Centenary of the Death of the Servant of God Mother Marie Adele Garnier (1838-1924)
Foundress of the Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, of Montmartre, Order of St Benedict
Press release
The community of Benedictine Nuns whose monastery is situated in the former Admiralty House overlooking Cobh Harbour in Co. Cork, are this year marking the 100th Anniversary of the death of their Foundress, whose cause for canonisation is underway.
The holy French Nun, Mother Marie Adele Garnier, who founded the Order in Montmartre, Paris is still largely unknown. However her popularity is increasing among friends of the community in Cobh and across Ireland, who describe her as “very present” to them in their daily needs and times of suffering, and find her spiritual writings inspiring.
Her charism is rooted in the call to Adoration and Reparation which led to the building of the famous Sacre Coeur Basilica on the Hill of Montmartre, and it was by an interior locution given to Marie Adele, while she was still a laywoman, that the Sacred Heart made known His desire for perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, which has continued there day and night for about 150 years.
After decades of personal suffering and spiritual growth Marie Adele founded the Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, of Montmartre, OSB in 1898, but due to anti-clerical legislation she had to leave France with her young community and re-establish it at Tyburn Convent, London: the English Montmartre (“Mount of Martyrs”) and site of the martyrdom of St Oliver Plunkett. From there her Eucharistic and Benedictine Charism has spread to Latin America and Oceania as well as Europe.
Bl. Dom Columba Marmion, native Priest of Dublin and now beatified, whose centenary was celebrated last year, was the foundress’ spiritual director in the last 10 years of her life. It is also on record that the generosity of Irish Catholics helped her found a Novitiate House in Royston, England in 1918: St Benedict’s Priory. In a touch of Divine Gratitude, this Priory was later transferred to Cobh, Ireland, in 1993 where it is a place of prayer and welcome for the local community and Irish Catholics further afield as well as international visitors.
6 Nuns of four nationalities currently reside at the Priory, and a Day of Recollection is held each month guided by the spirituality of the Foundress. For more information about the Servant of God Mother Marie Adele Garnier and the Centenary Celebrations, please contact Mother Prioress, St Benedict’s Priory, Cobh, Co Cork, P24 C438.
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