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Before diving into a presentation of some orders present in France, what exactly is a religious order?
Religious orders are communities of consecrated persons who live according to common spiritual rules. They exist within the Catholic Church and include men and/or women. These members make vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, dedicating their lives to prayer, contemplation, study, and service to God.
Each religious order has its own spirituality, a specific rule of life, and a distinctive charism. Some focus on contemplative life, spending their time in silent prayer and meditation. Others dedicate themselves to education, charity, preaching, or mission work. Each member contributes to community life and the Church's mission in a unique way.
Religious orders have played an essential role in history, preserving cultural heritage, establishing schools, hospitals, and charitable institutions. They have been agents of evangelization and have supported the most destitute. Even today, they bear witness to God's faith and love, responding to the spiritual, educational, and social needs of society.
Beyond their differences, religious orders share a commitment to God, the Church, and service to others. Their life is a response to the call to follow Christ in a radical way, living the Gospel with faithfulness and generosity. They offer an inspiring example of consecrated life, inviting believers to deepen their own relationship with God and respond to the call to holiness. If you want to learn more about monastic vows, we've also written an article for you on the subject.
Now that your memory is refreshed, here is a list of the main orders present in France and sometimes even in the world:
Benedictines
The Benedictines are a Catholic religious community founded in the 6th century by Saint Benedict of Nursia.
They follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, a spiritual practice based on prayer, study, manual labor, and service to others. Their monastic life is centered on liturgical prayer and the divine office. The Benedictines also place great importance on study and spiritual reading. Manual labor is an essential part of their daily life, and they are known for their hospitality toward guests and pilgrims. Their influence has extended through the centuries, and they continue to inspire many people in search of spirituality and inner peace.
If you're interested in making a retreat with them, you can visit Jouarre Abbey, En Calcat Abbey, Maumont Abbey, or Wisques Abbey.
Franciscans and Poor Clares
The Franciscans are a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi in the 13th century.
They live according to the ideals of simplicity, poverty, and humility, imitating Christ. Franciscans dedicate themselves to evangelization, contemplative prayer, and service to the most destitute. Their spirituality emphasizes fraternal love, environmental protection, and promotion of peace. They value simplicity of life, compassion, and reconciliation. Franciscans are present throughout the world and bear witness to a humble life and selfless service.
Dominicans
The Dominicans are a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic de Guzmán in the 13th century.
They dedicate themselves to study, preaching, and evangelization. Dominicans follow the rule of Saint Dominic, which emphasizes intelligence and the search for truth. Their spirituality is founded on contemplative prayer, community life, and in-depth study of Scripture and theology. Dominicans are known for their commitment to education, intellectual research, defense of the faith, and interreligious dialogue. They aspire to the search for truth and the proclamation of the Gospel, sharing with others the richness of their spiritual tradition. Dominicans are present throughout the world and continue to bear witness to their zeal for knowledge, truth, and service to God and the Church.
If this has inspired you to make a retreat with them, you can visit Bor Convent, La Tourette Convent, Dax Monastery, or Taulignan Monastery.
Jesuits / Ignatians
The Jesuits, officially known as the Society of Jesus, are a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century.
They are distinguished by their commitment to education, Ignatian spirituality, and service to the world. Jesuits are recognized for their in-depth intellectual formation, their commitment to teaching, research, and interreligious dialogue. They are present in many fields such as education, pastoral care, missions, social justice, and spiritual guidance. Jesuits value seeking God's will through discernment, the pursuit of justice, and promoting faith in action. They are marked by great apostolic flexibility and openness to cultural and religious diversity. Jesuits continue to embody a dynamic tradition, offering an inspiring witness of service and seeking God in the contemporary world. They regularly practice the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius.
To experience a time of Ignatian spiritual retreat, you can visit the Cenacle Spiritual Center.
Carmelites
The Carmelites are a Catholic religious order founded in the 12th century in the tradition of Mount Carmel, in the Holy Land.
They dedicate themselves to contemplation and interior life, seeking to deepen their relationship with God. Carmelites follow the rule of Saint Albert, which emphasizes solitude, silence, and prayer. They aspire to live in deep intimacy with God, seeking to attain spiritual perfection and mystical union. Carmelites are known for their contemplative vocation, their life of retreat, and their silent prayer. They seek to offer their prayers and sacrifices for the salvation of the world and to respond to God's love through a life of total consecration. Carmelites are present throughout the world, with different types of contemplative and active communities, each pursuing the path of Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint John of the Cross. They are a source of inspiration for other believers, reminding us of the importance of prayer, solitude, and seeking God in a society that is often noisy and distracted.
To make a retreat with the Carmelites, you can visit Pater Carmel in Jerusalem, Christ the King Carmel, Verdun Carmel, or Yzeron Carmel.
Carthusians
The Carthusians are a Catholic religious order founded in the 11th century by Saint Bruno of Cologne.
They live according to the rule of Saint Bruno, which emphasizes solitude, silence, and prayer. Carthusians dedicate their lives to contemplation and seeking God in the solitude of their hermitages. They live in a monastic community but spend most of their time in solitary retreat, dedicating themselves to silent prayer and meditation. Carthusians practice an austere life, renouncing material goods and being content with little. Their search for God in silence and solitude is a profound expression of their love for God and their desire for mystical union with him. Carthusians are known for their spiritual rigor and their attachment to ancient monastic tradition. They embody a powerful witness of contemplative life and the importance of the interior quest in a world that is often noisy and agitated.
It is impossible to make a retreat with the Carthusians, however, if you wish to discover their spirituality, you can make a retreat at Saint Bruno House with the Carthusian nuns of Sélignac.
Trappists / Cistercians
The Trappists, also known as the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, are a branch of the Cistercian order founded in the 17th century.
Trappist monks live a life of silence, solitude, and manual labor. They follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, seeking God through liturgical prayer, lectio divina, and manual labor. Trappists dedicate themselves to contemplative life, withdrawing from the world to draw closer to God. They live in autonomous monasteries, with a simple life, material poverty, and great autonomy. Trappists are known for their craftsmanship and their production of monastic products such as beer, cheese, and jams, which support their monastic life and charitable works. They embody a spirituality of silence and work, seeking to find God in daily life and to live in harmony with creation. Trappists offer an inspiring example of contemplative life, humility, and total consecration to God.
If this reading has convinced you, you can make a retreat at Echourgnac Abbey, Orval Abbey, Cîteaux Abbey, or Notre-Dame d'Aiguebelle Abbey.
Brothers and Sisters of Saint John
The Brothers of Saint John are a Catholic religious community founded in 1975 by Father Marie-Dominique Philippe.
They dedicate themselves to contemplative and apostolic religious life, emphasizing the search for truth and fraternal life. The Brothers of Saint John live according to Dominican spirituality, combining study, prayer, community life, and apostolate. They receive intellectual formation, studying philosophy, theology, and other disciplines to deepen their knowledge of God and the faith. The Brothers of Saint John are engaged in various apostolates, such as teaching, parish pastoral care, missions, and spiritual guidance. They seek to share their faith with others, to evangelize, and to form disciples. The Brothers of Saint John live in fraternity, sharing a life of prayer, work, and mutual service. They are known for their love of liturgy, music, and joyful community life. The Brothers of Saint John continue to inspire through their devotion to God, their apostolic commitment, and their witness to radical religious life.
To make a retreat with them, you can visit Pellevoisin Sanctuary or Notre-Dame du Chêne Sanctuary, Notre-Dame de Rimont Priory, and Corbara Convent.
Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul
The Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul are a Catholic religious congregation founded in the 17th century by Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac.
They dedicate themselves to serving the poor, the sick, and marginalized people. The Sisters of Charity live according to the spirit of charity and compassion of their founders. They are involved in various fields such as education, healthcare, social assistance, and pastoral care. The Sisters of Charity are present throughout the world, bringing comfort, care, and support to people in distress. They emphasize the dignity of each person and strive to meet the needs (physical, emotional, and spiritual) of the people they serve. The Sisters of Charity bear witness to God's love through their devoted life, their generosity, and their dedication to the cause of the poor. They are a source of inspiration and a concrete reminder of the Gospel call to love and serve our brothers and sisters in need.
You can visit the birthplace of Saint Vincent de Paul: Berceau Saint-Vincent-de-Paul.
Little Sisters of the Poor
The Little Sisters of the Poor are a Catholic religious congregation founded in the 19th century by Saint Jeanne Jugan.
The Little Sisters of the Poor are known for their total devotion to vulnerable elderly people, creating a family atmosphere and providing spiritual, medical, and social care. They devote themselves to serving the most destitute and abandoned elderly people by offering them a warm home and attentive care. The Sisters emphasize dignity, respect, and unconditional love. They live a life of simplicity, poverty, and abandonment to divine Providence, relying on the generosity of others to support their mission. They seek to bring comfort and joy to those who are marginalized and forgotten, embodying Christ's love toward the least of his brothers and sisters. The Little Sisters of the Poor continue to inspire through their charism of compassion and selfless service to elderly people in need.
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