In Solignac, “we look at each other a bit like faience dogs” since the arrival of Benedictine monks in the village

AT Solignac, a small town near Limoges, in Haute-Vienne, everyone is happy to see the imposing abbey with ocher stones, no doubt saved from ruin. But the arrival of ten Benedictine monks, a first since the French Revolution, disturbed the tranquility of the village. “It is extremely damaging “, estimates for example Colette, who welcomed the religious with a concert of casseroles, in the company of 40 other inhabitants, at the end of November 2021.

Among the subjects of contention, the land near the river La Briance, near the abbey. So far loaned by the diocese for the flea market in the village or the outdoor center, they will be collected by the religious. “Lhe Benedictines believe that they need this space to walk around, whereas the children are no longer entitled to it “, underlines Colette. This Solignacoise also regrets the end of the concerts in the communal church, which the monks have “annexed” to celebrate seven masses a day, “while they have a chapel in the abbey “. The petitions and the letter sent to the Minister of Worship, Gerald Darmanin, have not changed anything.

At the same time, other Solignacois support the men with the black hoods. “Moi, I’m all for it. Every Tuesday, the pizza maker comes and they go get their pizzas, they go to the bakery … They support the town, let them be alone! “, indignant a resident. A peace that the mayor of Solignac, Alexandre Portheault, would like to find: “We were a relatively tight-knit village, and today, we look at each other a bit in faience dogs. The village is divided “, saddens the chosen one, which watches for a legal loophole in the sale of the abbey to the monks.

As for the Catholic faithful, they are themselves divided. “Lmonks who are friends rather come to us as conquering monks “, considers in particular Noelle Gilquin. This member of the liturgical team specifies that “if we want go to mass, you will have to go to the monks’ mass, in Latin, with your back to the people “.

“The Middle Ages have passed, this is not acceptable.”

Noelle Gilquin

to franceinfo

“I believe that one cannot speak of traditionalism. We are Catholics”, retorts for his part Father Benoît Joseph, prior of the abbey of Solignac. As for the bishop from Limoges, Pierre-Antoine Bozo, he underlines that other similar masses are held in the area, and regrets “quarrels of spoiled children”.