From Health in the Monastery to the Health of the Monastery
Catholic monastic communities have undergone significant upheaval over the past half century. This form of life, a model of regularity and rigor, is today confronted with several challenges, such as the lack of novices and the aging of a large part of their members. These communities strive to keep their oldest members in place while remaining attractive to guests or postulants seeking a regular life, favorable to personal and spiritual development. Based on an ethnographic survey conducted in Switzerland and France, the authors highlight the health practices of these particular places, the adjustments that these communities make to meet the needs of their members, young or old, and to keep up with the times.