Maylis Abbey
In the south of Landes, in Chalosse, this is the land of foie gras and duck breast. But the brothers are also waiting for you to treat you to moments of grace!
The Marian sanctuary of Maylis Abbey and the Benedictine brothers who live there will be happy to welcome you so you can feast on prayer, silence, and beauty.
Retreats organized by the community
A brief history of Maylis Abbey in Landes (40)
Maylis Abbey has welcomed pilgrims since the 14th century. It was during this period that the old church with its fortified bell tower, still standing today, was built. The sanctuary's renewal during the 19th century led to the construction of a second, larger church. Most of the sanctuary's current buildings date from this period.
A community of Benedictine monks has been established there since 1946, performing their prayer service seven times a day. Their liturgical offices harmonize Gregorian chant in Latin with a polyphonic repertoire in French. This encounter between the great medieval monastic tradition and contemporary compositions allows people of all sensibilities to experience the beauty of their chants and prayers.
The sanctuary's main feast is celebrated on August 15 with a special blessing for children and families—it's the Feast of the Lilies. The Feast of the Fields takes place on the third Sunday after Easter and brings together the monastic and parish communities.
About fifteen kilometers from Maylis Abbey, the brothers are delighted to have their Benedictine big sisters from Notre-Dame Saint-Eustase Abbey, whose founding (in Lorraine) predates theirs by nearly a millennium. Also on RITRIT, you can find all the information about Saint-Eustase Abbey here!!
The monastic products of the Brothers of Maylis Abbey
The brothers have provided for their needs since the 1950s through cultivating the famous "Maylis Plant." Its purifying and detoxifying properties are highly valued by kidneys, livers, and gallbladders struggling to do their work!
Since the early 2000s, they have also manufactured and sold two encaustic waxes. In recent years, the development of a beehive and the creation of some wooden products have enriched the range of products they offer. In addition to these products, you'll find at the abbey a shop with a careful selection of monastic or local products, as well as a well-stocked bookstore.
What is an Olivetan Benedictine monk?
Dressed in white, the brothers of Maylis belong to the Benedictine Congregation of Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto. This congregation was founded in 1313 in Tuscany, southeast of Siena, near the village of Asciano. The first brothers gave the monastery the name "Monte Oliveto" in memory of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
Its founder is Saint Bernard Tolomei (1272-1348), from a very wealthy Sienese family. His two companions were Patrizio Patrizi and Ambrogio Piccolomini. Together they founded a community away from Sienese life, where they were quickly joined by a growing number of members. They then adopted the Rule of Saint Benedict before the community was approved by Pope Clement VI in 1344.
The Congregation joined the Benedictine Confederation, a union of different monastic families following the Rule of Saint Benedict founded in 1893, in 1960.
What to expect during your stay
Maylis Abbey, a monastery that breathes tranquility
In addition to the two churches, one from the 14th century and the other from the 19th century, the abbey has several buildings. The main one dates from the same period as the large church. The cloister, reserved for the brothers, was built shortly after their arrival. The monastery's two other wings date back to 1989 and 2001. A park surrounds the abbey, and the community maintains a garden and especially a vegetable garden. The brothers grow their plants in open fields and under greenhouses.
The abbey's park and the surrounding countryside make the site an open and welcoming, calm and peaceful space. Adjacent to the sanctuary, only a few houses and public services make up a small village center that in no way disturbs the peace of the place.
Living a time of spiritual retreat at Maylis Abbey
Individual retreat
The Brothers invite you to join their prayer which is at the heart of their life and which is a privileged moment to pause, question yourself and meditate. To this end, both churches are permanently open. They emphasize the importance of experiencing these times of silence and solitude to truly and completely disconnect from daily life (this notably includes an invitation to disconnect from your digital devices!). To nourish your meditation, the brothers provide a small library.
A personal retreat is a time of rest for the soul, but also for the body. So take time to pause, to enjoy the lush nature and walk in the surrounding countryside. If you wish to make yourself useful, the brothers are never short of manual work or services you can offer them.
Finally, for those who wish, the guest master is available to arrange personal accompaniment or the sacrament of reconciliation with a brother from the community.
Organized retreats
The Maylis community offers few organized retreats. Only two annual retreats are organized for students and young professionals.
The first takes place between Christmas and New Year's, from December 26 to 30. This Christmas Truce is a time to intensely experience the mystery of the Lord's Nativity, to breathe and find renewal. In the peace of Christmas, the brothers offer a relaxed, fraternal retreat to recharge your batteries before beginning a colorful new year.
The second retreat, titled "Take stock," usually takes place during the last week of July. As its name suggests, it invites you to take stock of your interior life and your daily routine, possibly with a view to discernment. It follows the balance of the monastic rhythm: liturgical prayer, teachings, manual work, personal time and encounters.
Geography and activities
Between Dax and Mont-de-Marsan: the surroundings of Maylis Abbey
Around the abbey stretch the hills of the Chalosse countryside, with its poultry farms, ducks and chickens, and its crops, mainly corn. For your walks, you can aim for one or another of the small old churches in neighboring villages. Often remodeled several times over the centuries, their stones bear witness both to the history of sacred architecture and to the life of the surrounding villages.
A bit farther, in the town of Saint Sever, you can visit the very beautiful recently restored abbey church, various monastic buildings, as well as the museum presenting a commentary on the richly illuminated Book of Revelation called the "Beatus."
The Southwest in all its beauty
During your stay, you can also make a pilgrimage to the humble birthplace of the great Saint Vincent de Paul, near Dax. His birth house, which you can visit, is surrounded by a sanctuary built thanks to the generosity of Napoleon III and especially his wife, Empress Eugénie.
In another style, the abbey is a few kilometers from a major prehistoric site, marked by the presence of the "Lady of Brassempouy," a finely carved figurine known worldwide. In the village of the same name, you can visit the museum and the PréhistoSite, whose facilities and activities are suitable for both young and old.
Practical information
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