The name "Bellefontaine" abbey comes from the pure water spring, which still flows today right next to the abbey. In spite of the inscription, "non-potable water", this fountain seems mysterious...
Indeed, according to some, it is a miraculous water, which would be especially good for the eyes!
1 mn of history
The very first sign of monastic life in Bellefontaine dates back to the 11th century.
In 1010, hermits came to live in this little corner of paradise located between Brittany and Aquitaine, the valley of Bellefontaine!
But it is in 1120 that the history of the abbey really begins, with Benedictines. Once installed, everything went well for the monks in Bellefontaine for three centuries! But in the 16th century, the abbey undergoes the Commende regime, which consists in placing laymen (outside the enclosure) at the head of the abbeys. As a result, the finances fell, as did the number of vocations...
This drama for the abbey is only the beginning of a long list.
The community life slowly diminishes, and in 1790, during the Revolution, the monks are only 4...
Just afterwards, during the Vendée wars, the abbey was transformed into a prison!
Fortunately, good always triumphs! After the disaster of the Revolution, a priest bought the abbey in 1816.
Trappists from the abbey de la Trappe then come to settle in
Bellefontaine. The abbey is experiencing a new beginning, and vocations are coming back! It is in this spirit of renewal that the foundations of Notre-Dame des Gardes Abbey in France, but also in Benin, Canada and the United States, will be born!
The present situation
Today, the community has 22 Trappist monks, who live according to the rule of St. Benedict: "ora et labora", "pray and work! ».
On the one hand the prayer, "ora".
The most important occupation of the monks is prayer. In the Rule of St. Benedict, it is given priority over work, even though the latter is a fundamental pillar of monastic life. The monks of Bellefontaine meet seven times a day to pray the offices, the first of the day being at 4:45 a.m.!
On the other hand work, "labora".
As for manual labor, the monks of Bellefontaine maintain an orchard with many apple trees! Thus, they produce different products with these apples:
apple juice
sparkling apple
fruit pastes
Three small surprising infos...
During the wars of Vendée (end of the 18th century), the chouans came to implore the Virgin Mary to help them. A famous Vendean chef, Jacques Cathelineau, also came to kneel at Bellefontaine! If you are lucky enough to go there, keep your eyes open: in the Notre-Dame du Bon Secours chapel, right next to the abbey, you can see a painting representing Jacques Cathelineau kneeling in front of Notre-Dame du Bon Secours, in the same chapel!
In 1610 the abbey became a royal abbey, thus entitled to official protection from King Henry IV! But this is not the first time that great people have taken an interest in Bellefontaine Abbey: at the very beginning, it received Pope Clement V (14th century), who, moreover, left a statue of the Virgin Mary after his visit, still present in the heart of the abbey church! Notice to the curious!
The community is undergoing many changes of order. Initially Benedictine, it then adopted the "Maurist" Benedictine reform in 1637, then 5 years later, the monks became Feuillants, and finally, in 1816, the community joined the order of the "Cistercians of Strict Observance" who were nicknamed Trappists.
It is the latter who are still there today: they are therefore dressed in white, with a black scapular and a brown leather belt.
Bellefontaine Abbey
49122 Bégrolles-en-Mauges
Phone : 02 41 75 60 40
https://divinebox.fr/categorie-produit/producteurs/abbaye-de-bellefontaine/
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