The Abbey Notre Dame des Neiges is located on the limit of Ardeche and Lozere department between La Bastide Puylaurent and Saint Laurent les Bains
The Monastery of "Notre Dame des Neiges" Abbey (Our Lady of Snow)
Alt. 1081m.
The Abbey Notre Dame des Neiges is located on the limit of Ardeche and Lozere department between La Bastide Puylaurent and Saint Laurent les Bains
The Monastery of "Notre Dame des Neiges" Abbey (Our Lady of Snow)
Alt. 1081m.
Like
human beings, lands seem to be marked out by their destiny. The high
Vivarais Mountains situated between the rivers Loire and
Allier have
sheltered Cistercian monasteries from the 12th Century to the French Revolution.
Mazan was founded between 1119 and 1121 and Les Chambons between 1152 and 1164.
On the left bank of the Allier there was also a convent of nuns at Mercoire en
Gevaudan, entrusted to the Abbot of Mazan.
For seven centuries Cistercian life was lived out in these houses of prayer and charity until the coming of the Revolution destroyed them and sold their assets. Part of the latter, the Mas de La Felgere, a former Chambons grange, was re-bought in 1791 by Jean Chalbos, the last lessee. His son Jean Antoine saw the family line die out. Of the two sons left to him, one, Casimir, was a priest at St. Sulpice, the other, Theodore, was a priest in the diocese of Viviers. All three decided that their proper- ty should revert to the monastic Order which had brought honor to Mazan and Les Chambons.
They
made offers to the abbey of Notre Dame d'Aiguebelle in the diocese of Valence.
The abbot, Dom Orsise and his fellow monks were unwilling to establish a
monastery on such poor agricultural land with its harsh climate. They refused
the offer of the Chalbos family. Father Casimir Chalbos sought the intervention
of Mgr. Guibert, bishop of Viviers and of Mgr. Chartrousse bishop of Valence.
They agreed to help. With their support Fr. Chalbos once more put his proposal
before Dom Orsise who agreed to make the attempt. The foundation was decided on
August 5, 1850, the feast day of Notre Dame des Neiges which is the title of
Saint Mary Major in Rome. It was to be the happy name of the new monastery.
On August 13th Mgr. Chartrousse signed the official acceptance charter and on the 25th of August a first group of monks left Aiguebelle on foot bringing what requirements could be fitted into a small wagon drawn by a single horse. On the evening of the 28th they took possession of the La Felgere domain, its poor farm and adjoining hostel which had once served as a relay station between the Vivarais and the Gevaudan.
Eleven years went by, during which was realised
the canonical establishment of the community and the construction of a permanent
monastery lower down the valley at the junction of the Rieufrais and the Val des
Loups streams. On the 16th of July 1861 the monks moved in amidst celebrations
presided over by Mgr. Foulguier, bishop of
Mende, acting as delegate
for the bishop of Viviers, Mgr. Delcusy, who was unable to attend.
The monastery was still only a priory governed by Dom Gabriel Monbet. The authorities of the Order hesitated giving it the rank of abbey, not because of a shortage of recruits for there were plenty but because of the financial difficulties which resulted from the construction of the monastery.
Dom Gabriel was recalled to Aiguebelle to become its abbot. At Notre Dame des Neiges the financial situation began to improve and it possessed a large and fervent community. Consequently on June 16th, 1874 the Conventual Chapter was convoked to proceed with the election of the first abbot. Dom Polycarp Marthoud, prior since 1858, was elected. The new abbey had 90 members. On the 26th of October 1878, R.L. Stevenson (author of Treasure Island) visited Notre Dame des Neiges. He gives an evocative and interesting account of his stay in his book Travelling By Donkey Across the Cevennes.
In
1880 the Republican government began an attack on religious congregations
considering them to be enemies of the regime. It was a dark period for many
monasteries. It was decided to evict the monks of Notre Dame des Neiges and the
date was set for the beginning of November. However, a providential snowfall, as
quick as it was unexpected, prevented the eviction. Passions were cooled by the
winter and the monks had a brief respite. Abbot Polycarp, fea- ring renewed
persecution wanted to secure a refuge for his community. Together with a group
of fellow monks he founded the priory of Akbes, in Syria. Though initially very
well received by both Christians and Muslims the community had to flee because
of war at the beginning of 1915. Renewed hostilities in 1920 led to the sacking
of the monastery and the death of Fr. Philippe. It was the end of Akbes.
After Dom
Polycarp's departure for Akbes, Dom Joseph Goddard governed Notre Dame des
Neiges as "Superior Delegate". In October 1887 Dom Martin Martin was elected as
abbot. He chose Dom Goddard as his prior. As the perse- cution continued they
established a refuge in Cordemois, Belgium. It was never used as the monastery
was eventually spared.
On the 16th of January 1890 Dom Martin had the pleasure of accepting Charles de Foucauld as a novice and of being consequently his first mas- ter in monastic spirituality. The novice was given the name Brother Alberic. A cavalry officer he had been converted in 1886. His first stay at Notre Dame des Neiges lasted only several months as he soon left for Akbes. He was to spend seven years as a Trappist in either N.D. des Neiges or Akbes.
In
August 1900, after spending some time living alone in Palestine, he returned to
Notre Dame des Neiges to study in preparation for his priestly ordination which
took place on the 9th of June 1901 at Viviers. He then left for the Sahara where
a tragic death awaited him on the first of December 1916. Separation did not
break the bond of affection which linked him to his first monastery. From the
desert he wrote to Dom Martin, "I have kept all Notre Dame des Neiges in my
heart."
The first
successor of Dom Martin I had a brief tenure as abbot. Coming from Aiguebelle,
Dom Martin Jouve was elected in 1909, and he was
practically already a resigned abbot when a fire des- troyed the monastery on
the night of the 24th of January, 1912. It was almost the end of the monastery,
but the community rallied around its prior, faced up to the task and began
preparations to rebuild the abbey. The first stone was laid on the 2nd of July
1912. 
In October the prior, Dom Augustin Martin became abbot. Under his
leadership the work was soon completed. Two years after the fire the new
monastery was ready. An improved financial situation promoted new growth. But
the Great War of 1914 brought misery and trials: seven monks never returned from
the battlefields.
Dom Jean-Marie Balmes became abbot in 1932. His abbacy was marked during the War of 1939- 45 by sufferings, deprivations and anxiety for monks taken prisoner. It was during this period that Robert Schuman, later to become famous, sought refuge in the abbey. Dom Jean-Marie left behind him the memory of great simplicity and goodness.
Dom Toussaint Louche succeeded him in 1949. It was he who began the program of renewal and transformation done since his time. The abbacy of Dom Claudius Valour (1959-1982) was an important one. He saw to the construction of the guesthouse, the renovation of the monastery as well as the refitting of the wine cellar and premises used to receive the many guests and those on retreat at the abbey.
These important developments were possible due to the success of the wine cellar. The production of altar wine ("Oeuvre du Vin de Messe") was begun in 1900 on the property of St. Julien de Cassagnas in the Gard. It has since been moved to Bellegarde a region renowned for its famous sparkling white wine (A.O.C.) Using grapes bought from local grape-growers the monks produce not only liturgical wines, but also table wines and sparkling white wines, "Fleur des Neiges", as well as a number of other products. With this the community makes its living and can also share with those in need.
On the 5th of November 1982 Dom Pierre-Marie Fayolle took over as abbot of this community which is full of hope for its future, confident that God who has always watched over it and blessed it will continue to do so.
Old romantic Hotel, L'Etoile Guest-House is a mountain retreat in the South of France. With a beautiful park along the Allier River, L'Etoile Guesthouse is located in La Bastide-Puylaurent between Lozere, Ardeche and Cevennes. Many hiking trails like GR70 Stevenson trail, Regordane way (St Gilles trail), GR7, GR72, Le Cevenol, Roujanel, Margeride loop and Allier river trail. The right place to relax.