The Monastic Family of Bethlehem, of the Assumption of the Virgin and of Saint Bruno – or simply known as Monastic Brothers of Bethlehem and Monastic Sisters of Bethlehem – is a Roman Catholic institute of consecrated life that practices the Carthusian spirituality and was founded through the inspiration of a small group of French pilgrims on November 1, 1950, at St. Peter's Square (Vatican City), following the promulgation of the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.[1] The Monastic Sisters were founded in France, soon after, and the Monastic Brothers in 1976.
Famille monastique de Bethléem, de l’Assomption de la Vierge et de Saint Bruno | |
Formation | 1950 |
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Type | Institute of Consecrated Life of Pontifical Right (for Men and Women) |
Headquarters | Économe Générale Secrétaire des Monastères, 2055 Chemin di Piquetière, F-38380 Saint-Laurent-du-Pont, France |
Membership (2018) | 60 Monastic Brothers 650 Monastic Sisters |
Prioress General | Sr. Isabelle Flye-Sainte-Marie, Bethléem |
Website | www.bethleem.org |
The charism of the communities of the Monastic Family of Bethlehem, of the Assumption of the Virgin and of Saint Bruno consists in listening to the Gospel with the Blessed Virgin Mary in the heart of the Catholic Church, in love, in solitude, through liturgical life, study, work and poverty. In order to fulfill this vocation more perfectly, the Monasteries of Bethlehem receive Saint Bruno's fatherhood and his wisdom of life.
Since 2015, the monastic family of Bethlehem has been the object of a canonical visitation led by Fr. Jean Quris, former Deputy Secretary General of the Bishops' Conference of France and by Sister Geneviève Barrière, a Benedictine nun, who was the abbess of Jouarre from 2007 to 2014. This visitation followed the "dysfunctions" which arose in certain communities and a lack of distinction between the internal and external fora.[vague]
Sister Emmanuel (née Rose Armelle Marie Claude Lorenchet de Montjamont) was appointed prioress general of the Monastic Family of Bethlehem by the Congregation of Religious Of the Holy See in February 2017,[2] following the resignation as prioress general of Sister Isabelle, herself succor of the community's founder, Sister Marie.
The new prioress general, Sister Emmanuel, is assisted by 5 sisters as her official advisers, and by two apostolic visitors: Father Jean Quris, a priest of the diocese of Angers and episcopal vicar for consecrated life, and Mother Geneviève Barrière, former Abbess of Jouarre. The role of the apostolic visitors consists is to remain in close contact with the prioress general and her permanent advisers so as to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the Roman Dicastery and the renewal of the Constitutions, with a view to preparing a future general chapter to vote on the new constitutions text and in the election of a prioress general.[2]
The first community of Monastic Sisters of Bethlehem began in 1951. The first community of Monastic Brothers of Bethlehem (or Monks) was founded in 1976, in the Chartreuse Mountains. The Monastic Family of Bethlehem presently numbers more than 670 members, of which more than 600 nuns and some 70 monks.[3] They live in 30 nunneries and 4 monasteries of brothers located in 15 different nations. The Monastic Family of Bethlehem also includes Lay Associates, Companions and Friends, all of whom contribute to its life.[4]