The Contemplative Sisters

The Community of the Sisters of Saint John, established as a religious Institute of Diocesan Right by the Archbishop of Lyon on March 25, 1994, was founded by Father Marie-Dominique Philippe on December 8, 1982, seven years after the Brothers of Saint-John, in view of a contemplative life.

"A permanent desert in the heart of Mary is needed in order that the demands of contemplative life, thus of desert, which is written in the Brothers' Rule of Life, might be fully lived.

Indeed the desert for the brothers is not a withdrawing far away from everything, but a discovery of the mystery of the new desert: the desert of Jesus, with Mary at the foot of the Cross.

However, because of their apostolic demands, the Brothers cannot live this mystery in a continual way and as often as they would like. That is why it is necessary that there might be, within the Family of St John and close to the Apostolic Brothers, contemplative sisters who live in a full and exclusive way, this mystery of Mary at the foot of the Cross. Mary made known to John this mystery; she now lives it in glory and wants to give it to her children."

(Father Marie Dominique Philippe)

[retour]