Abbey of Saint Scholastica in Dourgne

Posted in Benedictines, Diocese of Albi, Ecclesiastical province of Toulouse

Abbaye Sainte Scholastique de Dourgne

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The History of Our Monastery

The Abbey of Saint Scholastica in Dourgne was founded following a call from God to Marie Cronier. Whilst she was a boarder at the Benedictine convent of Jouarre she met Dom Romain Banquet, a monk at La Pierre-qui-Vire. On the 29th of January 1883 Marie understood that God wished her to found a new Benedictine community.

“Go forth from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.
Build me a spiritual dwelling place”.

The founding was twofold with both monks and nuns according to the ancient rule of Benedict and Scholastica. They were to become the Benedictine Monastery of En Calcat and the Abbey of Saint Scholastica in Dourgne. The building of the future Abbey of Dourgne started in 1890 and in 1896 the monastery was established as an Abbey.

The Monastery today

A community of about thirty people nuns lives there. Deeply rooted in the Church, their vocation is to be at the service of Christ and men in this world. Liturgical prayer marks the rhythm of their daily life. The day is spent in prayer, lectio divina, study, manual work and communal activities.
All guests are welcomed as Christ himself, as encouraged by the Rule of St. Benedict. They are welcomed at the guesthouse in the peacefulness of the surroundings ().
The nuns live by the work of their hands : making albs, ceramics, Christmas cribs, statues, low reliefs, rosaries, of the products in their monastic shop.

Some special features of our monastery

Our history has been marked by the closeness of two communities : the Benedictine monks of En Calcat and the nuns of St Scholastica of Dourgne.
At the Benedictine Abbey of Sainte Scholastique in Dourgne : A time for God lasting 3 weeks, 3 months, or longer is offered to women : share in our daily life and lay your life before the Lord (an initial stay at the guesthouse is required, as well as a letter explaining your motivations).