© St. Peter's Square (Rome)
Proclamation of the Dogma of the Assumption by Pope Pius XII in St. Peter’s Square in Rome (Italy)
Some French pilgrims, accompanied by Father Ceslas Minguet, a Dominican priest, are present in St. Peter’s Square. At the time of this Church event, they receive the conviction that the world must have communities of silent adoration, living in reference to the Life of the Virgin Mary.
© Village of Chamvres
From the spiritual event that took place in Rome on 1 November 1950, the Monastic Family was born.
A sending Mass, followed by long hours of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, was celebrated in Paris (France) by Father Ceslas Minguet o.p., 2 February 1951.
Odile Dupont and Marie Liesse Djakeli, members of the Dominican Third Order, arrived in Chamvres (Yonne; France), on 3 February 1951 to begin the foundation. They are accompanied by Father Ceslas Minguet, o.p.
The first community remained in filial dependence on Monsignor Lamy, bishop of the diocese of Sens (Yonne; France).
Drafting of the “Blue Leaves” which are a first draft of the Rule of Life of the nascent Monastic Family, given to Monsignor Lamy, Archbishop of Sens (Yonne; France).
The “Blue Leaves” are the first outpouring of the charism of the young community: adoration, silent prayer, evangelical simplicity and prayer of the Rosary.
© Archbishop Lamy/Royalty-free
Odile Dupont’s first meeting with Monsignor Lamy, Archbishop of Sens (Yonne; France) to the bishopri.
At the end of this meeting, Monsignor Lamy announced his arrival in Chamvres (Yonne; France) on 4 August 1951 to bless the chapel.
First stage of canonical recognition by the Church: the Pia Unio
© Chapel of Chamvres
Family of Bethlehem
Monsignor Lamy, Archbishop of Sens (Yonne; France), approves for one year the foundation of the Pious Union « of the Little Sisters of Our Lady of the Nativity ».
On the same day, Monsignor Lamy clothed the first three sisters in the monastic habit in the chapel of Chamvres (Yonne; France): Odile receives the name of Sister Marie; Hortense, the name of Sister Marie Liesse; Geneviève, the name of Sister Myriam
During a visit to France, Father Suarez had given his authorization to Father Ceslas to start a “future Dominican community” in agreement with the local bishop. In a letter dated 6 November 1951, Sister Marie had informed him of the erection of the fraternity into Pia Unio by Monsignor Lamy, as well as of the taking of the habit of the first three sisters.
Monsignor Lamy convenes Pia Unio of the Fraternity for three years ; the community is also erected into the Fraternity of the Third Order of Preachers by the Provincial of France of the Dominican Order, Father Avril.
That same day, Sister Marie and Sister Myriam made their perpetual profession in the church of the village of Chamvres (Yonne; France) in the hands of Monsignor Lamy.
© Book of Liturgy of Chamvres/
Family of Bethlehem
As early as 1952, the community elaborates a liturgical office
The Office is requested in French from a translation of the Latin Office of the Dominicans.
In 1953, three sisters attended a liturgical formation session with Oblats de Saint-Benoît communautaires et paroissiaux in l’Haÿ-les-Roses (Val de Marne; France). The session is moderated by Dom Massabki, Benedictine monk of the Abbey of Sainte-Marie-de-la-Source in Paris (France).
© Méry-sur-Oise
Feast of Compassion of Our Lady. The community moves to Méry-sur-Oise, diocese of Versailles (Yvelines; France). The fraternity is welcomed by Monsignor Renard, bishop of the diocese of Versailles.
The house in Chamvres having become too small with the arrival of new sisters, so the community moved to a more spacious house in Méry-sur-Oise (Val d’Oise; France).
Monsignor Alexandre Renard, bishop of Versailles (Yvelines; France) erected in Vaux-sur-Oise (Val d’Oise; France) the Pious Union of Our Lady of the Nativity and approves its statutes.
In Méry-sur-Oise, the community grew with the religious assistance of the Dominican Order. The theological formation of young novices and the liturgical life are at the heart of the teachings. The sacred arts and crafts were created with the fraternal help of the brothers of Taizé (Saône-et-Loire; France)
Monsignor Alexandre Renard, bishop of Versailles (Yvelines; France) renews the Pious Union of the community of the “Little Dominican Sisters of Our Lady “Bethlehem”, and canonically approves it in the diocese of Versailles. This erection was established with a view to founding religious institute at a later date.
That same day, Sister Marie renewed her perpetual profession in Méry-sur-Oise in the hands of Monsignor Alexandre Renard, Bishop of Versailles. At the request of Bishop Renard, the professed sisters renewed their vows in the hands of Sister Marie.
© Hautecour/Royalty Free
Foundation of a fraternity in Hautecour-en-Tarentaise (Savoy; France).
This place is more conducive to the solitude of the desert sought by the community. The sisters of Méry-sur-Oise also came here to recharge their batteries.
In 1965, a small biblical and theological studium was created for the formation of young sisters. Sister Bruno, Sister Meryem, and Sister Paul Marie participated. They listen on cassettes to the teachings given by Dominican Fathers at the fraternity of Méry-sur-Oise (Val d’Oise; France).
The community of Méry-sur-Oise (Val d’Oise; France) meets the Russian Orthodox at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Paris (France).
Orthodox friends introduced the community to the Byzantine liturgy and iconography. Some Byzantine texts and music began to be introduced into the liturgy
© Sister Marie and Paul VI
Sister Marie’s meeting with Pope Paul VI in Rome at the end of the last session of the Second Vatican Council.
Monsignor Bontems, then bishop of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (Savoy; France), was appointed head of the community by Monsignor Paul Philippe, Secretary of the Congregation of Religious.
After the appointment of Monsignor Renard as Archbishop of Lyon (Rhône; France) on 28 May 1967, Monsignor Bontems succeeded him as canonical leader of the fraternities of Méry-sur-Oise (Val d’Oise; France) and Hautecour (Savoie; France).
The community develops in France, and establishes itself in Europe, North America, Latin America and the Holy Land.
© Sister Marie and Athénagoras/
Family of Bethlehem
Opening of the fraternity to other Christian denominations with the foundation of the monastery of Notre-Dame de la Gloire-Dieu at les Montvoirons (Savoy; France).
This monastery, close to Geneva (Switzerland), opened up friendly relations with other Christian confessions thanks to its proximity to the World Council of Churches.
On 7 October 1967, Sister Marie met Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople at the World Council of Churches in Geneva.
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© Sister Marie and Sister Samuel – Greece/
Family of Bethlehem
Sister Marie and Sister Samuel make a pilgrimage to Greece and the Holy Land
The community opens up to the richness of the spiritual heritage of the monastic East. They discovered the sources of Eastern monastic liturgicals.
Monsignor Bontems, Archbishop of Chambéry (Savoy; France), canonically erected the community of the «Little Sisters of the Fraternity of Bethlehem» into a pious association.
Archbishop Bontems approves of “the search for a contemplative life adapted to our time and faithful to the most authentic sources of monastic life.”
Constitutions are being drafted with a view to diocesan recognition
General Chapter in Méry-sur-Oise (Val d’Oise; France): the community of nuns of Bethlehem asks the Dominican Order to take its canonical autonomy.
This autonomy was granted on February 23, 1971 by Father Kopf o.p., Provincial of France of the Dominicans. A new path opens up for the community as it continues its search towards the primitive monastic sources.
Monsignor Bontems, canonical leader of the community, encouraged the sisters to undertake work to qualify the texts of the Divine Office by borrowing from the liturgies of the East.
© Chevetogne – Belgium/ Royalty-free
Chevetogne (Belgium).
The community of monks of Chevetogne welcomes a small group of sisters in a part of their guesthouse: Bethany.
A fundamental contribution is received from the monks of Chevetogne who introduce the community to the knowledge of the Fathers of the Church and of the Byzantine liturgy through courses of high quality. Through the participation of the sisters in the liturgical services, the monks offer them the opportunity to make a prolonged experience.
© Chapel of Unity – Pugny-Chatenod/
Family of Bethlehem
Foundation of the Monastery of Our Lady of Unity
(Pugny-Chatenod; Savoy – France).
Monsignor Bontems, Archbishop of Chambéry, calls on the nuns of Bethlehem to come and ensure a presence of prayer in the place called Corbières. There, they received the legacy of Father Portal, a pioneer of ecumenism at the beginning of the twentieth century.
In the small chapel of Byzantine architecture built according to the plans of Father Portal, the community receives the mission of praying for the unity of Christians.
© Monastery of Currière/
Family of Bethlehem
Foundation of the monastery of Currière-en-Chartreuse (Isère; France).
Father General of Chartreuse made the monastery of Currière-en-Chartreuse (Diocese of Grenoble) available to the community so that it could lead a life of prayer and welcome guests in solitude.
After years of research, St. Bruno’s wisdom of life is recognized as one that is in harmony with the community’s vocation of solitude.
The liturgy of the monastic Family finds its final form.
The liturgy of the monastic Family draws its source from both Eastern and Western traditions. This rootedness is fully expressive of the charism of the community.
Birth of the monks of Bethlehem
©Taking the habit of the first brothers/
Family of Bethlehem
The first brothers of Bethlehem settled in the monastery of Currière-en-Chartreuse (Isère; France) and founded the first monastery of monks of the Monastic Family.
On the feast day of St. Bruno, three brothers received the monastic habit from Monsignor Bontems, Archbishop of Chambéry (Savoy; France), in the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Casalibus in Chartreuse (Savoie; France).
The regional chapters of the sisters are working on the outline of a Rule of Life.
At the end of these chapters, the sisters decided to mention obedience to St. Bruno in their profession text.
All the sisters who have taken vows renew their profession by including the promise of obedience to St. Bruno
Monsignor Gabriel Matagrin, bishop of Grenoble (Isère; France), erected the Pious Monastic Union of the Brothers of Bethleheem.
On this occasion, Monsignor Matagrin became canonical responsible for the nuns.
Second stage of canonical recognition by the Church: Monastic Religious Institute of Diocesan Right
Monsignor Matagrin, bishop of Grenoble (Isère; France) erected the « “Sisters of Bethlehem and the Assumption of the Virgin” » as a religious institute of monastic life of diocesan right and approved the text of the Constitutions.
On 14 July in the presence of Monsignor Matagrin, Sister Marie and all the perpetually professed sisters renewed their vows in the monastery of Currière-en-Chartreuse (Isère; France).
Monsignor Matagrin, bishop of Grenoble (Isère; France), erected the “Brothers of Bethlehem and the Assumption of the Virgin” into a public association of the faithful, of a monastic character.
Monsignor Antonelli, Archbishop of Perugia (Italy) confirms the approval of the Public Association of the Faithful of a monastic character in the Diocese of Perugia (Italy).
On 15 August 1989, the main headquarters of the Association of the Faithful was transferred from Grenoble (Isère; France) in Perugia (Italy). Monsignor Antonelli becomes the canonical leader of the monks. On this occasion, Monsignor Antonelli asked the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life to be able to erect the community of monks into a clerical institute of diocesan right in the diocese of Perugia (Italy).
The association of the faithful, called “Monks of Bethlehem and of the Assumption of the Virgin” was erected as a clerical priory ‘sui juris’ of diocesan right by Monsignor Antonelli, Archbishop of Perugia (Italy).
© First audience with pope John Paul II/
Family of Bethlehem
First Audience with John Paul II in Rome
(Italy).
Brothers and sisters participate in Mass in the Holy Father’s private chapel before the audience.
Third stage of canonical recognition by the Church: Institute of Pontifical Right
The Monastic Family of Bethlehem, of the Assumption of the Virgin, and of St. Bruno is erected into an Institute of Pontifical Right by His Holiness John Paul II.
The decree of erection establishes that the monks and nuns together constitute in the Church a single monastic family, in two distinct branches, of the same religious institute of pontifical right. On the same day, the Constitutions were approved “ad experimentum” for ten years. « ad experimentum » pour dix ans.
Sister Marie, our first sister, is called to God.
Sister Mary returns to the Father after 48 years of consecrated life in the Bethlehem Family.
Sister Isabelle is elected Prioress General at an extraordinary General Chapter.