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The Recluse Sisters
stained glass window
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| The Monasteries |
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The Catholic
community under the French name of Les Recluses
Missionnaires was
founded in 1943, in Alberta, Canada. The community offers its members a
monastic way of life, with perpetual adoration of the Eucharist and an
accent on silence and solitude, following the example of Jeanne LeBer,
a recluse who lived in the early days of Montreal.
The Recluse
Sisters live in two
monasteries located in the Province of
Quebec: Montreal and St.
Jerome. The Montreal monastery,
situated in
the East of the island, along the Rivière-des-Prairies, is
surrounded by a regional
park. The St. Jerome monastery is located in the beautiful Laurentian
mountains. Photos to enlarge
The "two
windows"
The "two
windows" of Presence
to God and
Presence
to the
world
illustrate very well the spirituality of the Recluse
Sisters, as well as that of recluse women of Medieval
times.
Tradition tells us, in fact, that most of these women lived in a
small apartment attending a Church. Through one window, the recluse had
view on the tabernacle of the Church. The other window allowed the
people around to confide their intentions of prayer to the recluse.
Thus
lived Jeanne
LeBer
(1662-1714), who is an inspiration for the Recluse Sisters.
Jeanne, a well-balanced woman, lived in complete seclusion
during thirty-four years. Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament was
her loadstone.
In
her cell,
she embroidered masterpieces, some of which are preserved. Her way of
life seems to us today more admirable than imitable. Nevertheless, the
spirit which was hers, of eucharistic adoration and intercession for
her brothers and sisters, may harmonize with any state of life.
Stained-glass window Jeanne Le Ber
You are not to spread out, but to deepen
yourself;
you are not to be
exhausted,
but to be fulfilled.
Aelred of Rievaulx to his sister recluse,
XII th Century
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Day and night, the Recluse
Sisters take
turns for adoration in the
presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed in their chapel. The
Eucharist celebrated and adored is the core of their life. Their
spirituality is one of offering and thanksgiving to the Father, through
Jesus, in the Holy Spirit.
Morning, midday
and evening, the community gathers to pray the Divine Office. This
Liturgy, mainly composed of Psalms, is the great prayer of the People
of God who praise Him and recognize His action in the universe.
The Word of God, meditated
privately, lectio
divina in the monastic tradition, is the daily bread of the
Recluse Sister. While ruminating
the Word, she progressively learns the eminent science of Jesus Christ, as
urged by saint Paul.
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Contemplative life
tends to grow in a climate of peace, detachment and interiority which
fosters the search for God. The community offers the Sisters a schedule
and an environment assuring solitude within
common life. Silence makes
this possible. A Father of the Desert declared one day that silence is the
portable cell that never
leaves a man of prayer.
Authentic solitude is not
isolation. For the Recluse Sister, it
is solitude-communion:
communion with her Sisters who sustain her in her
human and spiritual progress; communion with her brothers and sisters
of the world to whom she feels bound.
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Presence
to the world
 Prayer
of adoration and prayer
of intercession are inseparable.
How can one adore the
Creator and forget the creature? The Recluse Sisters are keenly aware
of their double mission of adoration and intercession. They are missionaries mainly through prayer.
It is said of the ancient recluse women, though vowed to a strict
seclusion, that they hospitalized
in their heart the sorrows and joys of all men and women.
The Recluse
Sisters intend to carry on this tradition.
A privileged and concrete way for
monasteries to open wide their window
of Presence to the world is through hospitality. By reserving rooms or
hermitages for guests in each of their monasteries, the Recluse Sisters
share with seekers of God the prayerful atmosphere of the house and the
beauty of the surroundings.
A stay of one or more days at the
monastery is always a spiritual
experience for a guest whatever the motive: contemplation, rest, study,
reflection. Preserving the quietness of the monastery is essential.
Therefore is it required that the guest be capable of silence, thus
preserving his inward peace and that of others.
We offer hospitality to God-seeking
people
who wish to share the gift of prayer with us
in the Liturgy and in
silent adoration.
Reservations
by phone only
Montreal Monastery
The Recluse Sisters
12050 East Boulevard Gouin
Montreal Qc H1C 1B8
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St. Jerome
Monastery
The Recluse Sisters
2351 Boulevard du Curé-Labelle
St.Jerome Qc J7Y 5E9
Ph.
450-438-1852
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Accommodations
:
- 8 single rooms, sink; one with
bath, toilet;
- 2 twin
rooms, sink; one with shower, toilet;
- 2
hermitages, kitchenette, shower, toilet;
- 2 meeting rooms,
max.
40 persons.
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Accommodations
:
- 3 single rooms, bath or
shower, toilet;
- 1
single room, dining room, bath, toilet;
- 1
hermitage, kitchenette, toilet;
- 1 meeting room, 20 to 30 persons.
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Facilities :
Chapel,
library,
hiking trails, biking and skiing.
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Facilities :
Chapel,
library,
hiking trails, biking and skiing.
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Location :
East
end of the
island of Montreal ;
Autoroute 40 Metropolitaine;
Exit 83 from West; 85 from East;
Blvd. St-Jean-Baptiste North for 2km;
Turn right, drive 2km.
At non-traffic hours, exit 92, turn left on Gouin;
Drive 1 km West.
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Location :
North
of
St.
Jerome, on Highway 117;
From Montreal, autoroute 15
North;
Exit 45, drive 2 km on 117
North
Direction Prévost/Ste-Adèle;
Do not turn at Lafontaine sign;
Monastery to your right on top of hill.
Road
Map
Access by bus, Montreal / Sainte-Agathe;
The driver drops you at the monastery upon request.
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 Montreal
monastery
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St. Jerome
monastery
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