Abbey of Sept-Fons

The Abbey of Sept-Fons was founded in the Bourbonnais by the Abbey of Fontenay in 1132, during the life of Saint Bernard. After centuries of fervour, the community declined and was reformed in 1656 by Dom Eustache of Beaufort. Saint Benedict Joseph Labre (1748-1783) received the habit there but as he was unable to remain in the monastery, he became a mendicant pilgrim and died in Rome on the steps of Santa Maria di Monti. The French Revolution expelled the monks from Sept-Fons in 1791 and several of them, including blessed Paul and Elijah, confessed their faith on the pontoons of Rochefort.

After monks returned to Sept-Fons in 1840, two great Abbots marked its history. In 1892, Dom Sebastien Wyart reunified the majority of the Cistercians that had rallied to the reforms of La Trappe and became the first general Abbot of the Reformed Order of Cistercians (followed by the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance). His successor, Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard, author of “The Soul of the Apostalate”, contributed greatly to the momentum of the interior life of his community. It was Dom Chautard that gave the habit to Father Jérôme Kiefer (1907-1985).

In 1980, Dom Patrick Olive was elected Abbot of Sept-Fons. He appointed Father Nicolas as Master of Novices. The teachings and the example of Father Jérôme made a strong impression on the community. Sept-Fons received a number of vocations that enabled the founding of Nový Dvůr in 2002.