Gardes

Chemillé-en-Anjou, France / Female

Location

Official nameMonastère N.-D. des Gardes
Number01
AddressSt-Georges-des-Gardes, Chemillé-en-Anjou, France
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Contact Information

Telephone[33] (2) 41 29 57 10
Community emailgardes.abbaye@orange.fr
Websitewww.abbayedesgardes.fr
SuperiorMère Annie Jadeau, Abbesse 2022

Other Information

Juridical statusAbbey
DioceseDioecesis Andegavensis (Angers)
OCSO regionRéCiF
OriginsFounded by Les Forges (La Riedra, Switzerland) in 1818; the community took refuge at Marnhull, England, from 1906 to 1920
History
  • The monastery began on 7 August 1818 with six religious whom Dom Augustine de Lestrange brought from Forges (Orne). In October of the same year, the religious of the foundation of Bégrolles who had the place in 1817, came to join their sisters at Gardes. And in 1821 Dom Augustine transferred there also the whole community of Les Forges.
  • The nuns were made the guardians of the sanctuary N.D. des Gardes, a place frequented by pilgrims.
  • 1828, 7 July: the duchess of Berry visits the monastery.
  • 1838, 26 July: installation of the statue which is so venerated in Anjou and Vendée.
  • 1875, 26 February: Mgr Freppel obtains His Holiness Pius IX’s brief permitting the crowning of Notre-Dame des Gardes.
  • 1875, 7 August: Fr. Théophile, the chaplain, receives an audience with Pius IX, presenting him with the crown for the statue, which he blesses. 8 September: crowning of N.D. des Gardes by Mgr Freppel, bishop of Angers.
  • 1899, 27 August: Mgr Rumeau blesses and places the first stone of the sanctuary.
  • 1904, 28 August: the statue of Our Lady is transferred to the parish church to hide it from authorities.
  • 1904, 6 September: inventory and seizure of the monastery.
  • 1907, 22 – 27 March: farms of the community sold by the court of Cholet.
  • 1911, 3 November: they are sold at auction, and repurchased by a benefactor.
  • 1921 work on the sanctuary recommenced. Mgr Rumeau places the first stone.
  • 1932 consecration of the chapel and main altar by Mgr Rumeau, bishop ofAngers.
  • 1952, 3 May: solemn vows taken according to the constitution “Sponsa Christi”.
Father immediateBellefontaine 1818-1905 ; Bricquebec 1905-1924 ; puis, Bellefontaine jusqu’en 2024; Délégué du Père Immédiat : Dom Thomas Georgeon de la Trappe (depuis 2025)
Past superiors
  • Thérèse MALATESTA — Prioress — ??/??/1818 – ??/??/1829
  • Humbeline MORINIÈRE — Prioress — ??/??/1829 – 06/05/1839
  • M. de la Providence OLIVIER — Prioress — 06/05/1839 – 03/07/1845
  • M. des S-C. MALLES DE MAILLY — Prioress — 03/07/1845 – 31/01/1848
  • Lutgarde CHAPELAIN — Prioress — 01/03/1848 – 08/08/1851
  • M. de la Providence SALZE — Prioress — 08/08/1851 – 08/08/1857
  • Eudoxie PINEAU — Prioress — 08/08/1957 – 04/01/1869
  • Léocadie BERGER — Prioress — 10/05/1869 – 05/02/1874
  • Synclétique LORÉAL — Prioress — 18/03/1874 – 22/03/1880
  • Hyacinthe PAGEAU — Prioress — 22/03/1880 – 08/07/1911
  • Bernard DESCHÈRE — Prioress — 08/07/1911 – 07/08/1923
  • Cécile CHAUVAT — Abbess — 07/08/1923 – 20/10/1941
  • Louis de Gonzague LE NIR — Abbess — 06/11/1941 – 28/10/1950
  • Bernard COUTANT — Abbess — 25/12/1950 – 25/01/1957
  • Marie de la Trinité KERVINGANT — Abbess — 15/02/1957 – 25/10/1979
  • Danièle LEVRARD — Abbess — 15/11/1979 – 24/06/1998
  • Andrée GROLLIER — Abbess — 10/08/1998 -29/03/2008
  • Béatrice VLANLOEIL — Abbesse 29/03/2008 – 19/06/2022
Work/incomeSoldering electronic circuits for an industry in our region. Making jams and jellies. Herd of milking cows and a large apple orchard.
Guest facilities23 rooms in 3 buildings
TransportationGare destinataire : Chemillé, 9 km ; Cars Citroën Angers-Cholet, arrêt St-Georges-des-Gardes, 2 km.
FoundationsMarnhull, England (Refuge) 1906-1920; , Étoile N.D. (Parakou) 1960, Cabanoule (Paix-Dieu) 1970
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