Sainte Colette d'Assise Monastery
For over a century, the French-speaking Poor Clares of Paray have been established in the city of Saint Clare, in Assisi.
Overlooking the old town, their gardens and guest house await you for a refreshing retreat, following in the footsteps of their foundress and Saint Francis.
Retreats organized by the community
The first French Poor Clares in Italy
As a consequence of the anticlerical wave of the early twentieth century in France, many religious congregations were expelled or feared expulsion. Many of them sought refuge abroad. It was in this context, and also following internal disagreements within the monastery of Paray-le-Monial (71), that a small group of Poor Clares left for Rome.
In 1908, seven Poor Clares from the Monastery of Paray settled, after a long journey, in the city of Assisi. It is therefore in the Monastery of Sainte Colette that the Poor Clares have succeeded one another for now more than a century to devote their entire lives to contemplation, in joy and simplicity, in fraternal love and work. To this day, they have chosen to preserve French as their language of communication and prayer, just as Saint Francis, who also loved to express himself in French.
The year 1997 remained etched as a dark year in the memory of the Poor Clares when an earthquake destroyed 80% of the monastery, located in a green setting, overlooking the valley, at the foot of the old town.
Today, about fifteen contemplative sisters reside at the Monastery. With the help of two employees and volunteers, they offer and manage monastic hospitality open year-round for pilgrims and tourists, particularly French-speaking ones.
The Colettines
The life of the French Poor Clares of Assisi, called "Colettines," is structured by the celebration of the liturgy.
Following Saint Clare, they have chosen the form of cloistered life (living in enclosure) in order to live the depth of relationships, settle in one place and a stable community, in unity and poverty. The sisters' activities are primarily directed toward the Lord, hospitality and manual work.
Their typical day is very monastic: they rise around 5:00 AM and retire before 10:00 PM. They sing all the offices, attend Mass, pray the rosary, practice adoration, and engage in mental prayer.
What to expect during your stay
The retreat that awaits you
The walled garden offering a breathtaking panorama of the valley, the silence of the place and the atmosphere of prayer all contribute to absorbing the peace spread by Francis and Clare. Guests can access the chapel at any time and participate in the offices with the Poor Clares.
Assisi for my life
The Poor Clares offer retreat times, within their house of prayer, for young professionals aged 22 to 35 entitled "Assisi for my life". These week-long times include catechesis sessions introducing visits to the sanctuaries of Assisi allowing participants to encounter the Lord and begin a path of perseverance in prayer, at the school of Saint Clare and Saint Francis.
Lights of Assisi
The Lights of Assisi are retreat times dedicated to students and young professionals, aged 18 to 35. They include:
- catechesis sessions introducing visits to the Sanctuaries of Assisi, following a path in the footsteps of Saint Clare (and Saint Francis).
- times of introspection and personal mental prayer.
- times of simple manual service to find the unity that combines body, heart and spirit.
The discreet presence of Franciscan brothers and Poor Clares is a fraternal invitation to let yourself be surprised and amazed by God's intervention in your life, and to enter into joy. A unique opportunity to deepen a spiritual journey, taking advantage of the grace of Assisi!
Volunteering (summer period, from June 15 to August 31)
The Poor Clares offer volunteering opportunities for young people aged 19 to 32. The morning is devoted to team work at the guest house (breakfast service, cleaning, room housekeeping), while the afternoon is dedicated to free time:
- rest;
- visits and discovery of the city;
- time for sharing among volunteers;
- time to meet with a Poor Clare or a Franciscan brother;
- prayer time alone or with the community.
Praying from afar
On the Poor Clares' website, you can find progressive courses to follow at home, to journey spiritually with Saint Francis and Saint Clare.
The Poor Clares' guest house
The guest house has 24 rooms, single, double, triple or quadruple (48 places in total), spread across three buildings overlooking the garden.
The reception, gift shop and library are located in the main building, near the refectory where breakfast is available as self-service from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM.
An oratory is available upon request for group celebrations. Guests have direct access through the garden.
The monastery has an open parking lot within the monastery grounds.
Geography and activities
The city of Assisi and its surroundings
Assisi is a medieval city, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, situated on the foothills of Mount Subasio, in the province of Perugia in the region of Umbria, 26 km from Perugia, the capital of this region often called "the green heart of Italy." From Assisi, you can easily explore all of central Italy: Spello, Spoleto, Gubbio and even Rome. Gubbio airport is a 15-minute drive away.
The entire city can be easily explored on foot from the monastery (in fact, the heart of the city is not entirely accessible by car). The distances between religious sites, monuments and museums are short:
- It takes 10 minutes to reach the Basilica of San Francesco to the west and 10 minutes to reach the Basilica of Santa Chiara.
- It takes 30 minutes to climb to the Rocca Maggiore, the fortress that dominates the city and the plain.
The city has minibuses that take visitors to their desired destinations:
- Santa Maria degli Angeli - La Porziuncola, a major site of Franciscan spirituality, is located four kilometers away.
- The Carceri, the Franciscan hermitage, is five kilometers away.
Practical information
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