Our bulletin : « Fleur de Farine »

Published quarterly


Why this title?


A comment of a friend:

The phrase “Fleur de Farine” appears many times in the Bible. Here are a few examples:


• In the book of Genesis, God appears to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre (Gn 18: 6):


“He looked up, and there he saw three men standing near him.” Abraham hastens to greet them and asks his wife Sarah: “Knead three bushels of flour and make loaves.”


« Fleur de farine » is this purest flour chosen by God to feed His people.


In this beautiful fragment of the Genesis it seems as if the man came back to the Paradise: God speaks to Abraham in a familiar way and accepts to sit at his table with a gentle and modest simplicity. By the hospitability of Abraham, God comes again to live on earth. No other paragraph of the Old Testament tells us of the messianic era as of a feast on which God and a man are seated at the same table. And when God becomes a man, He also uses the image of a feast to reveal the tenderness of His Sacred Heart. At the end of the meal offered by Abraham who had prepared the best, the finest flour, an exchange of gifts takes place. God makes a promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah. In this fragment of the Genesis, it is not God that prepares the feast… God was willing to accept a little gift from Abraham in order to offer that of His: the promised son.


• In the book of Ezekiel, in chapter 15 verse 19, there is an allusion to this attention of God toward His people of Israel:


“Finest flour, oil and honey with which I was feeding you.”






• Psalm 81 expresses the complaint of God who can see that His people hardens and doesn’t listen to Him. His wish was to feed them: “with finest wheat and fill them with honey from the rock.”






In return for such delicacy of their nourishing Father, Israel offers the best part of their harvest to God, especially the finest wheat.


• The first book of Chronicles mentions this event: certain Levites were in charge of objects of cult and others of finest flour, wine, oil, incense and perfume (1 Ch 9: 29). In chapter 23 of this book, verse 29, “fleur de farine” is mentioned as destined for sacrifice.


• In the second book of Maccabees, at the time when Israel suffered persecution and was desolate to see the great door of the temple burned down, the people prayed to God and offered a sacrifice and the finest flour to Him.


We would like this little bulletin to be such finest flour: an offering to the Father that is consecrated by Him and shared with all His children, like at the moment of the multiplication of bread.


The Eucharistic Host is this finest flour that has become the presence of the Son. The Host is still neither known nor loved enough. May this little bulletin contribute to change it.






« Fleur de Farine » contains:


• A commentary on the Eucharist


• A commented Eucharistic adoration


• A prayer for priests with reference to the words of popes


• The news from the life of the community

Surely the sisters don’t lack creativity!

The charisma

To serve with simplicity and joy the Merciful Heart of Christ present and radiating in the Eucharist.

The community is focused on the mystery of the Eucharist in the life comprising both contemplation and mission. It refers to the rule of St Paul of the Cross (1694-1775) and to the spirituality of St Gemma Galgani (1878-1903).

Resolved in contemplation: the sisters are consecrated to God only, in silence and solitude, in an unceasing prayer and a joyful penitence. They develop an intense Eucharistic life and pray the 7 Divine Services, with which they associate the 7 words of Jesus on the cross.

Ardent in mission: by the action of the Holy Spirit, they follow the steps of St Paul of the Cross to lead their brothers and sisters towards the silent encounter with the Lamb, who invites everyone to remain close to Him:

"Come and see" Jn 1,39

They offer the service of spiritual counsel and visit isolated persons.

They animate the liturgy of the Sanctuary Our Lady of Montligeon every day: three Divine Services as well as one-hour adoration of the Holy Sacrament exposed in silence.

The sisters organize for children, the young and adults « schools of prayer », during which for several days « the Bread and the Divine Word is shared with the little ones » (St Paul of the Cross).

Whenever requested by a priest or a secular person, some of the sisters come for missions to parishes, groups of prayer and schools in order to give the testimony of the Merciful Love of God.

Foundation

On 14 September 1994, 15 years ago, the religious community New Alliance started and was recognized by Bishop Dubigeon in the diocese Seez, the native land of St Therese of Jesus the Child.

After a few removals in the diocese, in 1992 the sisters arrived in La Chapelle Montligeon, a little village of Perche, well-know for the sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Liberation.

They were settled in the old presbytery of Abbot Buguet, the founder of the sanctuary.
After the depart of the benedictine sisters of Montmartre in 2000, the bishop engaged them in the liturgical animation of this important place of prayer, visited by the pilgrims of all the world, who come to entrust to Our Lady the most forsaken souls of purgatory.

In 2006 the sisters, who had wished to establish their mother house, learned that a property of almost 2 hectares and just 100 metres from the old presbytery is on sale.
Thanks to the generosity of benefactors, the bank loan was granted and the estate was obtained on 11 August of that year.


In 2007 the first works were started: the transformation of two small buildings into cells for 5 sisters. In 2008 and 2009 the fittings of the chapel as well as the construction of the kitchen, refectory, meeting room and office were completed.


On 1 June 2009 Bishop Boulanger inaugurated and consecrated the convent Our Lady of the Living Waters, in the presence of the parents and many friends.

Works to continue:

There is still a lot to do… : telephone installation, the construction of more cells, a workroom, a fruit storehouse and a wash-house (see the project and the offer of support).

The next part of works is evaluated for 400 000 €

You can deposit your gift to

"Association des Amis des sœurs de la Nouvelle Alliance (A.S.N.A.) by a bank payment:

CREDIT MUTUEL - Mortagne au Perche (France)
IBAN number FR76 1548 9048 5600 0628 4360 196"