Mesnil Saint-Loup Monastery
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In Aube, in the village of Mesnil Saint-Loup, the brothers of Notre-Dame-de-la-Sainte-Espérance Monastery live according to the Rule of Saint Benedict.
They welcome to their guest house anyone seeking a renewing spiritual retreat!
Retreats organized by the community
A brief history of the Mesnil Saint-Loup community
Mesnil Saint-Loup, in Champagne: in this small French village, in the mid-19th century, the parish priest, Father Ernest André, sought to reawaken faith among his parishioners. "Our Lady of Holy Hope, convert us," such was the leitmotif of the Marian prayer that inspired this program of renewal. But this man, filled with a desire for the absolute, did not merely preach to his parishioners: it was his whole being that he committed to this desire for conversion.
This desire would take the form of a commitment to monastic life in the school of Saint Benedict, following that "idea of the monk" he had perceived in his youth: "I seemed to see the monastery in the peace of this solitude, and the monk himself, freed from earthly things, and gathered in the Majesty of God, whom he worshiped and sang."
This seed took time to germinate... and the community was founded in 1864, by the one who took the name Brother Emmanuel. It was at the origin of the restoration of Bec-Hellouin Abbey in 1948. After a period of dormancy, it came back to life in 1976, with the arrival of several brothers from Le Bec.
Monks living according to the Rule of Saint Benedict
After many setbacks, Father Emmanuel was able to affiliate his community in 1886 to the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto. The latter was born in the 14th century from the call of Saint Bernard Tolomei and several companions, all from Siena, who after some time living as hermits founded a monastery, Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto, which would soon become the head of a new branch of the Benedictine Order.
The monks of the community are therefore Olivetan Benedictines. Having always remained modest in size, the community currently comprises 5 brothers. They celebrate the divine office in the monastery chapel, which everyone can access. From Matins (5:30 a.m.) to Compline, praise of God is at the heart of their life.
As Saint Benedict asks in his Rule, the monks work with their hands, in a ceramics workshop (sold on site). They also created Éditions des Quatre Vivants in 2017. Hospitality, whether in the parlors for spiritual guidance or at the guest house, represents an important part of the community's daily life.
What to expect during your stay
A spiritual retreat at Mesnil Saint-Loup Monastery
Retreats at the guest house can vary in the number of people welcomed, individual, family, groups... Due to the small number of brothers, they generally do not organize preached retreats, but it is common for one of them to speak at the request of a group, either to share about his own life or to give a teaching.
Each guest has the opportunity to meet with a brother to talk, take stock of their life, go to confession...
Depending on skills and needs, it is of course possible to help by working in the garden or in the houses. Participation in the divine offices remains the primary appointment of these retreat days. The length of the stay is to be determined with the guest master.
A guest house adapted for spiritual stays
The guest house consists of an old farmhouse located in the village, a 2-minute walk from the monastery. It has:
- 16 beds in 10 rooms, including one triple room, 4 double rooms, and 5 single rooms.
- small libraries available to guests.
- an old cellar converted into an oratory, with the Blessed Sacrament.
- a converted barn that can accommodate about fifty people for conferences and sessions.
- a large enclosed garden.
Due to our small number, we do not provide meals, except for men, who are received in the monastic refectory. It is possible to cook on site (and, for groups, to use a caterer).
Geography and activities
The village of Mesnil Saint-Loup, in Aube, has about 600 inhabitants. It is a quiet, agricultural village, but also close to Troyes (15 miles), where many people work.
Intensive cereal cultivation has left its characteristic mark on the landscape, which led an elderly woman to say: "In Mesnil, the sky takes up all the space!".
A spiritual retreat in Aube
You can walk or bike through the fields. By car, there are beautiful woods near the village.
Aube is renowned for its religious heritage, with the largest area of classified stained glass windows. The churches of Troyes, Chaource, Villemaur... are exceptional.
The most convenient train station is in Troyes. The Sens line is also accessible.
Practical information
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