The Clarisses (Poor Clares) Monastery in the village of Azille, France, has a history history dating back to the year 1361, when Isabelle de Lévis-Mirepoix, an important Languedoc figure, resolved to found a monastic community in a context of religious renewal and the development of monastic orders in Europe. She immediately entrusted the community to the guardianship of the order of Clarisses (Poor Clares), a Franciscan order for women dedicated to poverty and contemplation.
Located on the edge of a village of the Minervois, with the appearance of Tuscany, the monastery is arranged in such a way that one does not guess its three hectares of property.
In the 19th century, the Clarisses built it on the exact model of the monastery of Assisi, according to their poor and cloistered vocation.
According to the rule of St. Francis of Assisi, the Clarisses had an essential social role since they were responsible for the education of many young girls in the region. But their role was also economic: the monastery had land and vineyards.
In 1477, the Clarisses of Carcassonne joined the community of Azille.
The wars of religion and the economic crisis that affected France in the sixteenth century hastened the monastery on the path of decline; the number of nuns gradually declining. The French Revolution resulted the Clarisses being dispersed; in 1793, the monastery is sold at auction as a national property and the other conventual property was degraded and looted.
In 1891, the Clarisses regained possession of the monastery.
In 2008 the Chanoinesses of the Mother of God – belonging to the same family as the Canons of the Mother of God of the abbey near Lagrasse – laid their suitcases in Azille. The sisters live under the Rule of St. Augustine of contemplative life and missionary service. The community has been recognized by pontifical right since the year 2000.
“One heart, one soul, oriented towards God”: the first words of the Rule invite the canoneses, according to the purpose of St. Augustine when he founded his community of clerics in the 4th century, on the one hand to live in unity, in the image of the Trinity, a model of every family; and on the other hand, to indulge in the search for God, especially in the prayer.
In addition, the community is available to the various needs of the Church, in the diocese or further afield: the sisters can be sent to young people, children, families, the elderly, through camps, pilgrimages, catechisms, family sessions, etc. This missionary dimension by the works of apostolate is bound to grow even more. It develops as the Lord brings workers to his harvest.
Chanoinesses devote a large part of their time to manual work and in particular to the manufacture of cassocks, the potting of locally exploited honey and the preparation of other monastic products including different syrups (thyme, rosemary, dill and mint). And, more recently, a rosé in collaboration with a local winemaker, called “Parcelle de Joie”.
Finally, an art they apply to cultivate is that of their voices: the Chanoineses apply to the mastery of Gregorian chant, regularly participating in the sessions of the school of Solesmes. They also gladly sing in polyphony. They have thus produced a CD of their composition: Saint Augustine, in search of happiness, to make known this great so adapted to our time.
The Chanoinesses are enthusiastic hostesses for whom hospitality is an important dimension of their missionary charism. They therefore host different types of pensions, intended for different profiles:
Tailor-made retreats for women
Studious retreats for successful exam reviews for students or mixed groups
Stays for families, fiancés, and mixed groups
Thematic stays throughout the year.
Located on the edge of a village of the Minervois, with the appearance of Tuscany, the monastery sits on 7.4 acres (3 hectares) of land. In the 19th century, the Clarisses built it on the exact model of the monastery of Assisi, according to their poor and cloistered vocation.
In addition, the restoration work continued on since 2008, gradually restoring the monastery to a fresh beauty. The neat, welcoming and comfortable buildings remain simple, an oasis in the middle of our turbulent world.
Traveling to the Poor Clares Monastery in Azille, France:
Azile is located at the foot of the Montagne Noire, approximately 25 km northeast of Carcassonne and close to the Canal du Midi.
By air: you can fly into Toulouse (TLS) or Carcassonne (CCF) and then take a train or bus.
By train: as mentioned above, train service is available from nearby cities.