Fraternite Monastique de Jerusalem

Fr Pierre Marie Delfieux was student chaplain of the Sorbonne University in Paris who spent his sabbatical, after ten years of work as chaplain, as a hermit in the Sahara, following the example of Charles de Foucauld. He returned to Paris, fired with the idea of living a monastic life within the city. Supported by Cardinal Marty, Archbishop of Paris, he spent a year living alone; but Cardinal Marty wanted a monastic community in Paris that would luve the rythm of the city, but be a haven of silence and prayer within it. In 1975, the first community of"monks of the city" were formed at St Gervaise; and, a year later, a community of sisters. Then a community of lay people who live in the world but share the liturgical and spiritual life of the minks and nuns, came into being.

There is the liturgical office in the morning, mid-day and eveneing; and great emphasis is given to beauty in the liturgy. There is also adoration of the Blessed Sacrament all day, and an all-night vigil, centred on the Blessed Sacrament, every Thursday.

These videos are in French, but, with this introduction in English, I hope you will appreciate their life. There are now about 200 monks and nuns in twenty fraternities like St Gervaise, Vezelay, Mont St Michel and Rome. Enjoy.