Introduction

The Congregation has its roots in a mountainous region of France called the Ardèche, and it took shape during a very particular time period: early 19th-century France. The country was recovering from the turmoil of the Revolution and the imperial era, and the Church sought to fill the spiritual void left by the disappearance of charitable and educational works, which had previously been carried out mainly by religious congregations. It was a time for restoring faith, “winning back souls,” and regenerating a society marked by years of turmoil and war.

The Congregation founded by Father Terme and Mother Thérèse was part of this movement.

A return to the source documents allows us to better understand the missionary zeal that animated the founders: who were they? What founding acts did they perform? What
spirituality did they live by, and what have they passed on to the Cenacle of today? How have their roles as founders been recognized? What models of holiness do they offer today?

1791

December 25: born in Le Plagnal

1815

March 25 (Holy Saturday): ordained priest (same year as the Curé d'Ars)
1815 . Fr. Terme become parish priest, mainly in Aps (now Alba-la-Romaine)

1821

November 21: creation of a community of teaching sisters of St. Regis in Aps

1824

Diocesan missionary priest based in Lalouvesc, St. Regis pilgrimage site

1825

Fr. Terme preaches a mission in Sablières and meets Victoire Couderc there; he establishes a lodging house for women pilgrims in Lalouvesc and buys land in Lalouvesc to create a retreat house for women pilgrims

1826

Construction of the retreat house in Lalouvesc begins

1829

Discovery of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

1832

Fr. Terme consecrates his Congregation to Mary

1834

December 12: death in Le Plagnal while on a mission trip

1882

Exhumation of Fr. Terme's remains, placed in the church of Le Plagnal

1805

Birth of Victoire Couderc in Sablières (February 1st) ; baptism the following day

1815

First Communion (Pentecost, May 15th)

1822

Boarding school at the Sisters of St. Joseph in Les Vans, where she receives the sacrament of confirmation.

1825

Father Terme's mission in Sablières. Victoire confides in him her desire to devote herself to God

1826

Victoire enters the Sisters of St. Regis founded by Father Terme in Aps; she takes the habit and becomes “Sister Thérèse”

1827

Sr. Thérèse arrives in Lalouvesc with two other sisters to run the retreat house, which is still under construction

1828

Sr. Thérèse becomes superior of the small community. She obtains permission from Fr. Terme to welcome into the house only women who wish to spend time in prayer

1836

Separation of the school sisters and the retreat sisters, with Mother Thérèse remaining as superior (June 16th)

1837

Mother Thérèse makes her perpetual vows on January 6, followed by her personal consecration to Our Lady of Ay on October 15

1838

On her feast day (October 15th), Mother Thérèse is forced to resign as superior; she sinks into humility

1842

Foundation of the Cenacle of Lyon: Mother Thérèse remains as caretaker of an unsanitary and unsuitable building until she agrees to purchase the property in Fourvière in the absence of her superior

1844

Mother Thérèse assists Mother de Larochenégly in the Cenacle of Lyon

1855

Mission in Paris to save the Cenacle of the capital, which is threatened with division

1856

Mother Thérèse alternates between Tournon and Lalouvesc

1858

Mother Thérèse in Lyon

1859

She receives the call to offer herself as a spiritual sacrifice

1860

Mother Thérèse in Montpellier

1864

Spiritual experience of “Surrendering” (June 26th)

1866

Spiritual experience of God's “Goodness” (August 10th)

1867

Mother Thérèse in Lyon

1869

Beginning of inner trial of participating in Christ's Agony

1885

Death of Mother Thérèse in Lyon (September 26th) ; she is buried in Lalouvesc

1909

Transfer of Mother Thérèse's body from the cemetery to the chapel of the Cenacle in Lalouvesc (May 14th)

1951

Beatification of Mother Thérèse (November 4th)

1970

Canonization of Mother Thérèse (May 10th)

Introduction

Father Terme timeline

Mother Thérèse timeline