Fraternity of St Clare at Riez

Posted in Diocese of Digne, Ecclesiastical province of Marseille, Poor Clairs

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The History of our Monastery

In September 1973, Cardinal Marty requested that contemplative religious “make available to the faithful educators in prayer and visible and accessible places of prayer”. In response to this request, 3 Poor Clare sisters from the monastery of Nazareth in Israël came to France in 1975. Mgr Collin, the Bishop of Digne (and at that moment the Bishop responsible for liaising with the Service des Moniales) proposed that we settle in his diocese. Like St Francis of Assisi, we chose to repair a small 5th century Priory, formerly belonging to the monks of Lérins, at Riez la Romaine, on the hill of St Maxime. This place belongs to the commune.

The Monastery Today

We are currently four sisters living on the hill of St Maxime, with a view to making actual for today the form of life established by St Clare. Our Fraternity is rooted :

In the liturgical life with reference to the texts of the day
In our co-responsibility for the services of fraternal life
In being able to have close relations between the community and our guests… the small guest house (4 bedrooms).

We draw strength from our relations with the other small communities of Poor Clares, with the sisters from the region of Provence Alpes Côte-d’Azur, and the Federation, and the varied continued formation that is offered inside and outside the monastery.

Special features of our monastery

The Fraternity of St Clare at Riez is situated in a tourist region, with a GR (Grande Randonnée – long distance walk) passing nearby and a spa resort.

The small size of our community favours close relationships with those who ring at the door. Very much in contact with the protestants whom we meet with each month for bible study
A close relationship with the Diocese
Our daily liturgy is prepared with the texts of the daily liturgy as the starting point.