The Benedictine Sisters of the Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
In the shade of the Basilica, adjacent to the Guest House, the Priory of the Sacré-Cœur shelters a monastic community of sixteen Benedictine Sisters, who fulfil their vocation of the spiritual and material facilitation of this place of prayer.
In the midst of this tourist attraction visited by over 11 million tourists and pilgrims every year, God has reserved a place of silence and peace for all who seek rest within Him. The Benedictine Sisters of the Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre welcome you there for a time of spiritual renewal, contemplation, a Divine Office…
Adorers and servants of God, our name expresses our life and mission within the Church.
« BENEDICTINE SISTERS»
- A constant quest for God in a monastic life
Our monastic life defines itself by a continual conversion, expressed in the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience.
At the heart of the Mystery of Christ, we seek to be a sign of the plenitude and holiness of the Church, to devote ourselves to the expansion of the Kingdom and to do so to be transfigured in all our being by the charity of Christ.
- « In praise of His glory »
The Divine Office springs from the Benediction, whose source is in the Eucharist. We give grace to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit, to be embedded as we are in the movement of Easter by which Christ returned to His Father.
Divine Office, a total praise of God, is truly the voice of the spouse addressing her husband. It is the prayer of Christ who, with His Body, ceaselessly presents Himself to His Father. We enable all who love or wish to discover the beauty of God and the place where He resides to participate.
« OF THE SACRE-CŒUR »
- We contemplate Jesus Christ who, in a movement of infinite love, offers Himself to the Father and gives us His own Spirit. Our entire life can then become a spiritual sacrifice for the Church and the salvation of the world. Thus, the Eucharist is at the heart of our life.
- Adoration of the Eucharist implies that we enter into the fullness of God’s love for mankind, manifested in the crucified and risen Christ. Adoration is both a preparation and an action of grace for the gift of the Eucharist, a welcome for and acceptance of the life of Christ within us. Our monastic life is above all alife of prayer for the Church, in particular the Holy Father, bishops and priests and our brethren the world over.
« OF MONTMARTRE »
- Montmartre is the site of our foundation (cf. our history), the place where we live out, as in other sanctuaries, our vocation of the apostolic life. Apostolic life springs from our monastic life, the spiritual and material management of the places of prayer.
- Our Priories meet the need of our contemporaries to find themselves in silence, prayer, spiritual renewal and fraternal encounter. Often burdened by serious problems, they seek comfort and a response to their need for the absolute. If they so wish, they can find spiritual guidance, particularly the young, who are often in search of a meaning for their lives. In the Basilica, the facilitation of the liturgy and prayer, the material and spiritual welcome at the Ephrem Guest House, the introduction of those on retreat and pilgrims to the adoration of the Eucharist and the guidance of catechumens and confirmants towards the Sacraments of initiation into the Christian life, constitute a large part of our apostolic life.
In this way, like the image of Mary at the foot of the cross, we can exercise a true spiritual maternity and transmit the life of God to all who seek it and who are often drawn towards the Sanctuaries.
History of the Benedictine Sisters of the Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre
1872
Adèle Garnier, a schoolteacher in a distant provincial château, reads an article about the plan to build the future Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre and hears this inner call: « That is where I want you! »
1898
The mission is accomplished: her religious community, founded for the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre, is formally established by the Church. Adèle Garnier becomes Mother Marie de Saint Pierre.
1901
The first community moves into the Cité du Sacré-Cœur, but in 1901 the new laws on religious congregations force them into exile in England. The congregation then sets up in Belgium and northern France.
1961 to 1977
Encouraged by Monsignor Charles, Rector of the Basilica, the congregation returns to Montmartre to fulfil its mission of prayer and welcome.
1970 to 1978
The congregation grows [se déploie] and leaves Montmartre temporarily.
Construction of the Béthanie Priory in Blaru (Yvelines).
Béthanie Priory (Blaru, Yvelines)
and foundation of the priories at Notre-Dame de Marienthal
www.basiliquemarienthal.fr
and Notre-Dame de Laghet.
www.sanctuaire-laghet.cef.fr
From 1973, following the Second Vatican Council, Father Marie-Joseph Le Guillou O.P. enters into profound communion with the values of our congregation and helps the General Chapter to structure the new Constitutions theologically and spiritually. They are approved by Rome in 1983.
1984 to 1987
Return to Montmartre: foundation of the Priory of Saint Benedict then Sainte Scholastique, Mother House and Novitiate, in the Cité du Sacré-Cœur.
1992 to 1995
Foundation of the Priory of Notre-Dame des Victoires in Paris
www.notredamedesvictoires.com
and the Priory of Marie-Joseph in Ars.
www.arsnet.org
1995
Cardinal Lustiger, Archbishop of Paris, asks the Congregation to participate in the spiritual and material management of the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur. Thus the intuition of Mother Marie de Saint Pierre is accomplished.
2001
Foundation of a community at the Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours.
www.basiliquesaintmartin.fr
2009
Foundation of a community at Notre Dame du Laus.
www.sanctuaire-notredamedulaus.com