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THE
BENEDICTINE
NUNS OF LE
BARROUX
The community
was born of the
desire to lead
the Benedictine
life in the
footsteps of Dom
Gerard, the
founder of the
monastery of
Sainte-Madeleine
at Le Barroux.
Many young women
came knocking at
the door. After
provisional
accommodation (a
farmhouse,
caravans…)
it was necessary
to build a
convent
(1986-2005).
There are now
nearly thirty
nuns. They
follow the sixth
century Rule of
St. Benedict in
a life of prayer
and work,
withdrawn from
the world. The
Provencal sun
and the
beautiful
setting (Mont
Ventoux, the
Dentelles of
Montmirail…)
attract many
visitors, who
find the
products of the
nuns’
craft workshops
in the abbey
shop.
SOME
IMPORTANT
DATES
1979: Founding
of the
community.
1983:
Acquisition of
land at Le
Barroux in the
Provence region
of France, at
the foot of Mont
Ventoux.
1986: Blessing
of the first
stone of the
convent.
1989: Canonical
recognition by
the Holy See.
1992: Elevation
of the convent
to the rank of
abbey, and
blessing of the
first Abbess,
Mother
Elisabeth.
1995: Visit of
Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger to the
Abbey.
2001: Blessing
of the second
Abbess, Mother
Placide.
2005:
Consecration of
the abbey church
by Cardinal
Medina Estevez,
specially sent
by Benedict
XVI.
THE
STAGES
OF A
MONASTIC
VOCATION
Only one thing
determines a
young woman to
leave
everything: the
desire to answer
the call of
Christ,
«
Follow me
»
. It is the
desire to
respond to the
astonishing love
of God, to give
as He gives. A
time of
probation (7
years) provides
the opportunity
to verify that
the attraction
truly
corresponds to a
call from God:
does the novice
have the
necessary
aptitudes for
monastic life?
If not, says St.
Benedict, she
freely departs.
If she does have
them, she can
make the
commitment of
the vows of
poverty,
chastity, and
obedience, which
bind her
irrevocably to
God in the
community.
A
LIFE
WICH
IS
USEFUL
FOR
THE
WORLD
Do the nuns
simply serve the
purpose of
producing CDs of
Gregorian chant,
or good jam? Not
at all. First of
all, they serve
Someone:
«
The service of
God first
»
. In a world
which has lost
its bearings, a
life centred on
the search for
what is
essential is a
point of
reference: it is
a silent
testimony, a
finger pointing
towards heaven.
By their prayers
and the offering
of their lives,
the nuns
cooperate in the
salvation of the
world.
BENEDICTINE
SPIRITUALITY
«
Come, let us
exult with joy
in the Lord
!
»
Benedictines
live as children
of the Church:
They are on a
journey to
heaven, working
and singing all
day, praising
God and invoking
His blessings on
the world. It is
a very full life
of charity,
obedience and
the joy of
self-giving.
THE
MONASTIC
DAY
• The
liturgical
offices provide
the rhythm of
the day : Matins
at 5:05 –
Lauds at 7:25
– Prime at
8:30 –
Terce and Mass
at 10:00 –
Sext at 12:30
– None at
14:00 –
Vespers at 17:30
– Compline
at 20:00.
• Silent
prayer, reading
Holy Scripture,
and study (the
Magisterium,
philosophy,
theology, the
Church Fathers,
liturgy…)
nourish the mind
and the heart at
various times
during the
day.
• Work
takes an
important place
: the daily
services of the
convent
(kitchen,
laundry,
sacristy,
infirmary,
library, office
work…),
the workshops
(bookbinding,
publishing, jam,
nougat, shoe
repairs,
carpentry,
clothes for
children,
weaving of
liturgical
vestment in
silk), and work
in the fields
(vines,
lavender, figs,
olives, almonds,
apricots…).
At the abbey
the holy liturgy
is celebrated in
Latin, with
Gregorian chant.
Composed in the
language of the
Roman Church,
Gregorian chant
has a sacred and
universal
character. The
Catholic Church
has made it her
particular
chant, the one
she prefers for
her liturgy. The
texts and
melodies have
travelled down
the ages. The
chant has its
source in the
prayer, and
guides the
prayer, which is
why it must be
beautiful.
Fraternal life
contributes to
the unity of the
voices of the
choir. The nuns
have produced
several CDs of
Gregorian chant
:
«
Noel
»
,
«
Jubilate
Deo
»
,
«
Vision de
paix
»
,
«
La joie de
Dieu
»
(
«
The joy of
God
»
, April 2010,
organ pieces and
Gregorian
chant).
WHY
RECORD
A
CD
WITH
UNIVERSAL
MUSIC
?
Representatives
of Decca
(Universal
Music) came to
hear our chant
and were
captivated.
Our decision
was considered
in community.
The motive
which made us
accept the
project was
the spiritual
benefit of the
people who
would hear the
chant. The
recording took
place from the
23rd to the
25th June
2010, in the
abbey church,
in front of
the Lord,
present in the
Eucharist: the
chant was a
prayer, not a
competition.
And a time of
joy. The
director of
the Schola of
Saint-Grégoire
directed the
choir. The
sound team
advised and
encouraged us.
The
repercussions
in the media
leave the
community in
peace: the
nuns continue
their silent
life of prayer
and work. The
receipts from
the sale of
the CD
“Voices
— Chant
from
Avignon”
will help
works of
charity.
WHAT
IS
THE
INTENDED
MESSAGE
OF
«
VOICES
-
CHANT
FROM
AVIGNON
»
?
That the
chant speak
to the
hearts of
all who will
hear it! It
is urgent
that the
infinite
love of God
be
recognized,
the presence
of Jesus at
our side on
the
difficult
road of
life.
Gregorian
chant is
very
expressive,
a
translation
of all human
feelings:
distress,
joy,
adoration,
supplication,
the desire
of heaven,
hope…
The pieces
on the CD
were chosen
as aids for
praying,
they are
magnificent
prayers.
Rather than
being
a flight
from the
real world,
the chant
provides a
window which
reveals the
invisible
part of that
world. Life
on earth
finds its
complete
meaning when
it makes its
way towards
eternal
life.
Abbaye
Notre-Dame
de
l'Annonciation
750
chemin
des
Ambrosis
84330
LE
BARROUX
FRANCE
Information
:
•
Daily
Mass at
10:00 in
the
extraordinary
form of
the
Roman
rite.
All may
attend,
as at
the
other
offices.
•
Shop
(sale of
monastic
craft
products):
Weekdays:
11:15-12:15/14:30-17:00
Sundays
and
Feast
days:
11:30-12:15/15:30-17:00.
Further
information
:
•
Products of
the
«
Ateliers
Monastiques
de
l’Annonciation
»
(Monastic
Workshops of
the
Annunciation),
including
the brochure
presenting
the abbey
Notre-Dame
de
l’Annonciation
, Gaud
Editions, 36
pages, 80
photos, 8
€ :
boutique.barroux.org
•
Gregorian
chant :
schola-st-gregoire.org
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