En-Calcat Abbey

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En-Calcat Abbey
Dourgne (Tarn, Fr) Abbaye aux femmes d'En Calcat.JPG
En-Calcat Abbey
France location map-Regions and departements-2016.svg
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Location within France
Monastery information
Other namesSaint Benoît d'En Calcat
Order Subiaco Cassinese Congregation, OSB
Established1890
Mother house Aiguebelle Abbey
Dedicated to Saint Benedict
Diocese Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Albi
People
Founder(s)Romain Banquet
Site
Location Dourgne, Tarn, France
Coordinates 43°29′50″N2°9′3″E / 43.49722°N 2.15083°E / 43.49722; 2.15083
Public accessYes
Website www.encalcat.com

En-Calcat Abbey is a Benedictine abbey in Dourgne, France, belonging to the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation.

Contents

History

Foundation and exile

The monastery of Saint Benoît d'En Calcat was founded in 1890 together with the monastery of Sainte Scholastique de Dourgne and both were granted the status of abbey in 1896. Though many men entered the monastery, the growth was ended by the Associations Bill of 1901. [1] The monastic community was forced to leave France in 1903 and lived then for a few years in Paramon and then in Besalu before they were allowed to return in 1918. Though they were not living in France, 33 of the 45 monks were mobilised to fight in the French army during the First World War and 10 monks were killed. [2]

After returning to En-Calcat in 1918, the monastery thrived and attracted many famous people. Maxime Jacob, a French composer and Jewish convert to Catholicism, became monk at the monastery in 1929 and was for many years the chief organist. [3] A friend of Maxime, the painter Guy de Chaunac-Lanzac, entered the monastery in 1930 and became a priest in 1937. He became famous for his tapestries which were exhibited internationally and died at the monastery in 1997. [4]

Robert Schuman stayed at the monastery between 1942 and 1944 where he followed the liturgical hours. [5]

Post-war period and foundations

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, later pope John XXIII, went for his annual retreat to the monastery in November 1948. [6] Lambert Beauduin, a pioneer in the European liturgical revival and proponent for ecumenism between Christian churches, was sent to the monastery due to his controversial ideas and influenced many monks here, staying until 1951. [7]

As the monastic community grew, it send out some monks to revive the priory of Madiran which was later transferred to Tournay. [1] In 1952, upon receiving an invitation from the archbishop of Rabat to found a monastery in Morocco, the monastery sent 20 monks which founded the monastery of Toumliline. [8] In 1961, the monastery founded the Abbaye de l'Ascension in Dzogbégan, Togo. [9]

The pianist Thierry de Brunhoff entered the monastery in 1974. [10]

21st century

As of February 2023, the community has around 40 monks and has been led since the death of Père Abbé Emmanuel Roques in February 2021 by Brother Columba Jennesson who acts as Prior-Administrator. [1]

The monastery is known for producing zithers known as psaltérion which are used among others by the Society of the Precious Blood. [11]

The monastery participates in the Dialogue Interreligieux Monastique and as such has hosted Zen monks and nuns in its premises. [12]

Abbots


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