The Community of the Beatitudes was founded on May 25, 1973, at Montpelier in Southern France and community life began on September 9 of the same year, first at Soyons then at Valence.

Our Founder, Gerard Croissant (Br. Ephraim), was born on February 17, 1949 into a Protestant family in Eastern France. He belonged to the "1968 generation" in search for new ideas, freedom and community life! He chose to study Theology rather than arts. Several encounters led him to his vocation to found the Community of the Beatitudes. His main influence came from Lanza Del Vasto from the "Communaute de l'Arche". From him he realized that community life and family life were not only compatible but enriching. In this Community he met his wife, Jo. He also started there his ministry as a Protestant preacher and discovered the Charismatic Renewal, leading him to a radical conversion.

In 1973, with another couple, Jean-Marc and Mireille Hammel, they decide to start to live together. " The Community is not the fruit of a project or a desire; it is and remains an evidence coming from somewhere else.

Community life starts in Soyons in 1974, then in Valence where Gerard is in charge of a protestant parish. In prayer, he receives the Rule of Life for the Community. It is articulated around three poles: prayer, poverty and obedience. This rule remains the base of formation for anyone who enters the Community of the Beatitudes. During this same year, he discovers the Eucharist, the Virgin Mary and the apostolic succession.

In May 75, the tiny Community moves to Cordes in the Diocese of Albi, in an old ruined convent. The Most Reverend Bishop Coffy adopts this new daughter of the Church, and Gerard becomes Ephraim. A few years later he is ordained a permanent deacon.

Spirituality

The primitive Christian Community as it appears in the Acts of the Apostles was adopted as a model: prayer, sharing of the goods, charity, testimony and fervent waiting of the Kingdom to come. However, the purpose wasn't to copy the past. A Community always appears in the History of the Church to answer to one of the world's needs. It is a sign of hope for its generation.

Daughter of Vatican II, new form of consecrated life

The Community wants to show what Vatican II reminded, that holiness is for all! The Community thus gathers all kinds of persons: families, single people among whom some are consecrated, widows and widowers, divorced, sick and healthy, wise and poor! All have received the same call from God to leave everything to offer Him themselves in prayer and fraternal life. Each chose to commit in the way of poverty and obedience and the respect of the Community's Rule of life.

The Lord is coming! Eschatological vocation:

Maranatha! watch and pray and fight with Mary. The Council's acts start with this sentence: "in these final times". The first brothers and sisters were struck by the urge of the Kingdom to come. Thus the vocation of the Community is eminently eschatological. Worldly withdrawal characteristizes the Community in contrast to other new communities. The contemplative style of life motivates this withdrawal. We want to be watchers and fighters waiting for the coming in Glory of Christ and helping the world to hope. Prayer inspired by the Carmelite tradition is the priority in the Community of the Beatitudes. The community is consecrated to the Virgin Mary.

Anticipation of the Kingdom to come. Liturgy and fraternal life:

"Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed;" (Revelation 5,5). This text was the foundation of the Community and explains its first name: Community of the Lion of Judah and of the Slain Lamb.

If Christ is risen, then He is victorious forever and eternal life is already started on earth. We want to anticipate Heaven on earth as much as possible. This is why Liturgy is so important to us as well as Sacraments, the simple beauty of our houses, the white liturgical clothing, our taste for festive celebrations… Fraternal life is the place for learning charity, that same charity we'll share in the Kingdom

The Kingdom is in your midst! Console my people

Compassion works Anticipation of the Kingdom is not only praying but also showing God's people the signs of the Kingdom: healing, forgiveness of sins, preaching of the Good News. Very early in the history of the Community we started compassionate works such as the opening of medical practice, hospitals, Mother of Mercy to help women confronted to abortion, the Cottolengo house to help the dying… All these works are the overflowing of our contemplative life.

Beatitudes:

They are the Christian teaching par excellence. They show how to put into action the commandment of love Christ left us. They show the way to true happiness… In 1991, we changed our name into Community of the Beatitudes.

Evangelization and Missions

The goal is to tell people of our time the mercy of our God, to introduce them into the knowledge of Christ. As St. John Mary Baptist Vianney says, one of our patron saints along with St. Seraphim of Sarov and St. Joseph, " The only happiness on earth is to love the Lord and to know that He loves us." This is how conversion starts.

In the steps of St. Therese of the Child Jesus:

"In the heart of the Church, my mother, I will be love" The Community wants to be a testimony, all over the world, that "the civilization of love" is possible. The world today needs saints more than words of saints. Council Vatican II gave back holiness as the duty of all Christians and there is no holiness without prayer, without conversion, without fraternal life, without poverty of heart. This is the spirituality of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, doctor of the Church, that we teach to be love in the heart of the Church and missionaries of the Father's mercy.