MONASTÈRE SAINTE-MARIE DE LA GARDE

The first steps of a young community. On November 21, 2002, on the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, a group of eight monks left their mother house, the Abbey of Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux (Vaucluse), and arrived at a place called "Lagarde" in the commune of Saint-Pierre-de-Clairac. 2003 will be a year devoted to the first installations and work. From 2004 to 2006, a larger chapel was built and inaugurated to better accommodate the faithful. From 2005 to 2008, the community will continue to grow, either by the reception of other monks from its mother house, or by candidates to the monastic life coming from outside. The community had 13 monks, including 5 priests in 2013, and in 2015 the monks were 16. Their project: to build together a monastery for the 21st century. The first phase of this work took place between 2009 and 2013. For this first phase, the architecture was dictated in a natural way. The twin pavilions and the outbuildings became the core of the monastery, able to accommodate twenty monks, while waiting for the second phase to be completed. A patio linking the master house to the twin pavilions. As for the future project, more ambitious, it will allow an extension of the buildings where 40 monks will be able to live, upon completion of a beautiful abbey. The brothers receive gentlemen and young men on individual retreats for up to a week. Such a stay allows them to participate in the prayer of the monks (liturgical offices, time of silent prayer) and to associate themselves, to a certain extent, with the life of the community. The guests have their meals with the monks, listening to the readings in the refectory. They can also, if they wish, help them with various tasks.

Offices: matins at 3:30 am, lauds at 6 am, read masses at 6:30 am, prime at 7:45 am (at 8 am on Sundays and feasts), tierce & sung mass at 9:30 am (at 10 am on Sundays and feasts), sext at 12 pm (at 12:15 pm on Sundays and feasts), nun's mass at 2 pm (at 2:30 pm on Sundays and feasts), vespers at 5:30 pm (followed, on Sundays and feasts, by the Salute of the Blessed Sacrament), compline at 7:45 pm. Reception: only a few cells are available to receive gentlemen.

Shop: in this shop you can buy a model of the monastery, CDs (salve regina, Gregorian, cantatas), ladies' and gentlemen's sandals and various other products from the abbey of Le Barroux and other monasteries such as olive oil, etc.