In the village of Solesmes there is also another Benedictine abbey. The convent of Saint Cecilia was founded in 1866 by Dom Prosper Guéranger and Mother Cécile Bruyère (1845–1909). Like their brother monks at Saint-Pierre, the sisters of Sainte-Cécile express their exclusive love for Christ through a communal life centred on the celebration of the Church’s prayer.
Born in 1845, Cécile Bruyère was a leading figure in the Benedictine revival in France during the 19th century. From a very young age, she was deeply influenced by the spirituality of Dom Prosper Guéranger, the restorer of monastic life at Saint-Pierre Abbey in Solesmes. In 1866, at the age of just 21, she founded Sainte-Cécile Abbey in Solesmes, becoming its first abbess.
Under her guidance, the community adopted a way of life deeply rooted in the liturgy, prayer and fidelity to the Rule of Saint Benedict. A woman of strong character, she guided her sisters with both rigour and gentleness, seeking to form souls wholly devoted to God. She also played a vital role in the spiritual formation of the nuns and in the dissemination of the liturgical tradition restored by Solesmes. Her influence extended beyond the monastery walls and left a lasting mark on women’s religious life.
Mother Cécile Bruyère died in 1909, leaving behind a living legacy: a community faithful to her spirit, where prayer, silence and liturgy remain at the heart of daily life.