Sister Marie-Geneviève de Saint-Paul, dean of the Carmelites of Flavignerot, has just celebrated her hundredth birthday. A very moving moment, because she is the first to pass this milestone within her religious community. After seventy-five years of profession, she still lives her mission of prayer and praise with determination.
Nicolas Durdilly – Today at 12:00
She arrived at the meeting on her two legs, with alert eyes and a sincere smile. Sister Marie-Geneviève de Saint-Paul, dean of the Carmelites of Flavignerot, celebrated her hundredth birthday on July 3. A moving moment for all of its religious community (fourteen sisters), installed since 1979 in a monastery on the heights of Dijon. Sister Marie-Geneviève is the first nun in her community to pass the centenary mark. “I don’t think the time has been long, quite the contrary,” she replies, when asked to take stock of her life.
Born in Lons-le-Saunier, in the Jura, Sister Marie-Geneviève was the youngest of a family of five children. From her youth, she has fond memories of the Valiant Hearts-Valiant Souls movement, which taught Christian education through play to children. She was also marked by the war which prevented her from continuing her studies in Besançon, then in the occupied zone.
Sister Martine and Sister Marie Geneviève at the Carmel of Flavignerot. Photo Nicolas DURDILLY
Elizabeth of the Trinity as a model
Sister Marie-Geneviève received the habit in 1947, at the age of 23, in the Carmel of Dijon: “I have always loved Elisabeth of the Trinity very much for her joie de vivre and her love of Christ. When I was younger, a priest had told me about her; his faith and his story touched me a lot; I wanted to live like her. When I was able to enter the Carmel of Dijon, boulevard Carnot, where she had lived, I was really happy”.
In seventy-seven years of profession – a record among the Carmelites of Flavignerot – Sister Marie-Geneviève de Saint-Paul lived her mission of prayer and contemplation with determination. “From 6 a.m. in the morning, for prayer, until the vigils at 10 p.m., she is present by our side,” underlines Sister Martine, her superior. “She follows Christ and the Church to the end. »
The Carmel of Dijon settled in the commune of Flavignerot in 1979. Photo Nicolas DURDILLY
An outstanding gardener
Beyond her faith, Sister Marie-Geneviève also marked her community for her talents as a cook and her green thumb. It was she who created the carmel garden when the community arrived in the commune of Flavignerot. She was also very present at the bedside of the sick sisters. “I deeply love this way of living in community, where the sisters support and help each other. We value our differences. »
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