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Religious
Communities for Women CONTEMPLATIVE DOMINICAN NUNS: CONVENT OF ST. JOSEPH Seven Centuries of Tradition and Prayer The Dominican Contemplative Nuns were founded in 1206 by St. Dominic himself, nine years before the Foundation of the Order of Preachers. St. Dominic personally occupied himself with his first daughters in France at the monastery of Prouille, as well as those in Italy at the monastery of St. Sixtus in Rome.
St Dominic He tenderly loved his daughters, the chronicles Dominican Order tell us. He instructed them, formed them in the new life of his Order, took them into his confidence with regard to the ministry of preaching. He reserved a particular role for them in this ministry: a role of prayer, penance, sacrifice and silence in the obscurity of the cloister, in order to fructify the apostolate that their brothers would carry out in the whole world. He frequently gave them conferences so that they might fully participate in the spirit of the Order, a spirit of love for the light and the Truth, so precious for nourishing contemplation.
The Parlour Who better heard and understood than his first contemplative sisters the cry of their blessed Father on the distress of souls: “O my Mercy, what will become of poor sinners?” With them the second Order was born, that prays alongside the Brothers, the first Order, for the salvation of souls.
Taking of the Habit The Dominican contemplative sisters are cloistered in the same way as their Carmelite, Benedictine and Poor Clare sisters. Dedicated to the contemplative life, everything in their life is consecrated to God alone and converges toward contemplation. But there are certain characteristics which specify the Dominican vocation and animate its spirituality:
Prayer sustains and penetrates all the monastic observances and various material and artistic activities carried on in the monastery.
Study in her cell Is it hardly necessary to mention that the Most Holy Virgin Mary gave the Rosary to St. Dominic. It is she who has done everything for her “children of light”, for Our Lord Himself said to St. Dominic: “I have confided your Order to My Mother”. In order to unite themselves to Our Lord the sister gladly pray the Rosary throughout the whole day. Love for the Blessed Sacrament is also particularly dear to every Dominican soul, according to the example of St. Thomas Aquinas, who celebrated it so magnificently in his hymns.
Ceremony of Profession In July 1986, two Dominican sisters desirous of following in the footsteps of their predecessors began to resume the ancient traditions of the Dominican Contemplative Nuns. They took up residence near the convent of the Dominican Fathers of Avrille, who continue to provide them with chaplains and give them courses in Holy Scripture, theology, spirituality, Gregorian chant, etc. Their first home was a trailer attached to a small house. In August 1989, thanks to their benefactors, they were able to establish themselves in a large private residence which was in need of some urgent renovations. In 1994, the construction of the edifice for the novitiate was completed, which would be the first wing of the cloister. Two years later, Divine Providence finally blessed the growing community with the construction of a beautiful roman inspired church which was solemnly consecrated on June 17, 1997 by His Eminence Bishop Alfonse De Galarreta. In October, the month of the holy Rosary, the community had the joy to thank God through the Blessed Virgin Mary for the acquisition of the property just across the monastery which was converted into a retreat house for young ladies and a formation house for aspirants. It was herefore dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and was given the name of ‘Refuge of the Immaculate Heart of Mary’.
Winter recreation Another important development 1n 1997 was the institution of lay sisters, who are a much needed support for the choir sisters. The lay sisters engage in more manual work than the choir sisters, since they are not obliged to pray the Divine Office. Instead, they pray the Rosary in common. It is in this humble and laborious way that they unite themselves to God, a vocation in imitation of the life of dearest St. Joseph at Nazareth.
All hands at work for the salvation of souls! The merciful goodness of God never ceases to supply the needs of His children. In 1999, the second and third wingsof the cloister were finally constructed, which include several cells and conventional rooms such as the infirmary, kitchen, refectory, etc.
Converse Sisters going to milk the goats Among the most important developments of the community is that the sisters have finally been able to resume many traditional Dominican observances. Deo gratias! His Grace, Archbishop Lefebvre, blessed their monastery in October 1989. Three years earlier, he had encouraged their foundation as it all began at Avrille in these words: “May God bless your foundation. This resurrection of Orders and Congregations is very encouraging. It is the future of the Church by attachment to the graces given by Our Lord in the past: thus the importance of faithfulness to the past... May St. Dominic come to your aid. Today, more than ever, the Church has need of saints who will shine forth in the darkness of the world...”
Recreation
The Convent Monastère Saint
Joseph Tel: [33] 2 41 69 69 65
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