Sept-Fons Abbey

Sept-Fons Abbey, officially known as Notre-Dame de Sept-Fons, is a significant Trappist monastery situated in Diou, in the Bourbonnais region of France. Its history traces back to its initial foundation in 1132 as a Cistercian monastery, established by Guichard and Guillaume de Bourbon. The founders' early generosity facilitated the rapid construction of the church and monastery buildings. However, the community later faced poverty, necessitating the sale of endowments for survival. A pivotal moment arrived with a visit from Bernard of Clairvaux in 1138, offering encouragement. The monastery also received papal protection, with Pope Adrian III placing it under his safeguard in 1158 and Pope Alexander III ratifying its foundation by bull in 1164. Throughout its early centuries, the community remained small, with the number of monks rarely exceeding fifteen until the reform of 1663.

Trappist Reform and Suppression

The abbey experienced a profound transformation in 1656 when Eustache de Beaufort became abbot. After a period of initial inertia, he initiated a complete reform, aligning the abbey with the Trappist tradition. This involved dismissing the few existing monks who resisted the new rule and welcoming novices who trained under the guidance of Armand Jean le Bouthillier de Rancé at the Abbey of La Trappe. With royal support, Sept-Fons was rebuilt on a more substantial scale and prospered. This era of monastic life was abruptly interrupted by the French Revolution, which led to the abbey's suppression in 1791.

Re-establishment and Modern Era

In 1845, the monastic community of Sept-Fons was re-established. The Trappists from the Abbaye du Gard purchased the abbey's ruins and began the process of rebuilding the church and monastic structures. This revitalized community continued the observance of the Trappist rule, following the constitutions established by de Rancé. Sept-Fons played a role in the broader Trappist order, with its abbot, Sebastian Wyart, elected as the first abbot-general when the various congregations united in 1892. The abbey has since extended its influence by establishing daughter houses internationally, including foundations in China, New Caledonia, Israel, Brazil, and most recently, Nový Dvůr in the Czech Republic. Today, Sept-Fons Abbey remains an active Trappist monastery, home to approximately ninety monks, many of whom are novices from around the globe.