The Carmelite Monastery of Tours

“Accompanied by my father, I left the town of Rennes on the feast of my dear patron, St Martin of Tours, the 11th of November, 1839, and travelled towards Tourraine, my future home. I reached Tours on the 13th, and proceeded immediately to the convent where I arrived at 5 o’clock in the afternoon. What rendered this event remarkable to me was, that it was St Martin who presented me to ‘all the saints of Carmel,’ for on the next day their feast was to be celebrated. I felt assured that these good saints would not refuse me admission on the day of their feast, for I had prayed fervently, entreating them to admit me into their company. They could not have given me a better or more striking proof of my perseverance than that of having received me on such a day.”

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“After I had embraced my new sisters, the Reverend Mother conducted me to the altar of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, my Heavenly Mother, to thank her for my admission into the holy house of Carmel, and to place myself under her special protection. The hour of recreation soon drew nigh. I was invited to sing and I did not wait to be importuned, for I had sung the same hymn many times while awaiting the happy day of my entrance into Carmel. It was as follows:

Oh! Bless’d be God! I’ve found that peace For which I’ve sighed so long;
For Him my love shall never cease, He’ll ever be my song.

“There were fifteen stanzas which I sang with such cheerfulness that no one thought of interrupting me.”

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The monastery of Tours was established in 1608. Four years previous, that of Paris was founded by Cardinal de Bérulle, Madame Acarie and Blessed Mary of the Incarnation. The latter was related to M. de Fontaines- Marans, Seigneur de Rouziers, in the vicinity of Tours, whose favourite daughter had entered among the Carmelites of Paris, but because of ill- health she was obliged to return home. To indemnify this beloved child who still sighed for the peaceful solitudes of Carmel, M. de Rouziers proposed founding a monastery at Tours with the hope that she would be received as benefactress, thus enabling her to satisfy her pious desire, and at the same time remain near the paternal mansion. It was Madame Acarie in person who negotiated for this foundation with the pious nobleman. Cardinal de Bérulle appointed Mother Ann of St Bartholomew, Prioress of the projected monastery, and nominated seven sisters to accompany her. This was the devoted friend of St Teresa who expired in her arms. She had come from Spain with several other sisters, accompanied by Cardinal de Bérulle. The annals of the monastery have preserved the following account of the foundation, “We left Paris on the 5th of May and arrived here on the 9th. The journey was tedious and painful, but St Teresa appeared and consoled her faithful friend. She seemed to walk by her side on a path strewn with thorns, exhorting her to continue her arduous undertaking in the following words, ‘Courage! I shall assist you. From the moment of their arrival, the sisters took possession of the house prepared for them, and the Blessed Sacrament was deposited in the chapel the Sunday within the octave of the Ascension, the 18th of May.

‘‘On the same day, Mother Ann of St Bartholomew recommended the new monastery to Our Lord during her communion, supplicating Him to bestow His graces on the little flock of missionaries present, and on all those who, in the future, would present themselves to serve Him. ‘My adorable Master assured me,’ said she, ‘that He would grant my request; and from that moment to the present time I have witnessed the marvellous accomplishment of His promise.’ ” …

Excerpt taken from: The Holy Face and the Work of Reparation, by Sr Marie de St Pierre, & Abbè P. Janvier (ed.), (1884), reprinted in 2026 by A.D. Press.