The Sisters Of the Visitation of Tyringham

The Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary was founded on June 6, 1610 in Annecy , France (then Savoy ), by Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Jane de Chantal. The Order was founded “to give to God daughters of prayer, and souls so interior that they may be found worthy to serve His infinite Majesty and to adore Him in spirit and in truth.” (St. Francis de Sales)

Visitation Sisters are cloistered, contemplative religious who are dedicated to a life of prayer and of living in community. The Liturgy of the Hours is sung five times each day and two hours of mental prayer and spiritual reading are also prescribed. Noon and evening recreation alternate with community work, which is performed in silence.

The Visitation community of Tyringham, Massachusetts was founded in 1853 in Keokuk,Iowa by the Visitation Monastery of Montluel, France . In the 19th Century, it was necessary for Visitation communities, both in France and in the United States, to have academies for girls in order to support themselves. Our community was no exception.

After having moved from Keokuk, Iowa, to Suspension Bridge, New York, and then, lastly, to Wilmington, Delaware in 1868, a generous benefactress enabled our community to close the school in 1893 and live the full contemplative life. In 1993 the community relocated to Massachusetts and moved into its present monastery, Mont Deux Coeurs, in December of 1995.