Monastery of St Clare at Toulouse

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The History of our Monastery

The Poor Clares have been present in Toulouse since 1246, the same era as Madam St Clare. Six different establishments were to follow one another, as the sisters were driven out by various revolutions. Each time, in a spirit of faith and perseverance, they came back inside the town or to its gates.
In 1926, Père Aloys, a Capuchin friar and Mère Marie des Douleurs (Mother Mary of Sorrows) founded a new monastery in the Montaudran district, the current location.
The monastery, built in 1934, was partially destroyed by bombing in 1944 (it was the run-way of the St Exupery airport that was targeted). One sister died, and the rest of the community was welcomed by the Benedictines of the Blessed Sacrament at Mas Grenier near to Montauban.
In 1945, they returned to their monastery in Toulouse which had been restored, partly by German prisoners, some of whom became friends.

The monastery today

Today, 14 sisters try to live the Gospel adventure according to the way of St Francis and St Clare of Assisi.

Starting at 7 a.m, when we meet for the celebration of the Eucharist, we continue our day which is marked by the Liturgy of the Hours, the Word of God, Adoration-Prayer, work, fraternal encounters… all lived as part of the Church, particularly in liaison with Diocese, thanks to the St Agnes Guesthouse which welcomes meetings of chaplaincy and other varied groups, in particular those of the Franciscan family, formation courses, conferences, for example the School of Franciscan Spirituality.

Special features of our monastery

The monastery of St Clare at Toulouse is under the patronage of Our Lady of Sorrows : an invitation for the community to intercede in favour of the numerous intercessions entrusted to us; to be ‘a support to the weak members of the Body of Christ’ as had asked St Clare.

About

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  • Federation : St Clare
  • Diocese : Toulouse
  • Ecclesiastical Province : Toulouse

Contact our monastery

Monastère Sainte Claire
216 Av. A. de Saint-Exupéry
31 400 Toulouse