Carmel of Verdun

carmel versun

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The History of our Monastery

The first Carmel in Verdun was founded in 1633 by the Carmel of Metz ; but due to the French Revolution it was closed in 1790. A group of nuns from the Carmel of Nancy, who had taken refuge in Belgium in 1904 returned to France in 1923 and reinstated the presence of the Carmelites in the town. The Monastery is built within the city walls in the very place where Poor Clare Sisters lived for 500 years. During the course of her life, our founder, Mother Germaine de Jésus (1866-1945) came to appreciate the importance of the brotherly support of the Carmelite monks and the communal life of the sisters.

The monastery today

The Carmel is the constantly renewed adventure of the soul meeting the eyes of God and seeking Him out taking all of mankind along with it.
Our community is made up of 10 nuns ranging from 28 to 91 years of age. Our way of life is a balance between a solitary life of silence to promote a lasting friendship with God and a fraternal community where we help each other on our way through life and bear witness to God’s life-giving Love.

We take great pleasure in sharing our prayers every day with those who come to join us :
Laud 7.15am, Mass 8am, Vespers 5pm on week-days and 5.45pm on Sundays.
We are also pleased to welcome people who wish to make a spiritual retreat for a few days in our monastery.

Special features of our monastery

The Verdun Carmel, off the beaten track, welcomes all those who wish to come and drink at the source of life.

The Carmel of Verdun is established in Lorraine in the department of Meuse. An area which is predominantly rural and sparsely populated, but on the other hand, in a Diocese of a reasonable size which is very dynamic and counts on lay people taking responsibility. We are the only Monastery of the Diocese and as such are even more conscious and happy to be able to pursue our mission of praise and intercession. Our participation in the life of our Diocese is enhanced by various two-way life enriching exchanges.

As for work, we produce and sell products based on the local tradition of bed-linen : patchwork quilts, eiderdowns, duvets, pillows.