at the far west of Brittany, reached by sea; connections, hours and prices were not verified. The proëlla crosses can be seen at the écomusée du Niou (hamlet to the west, near the Créac'h lighthouse) and a monument is dedicated to them in the cemetery of Lampaul, freely accessible. Coordinates: centre of the island from OpenStreetMap (Nominatim), close to the village of Lampaul.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

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