MONASTÈRE SAINTE-MARIE

Among the defenders of the Catholic doctrine who fought against Catharism, Saint Dominic occupies a place of choice, having devoted a large part of his life to fighting against this movement and trying to convert numerous faithful. It was in the Lauragais plain that the holy man began his fight against Catharism. In 1206, he founded a first monastery of contemplative Dominican nuns where he himself resided until 1215. Most of the sisters were themselves converted Cathars. Prouilhe is indeed the cradle of the Dominican Order, the place where Saint Dominic's intuition germinated, which would soon spread throughout the world and profoundly mark the history of the Church. At the same time, he entrusted the mission of preaching to friars preachers whom he established in Toulouse in 1215. From 1209 to 1214, while Béziers and Carcassonne were taken, Fanjeaux was the headquarters of Simon de Montfort who fought, in the service of Pope Innocent III, against the Cathars. After the defeat at Muret and the Lateran Council, which made Montfort Count of Toulouse, the Dominican order developed. The Dominican convent was destroyed during the French Revolution. It was rebuilt at the end of the 19th century. Nowadays Prouilhe, which is the first monastery and the place of foundation of the order, frequently receives friars, sisters and laymen of the Dominican family, who want to get back to the original place. The sisters come from different countries of the world, reflecting the desire of the order to manifest its international dimension. But the monastery also welcomes all those who need this exceptional setting to pray, to take a break, to put down the weight of worries, to share a suffering, to find peace, to open themselves to the grace and presence of God. One can stay there in a group or individually for a time of renewal, retreat, reflection, prayer as well as participate in sessions or days of teaching and sharing...

Services: Lauds at 6:45 am (7:45 am on Sunday), Eucharist at 8:30 am (10 am on Sunday), mid-day service at 12:10 pm, vespers at 5:30 pm, evening service at 8:30 pm.

Reception: for the reception, the community has a building, L'Arquet, equipped with 15 rooms with 2 beds, two meeting rooms and a dining room as well as a small library.

Store: ceramic objects, icons, children's clothing made by the sisters. There is also a religious bookshop and handicrafts from other monasteries.