Foundation of the Monks of Bethlehem
©Padre Cesare celebrates Mass on the island of Lérins/
Monastic Family of Bethlehem
In 1971, at the time when the community of the Sisters of Bethlehem have decided to leave the Dominican Order, a young Italian priest, Padre Cesare Falletti, asked the sisters if it was possible to set up a male branch living the same vocation as them. He was joined by several young men with the same desire. Together, they began a first experience near the monastery of the sisters at Hautecour in Savoie (France), then joined the foundation of the sisters on the island of Lérins near Cannes (France). The experience ended after a few months: these “first brothers” entered the novitiate of the Cistercian monks of Lérins.
©Vincent Guerry receives the habit of Archbishop Bontems/
Monastic Family of Bethlehem
In the spring of 1976, other young men in search of God met at the monastery of the Sisters of Bethlehem in Les Montsvoirons (Haute-Savoie; France). Among them was Brother Vincent Guerry, a Benedictine monk in his fifties who, having experienced the solitary life in Africa, had returned to Europe. They asked the sisters about the possibility of a male branch that could share their vocation.
At the end of the summer, Sister Marie suggested that they come and live at the monastery of Currière-en-Chartreuse (Isère; France) where the Sisters’ Mother House is located. On 6 October, the feast of St. Bruno, the first three brothers received the monastic habit from Monsignor André Bontems, Archbishop of Chambéry and canonical head of the sisters’ community. Brother Vincent is their prior. The brothers are housed in a building adjoining the sisters’ Monastery, and receive from them a living transmission of the charism and customs of the Bethlehem community.
©Construction of the monastery of Currière/
Monastic Family of Bethlehem
©First Brothers' Oratory in Currière/
Monastic Family of Bethlehem
Other young men gradually joined this first nucleus. At Christmas 1978, Brother Vincent left the foundation. Brother Patrick Gilbert was elected prior. By 1980, the community had grown to fifteen brothers. They devoted themselves to their monastic formation and engaged in biblical, philosophical, and theological studies. In 1982, they began to build their own monastery from the barn in Currière.
At the end of 1982, some of them were sent to the monastery of La Verne to restore an old ruined Carthusian monastery that a few lay people had begun to restore in the hope that monastic life would be reborn there. This foundation was handed over to the sisters in 1985. In 1986, there were 11 perpetually professed brothers. The first priestly ordinations took place in 1988-1989. The number of brothers grew slowly.
©Monastery of Monte Corona (Italy)/Monastic Family of Bethlehem
© Érection diocésaine en 1992/ Monastic Family of Bethlehem
In 1990, Monte Corona was founded, a former Camaldolese monastery located in Italy not far from Assisi, which the sisters began to restore in 1981.
The canonical leader of the friars was now Monsignor Ennio Antonelli, Archbishop of Perugia (Italy), who erected the community as an Institute of Diocesan Law on 25 March 1992.
By the end of the 1990s, there were 35 brothers.
On 6 October 1998, the Community of Bethlehem, brothers and sisters, was erected into a monastic family of pontifical right in two branches, the male branch being clerical.
©Founding of Tel Gamaliel/
Monastic Family of Bethlehem
In 2000, the foundation of a priory at Tel Gamaliel in the Holy Land began, close to the monastery of our sisters at Bet Gemal.
At the General Chapter of 2001, after 23 years, Brother Patrick stepped down as Prior General. Brother Silouane was elected.
In 2014, there were 40 brothers, including 15 priests.
2014-2021 : the Church's accompaniment of the brothers
Apostolic Visit
At the end of 2014, an apostolic visit was undertaken by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (C.I.V.C.S.V.A) for the entire Monastic Family of Bethlehem. The Congregation appoints two visitors for the monasteries of France and Israel: Mother Geneviève Barrière, abbess emeritus of the Benedictine Abbey of Jouarre (France) and Father Jean Quris, episcopal delegate for consecrated life in the diocese of Angers (France). As for the monastery of Monte Corona in Italy, the local bishop, Cardinal Bassetti, appoints one of the priests of the diocese as visitor.
The Findings and recommendations of the Apostolic Visit
Following the apostolic visitation, an apostolic assistant was appointed by the C.I.V.C.S.V.A on 28 April 2017, in the person of Rev. Fr. Cesare Falletti di Villafalletto, a Cistercian monk and founder of the monastery of Pra’d Mill in Italy, to accompany the community of brothers in the stage that lies ahead, particularly with regard to the renewal of the Constitutions.
In the letter dated 11 April 2018, addressed to the brothers, this same Dicastery indicates some important points of attention for our Community:
– First of all, a call to “maintain the unity of the Monastic Family, with regard to the charismatic definition, the orientations for monastic and spiritual life, and the practice of the evangelical counsels, you will be able to work with the sisters of your Monastic Family with whom you will determine the institutional relationships, the organs of communion”.
– As far as the community of brothers is concerned, the emphasis is placed first and foremost on the mode of government “according to the relatively small number of brothers, the articulation of responsibilities, the duration of mandates and election procedures, as well as the balance between the personal authority of superiors and the active responsibility of each brothers in a more collegial dimension of free expression and mutual listening in the search for the will of God”.
– Finally, the Dicastery draws our attention to the importance of working on “the criteria for discerning vocations, respect for the internal forum, the clarity of the stages of training and their duration, the type of commitment, the desirability of different statutes, those responsible for training, chapter votes on admission and the question of who is, ultimately, responsible for Admission. In particular, it will be necessary to establish a ‘Ratio’ for training, with special arrangements for those who called to priestly ministry.”
© Opening Mass of the 2018 General Chapter/
Monastic Family of Bethlehem
Preparation of the 2018 General Chapter
On the basis of these recommendations, during the year 2018, all the perpetually professed members will work together to draft the chapter on the government of the brothers for the future Constitutions. They met in a first assembly with their apostolic assistant. This work was continued in community chapters in each of the monasteries in preparation for the next General Chapter.
In the letter of 30 May 2018, the CIVCSVA gives permission to celebrate an Extraordinary General Chapter, to which it summons all the perpetually professed. Father Cesare FALLETTI will preside over the Chapter until the election of the new Prior General.
The 2018 General Chapter and the continuation of the work
This Chapter was held at the Monastery of Assumption Notre-Dame (Currière; France) with the participation of the 30 professed brothers perpetual who are members by right. It was an opportunity to deepen their call. First, began by reflecting on the role of the Prior General as well as on the profile of the new Permanent Council. The assembly elected Brother Jean-Baptiste Prior General for a three-year term. The new Permanent Council is made up of Brother Maximilian, First Assistant, Brother Matthieu, Second Assistant, Brother Jerome and Brother Tobiyah.
The drafting of the new chapter on government has been completed and voted to be subject to the approval of the Dicastery. In a letter dated 4 December 2018, the Dicastery gave its approval for the Chapter to be in force until the next General Chapter, scheduled for October 2021.
Over the next three years, an intense work of drafting the new Constitutions was carried out by all the perpetual professed brothers, both in each monastery and at general assemblies. This joint work fostered a spirit of synodality and fraternal communion, with freedom of speech and mutual listening.
This period was also marked by an experience of cooperation with our sisters in drawing up the common parts of our Constitutions.
©Assembly of the General Chapter presided over
by Brother Césaire/
Monastic Family of Bethlehem
The General Chapter of October 2021
The main purpose of this Chapter was to complete the drafting of the new Constitutions.
This text was voted by all the capitulating brothers.
The Chapter Assembly also reflected on the following themes:
– The paternity of St. Bruno and his wisdom of life;
– The formation of formators;
– How to develop our links with other monastic and religious communities.
©Brother Jean-Baptiste renews/
Profession Ad Altare After his re-election
Brother Jean-Baptiste was re-elected
to continue serving as Prior General for three years.
The members of the new Permanent Council are:
Brother Maximilian, first assistant;
Brother Jerôme, second assistant;
Brother Louis-Marie;
Brother Matthieu;
Brother Marek.
The Chapter Assembly also reflected on the following themes:
– The paternity of St. Bruno and his wisdom of life;
– The formation of formators;
– How to develop our links with other monastic and religious communities.
A few weeks after the close of the General Chapter, the draft Constitutions were submitted to the Congregation for Religious.
From 2022 to 2024
In the letter of 27 June 2022, the Congregation of Religious encouraged the Community of Brothers to continue the work it has begun and sent it comments and requests “to improve the text and make it conform even more closely to the law and magisterium of the Church today”:
– Simplification and lightening of the text;
– Qualification of the canonical vocabulary;
– Revision of the formula of profession.
In recommending work on these points, the Congregation approves ad experimentum and for three years this draft of the Constitution, which now replaces the Rule of Life approved in 1998.
The letter goes on to encourage: “The main positive point is that this work of revising the Constitutions has allowed two essential things to happen: a new appropriation of the charism by the monks and nuns of Bethlehem, and a renewal of the fraternity and unity of your Family on a healthier basis of dialogue, listening and mutual respect. Of course, you may regret that the results of your work have not been fully approved by our Dicastery, but the road you have travelled is already an important fruit of your evangelical and charismatic renewal.”