The Monastery

The Abbey of Saint Scholastica is situated in the South of France, about 70 km from Toulouse, at the foot of the Montagne Noire, in the department of Tarn. The nuns follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Life in the abbey is organised such as focussing on prayer, work, fraternal relations and hospitality. The sisters have chosen to follow Christ in a life of prayer, work and silence that implies some separation from the world. According to the Rule, they will be true monks if they live from the products of their hands. So, in order to be self-supporting, the nuns have a few remunerative activities inside the monastery and a boutique where monastic products are sold. As the monastery is the private residence of the sisters, it cannot be visited. However, everybody may take part in their liturgical prayer (Gregorian chant and French), which is praise and demand for the whole world. Considering the place and the life of the community, guest are welcome as Christ (Rule of St B.) at the guest-house, for a time of spiritual retreat, alone or in groups. Young female adults may be introduced to monastic life and provided with spiritual guidance on monastic vocation.

The History

The monastery of Saint Scholastica in Dourgne and the neighbouring monastery of Saint Benedict in En Calcat were both founded in 1890 by Mother Marie Cronier and Dom Romain Banquet. On January 29th 1883, Marie, born in Sens, heard a call from the Lord who invited her to leave her country and go to the land He would show her. She understood that, together with Dom Romain, then a monk at La Pierre-qui-Vire, and who had been her spiritual father since 1874, she was to start a twin foundation of sisters and brothers following the rule of Saint Benedict. How and in what place? The answer came after a long wait of seven years upheld by an unwavering faith.
Mother Marie Cronier received the abbatial blessing in 1896. The building of the abbey was completed in 1927 when the church was consecrated.
In the fifties, nuns from Dourgne were sent to the Abbeys of Valognes and Venière in order to provide some fraternal assistance.
Presently, the community counts 45 sisters. The current Abbess, Mother Mireille Knepfler, was elected in 2016.
Foundations
1934 : Monasteries of Civitella (Italy) and Madiran (France)
1963 : Monastery of Assomption in Dzogbegan (Togo). Its first Abbess was elected in 2017.

The Activities

• Monastic shop
  
• Liturgical clothing workshop
• Ceramic workshop
  
• Cribs workshop
  
• Services – SECLI
• Book binding workshop
  
• Rosaries
• Carterie