Notre-Dame of the Refuge

The convent of Notre-Dame of the Refuge is located at Anglet, in the French Département of the Yrénées-Atlantiques. It was rested by the father Louis-Edouard Cestac to shelter there the congregation of the Servantes of Marie.

The field shelters today the congregation with its vault, the convent Saint-Bernard and of socioeducational works.

History

The field of Notre-Dame of the Refuge is located in the middle of the work rested by the father Louis-Edouard Cestac. In 1838, it buys with Anglet the field of Châteauneuf to offer a house to the countryside with young prostitutes eager to leave themselves there.

The vault

Built within Mr. Bourdenne , priest of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the current vault was devoted in 1886 by Mgr Ducellier, bishop of Bayonne.

The frontage

Above the pediment, a statue of immaculate Marie “Virgin” recalls that it takes care on all the field. The frontage is decorated of five statues:

in the center the Crowned Heart of Jesus who teaches;
on each side the evangelists with their symbol:

Matthieu and the man
Marc and the lion
Luc and the ox
Jean and the eagle

The tympanum of the gate represents Marie in the mystery of sound Assomption. These sculptures come from the Ateliers Saint-Hilaire of Poitiers.

Interior

The restorations of 1956 and 1968 modified it well. The platforms, the pavement of the naves, the marble chorus, the furnace bridge out of marble of the Portugal are of this time. The cross, the candlesticks (out of gilded bronze) and carry it gate vault signed pH. Kæpelin de Vanves are also of 1968.

The statue of Notre-Dame

Marie is called upon under the term of Notre-Dame of the Refuge. This statue chairs, since the origin, the work of the Père Cestac. In 1873, a written contemporary: “ the furnace bridge of the vault is raised of the statue of Marie, a child in the arms like protective of weak, the sceptre in hand like Souveraine Mistress of the Monastery. ”

The central arcade

This arcade and its pillars are out of stone of Bidache. Around the Virgin of the medallion one can read: “Guvernabat creditam sibi Dominum” ( It managed the firm which to him had been entrusted ). These words correctly translate the role of Marie in this house. On the two sides of the medallion, biblical symbols, like a litanic praise: Marie, turn of David… running water fountain, gold house… star of the morning… lily between the spines… request for us!

The decoration of the chorus

The decoration of the vault with its 8 rinceaux, its arcs and its pilasters as well as the columns of the arcade is of Jules-Pierre Mauméjean and goes back to 1875. The tables of the bottom represent:

in the center: the crowning of Marie
on the left: the Holy Family
on the right: Jesus at Marthe and Marie with Béthanie

They are due jointly to Jules-Pierre Mauméjean and the abbot Xavier Montaut . Paintings of the chorus were restored in 1991 and 2002.

The figuration of Marie in the central Mandorle evokes its entry in the Glory of the the Holy Trinity.

“I see it, associated with the three divine people in work with the Redemption with the men, very set ablaze love in their safety, and charged making other Jesus with it; and by this continual childbirth, always occupied of us like best of the mothers. ” (Louis-Edouard Cestac, 1859)

Ways of cross

Two beautiful ceramics works realized by Marie sister of Eucharistie (Maidservant of Marie). They date from the restoration of 1968.

Stained glasses

Nave of left

The “rosette of the Rosary” signed X. Montaut date of 1886. The side stained glass evokes the birth of the congregation of the Maidservants of Marie in 1842.

Nave of right-hand side

The “rosette of the Pietà” with the 14 stations of the Way of Cross, goes back to 1932. It is signed Mauméjean Frères . The brothers Jospeh and Henri are the files of J.P. Mauméjean.

Central nave

The two first point out the legend of Notre-Dame of Bétharram. Perhaps they are due to F.P. Mauméjean. The others illustrate some scenes of the life of Jesus.

On the left:

Jesus with Nazareth
Jesus with the garden of the olive-trees
Jesus meets his mother on the way of the Calvaire

On the right:

Resurrection of Jesus
Marie and the Apostles with the Pentecost
Rise of Jesus

The convent Saint-Bernard

The convent was created by Louis-Edouard Cestac to lodge there the contemplative branch of the congregation of the Maidservants of Marie, the Solitaires of Saint Bernard or Bernardines .

The nuns of this community live a monastic life meant by certain withdrawal.

Élise Cestac is buried at the entry of the cemetery of Saint-Bernard, famous for his surmounted sand tombs of a cross of shells.

The convent, of rural type, on the spot cultivates agricultural produce sold with the general public.

Socioeducational works

Socio-medical activities

The four social and medico-social establishments, created by the Maidservants of Marie, are today managed by association “ Missions Father Cestac ” (MPC). This association ensures its responsibility in synergy with the congregation and in the respect for the intuitions of the founder: reception, respect of each one with the service of the persnne, in a family climate.

Reception of adults in situation of handicap (hearth of life François of Paule - FDP)
House of children in social matter 4 to 15 years. Family accompaniment new mothers with children.
Reception personalized children some 2 month old to 3 years (Apple the Api one - Multi reception)
Old people's home of the nuns Maidservants of Marie and some laic (house Jeanne Biscot)

Educational activities

Two schools with boarding schools:

School and college of the private instition Stella Husbands
Technical school and professional Holy-Anne

continue the educational action of the Maidservants of Marie: to give an education and a quality training to the child and to the young person in the reception of all with a project taking as a starting point the evangelic values.

Gallery

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