As noted previously, my village of Montréal is famous as having been a Cathar stronghold in the 12th & 13th centuries.
As noted previously, my village of Montréal is famous as having been a Cathar stronghold in the 12th & 13th centuries.
St. Dominic, who lived for a time five miles away in Fanjeaux, came here to negotiate a settlement on behalf of the pope. Since that time, a seminary and an order of “canons” who lived in community were here. Across the street from me is a former Carmélite convent whose nuns were evicted (if not worse – no one says) after the French Revolution.
We are also on one of the routes for the Camino de Compostela. So this morning as I was finishing breakfast, I heard singing and thought at first it was a recording from my neighbor next door. But then I realized it was something different. Upon opening the door to look out, I caught the tail end of all these nuns (Dominicans? Cistercians?) singing in procession up the street towards the church.
Two of my neighbors were out so I asked them if they knew anything, but they did not. I guess I will just have to expect to see things like this from time to time.
Life in the village!