Pia Le Thomas
Pia Le Thomas , born Colette Le Thomas (born December 6, 1920 in Viroflay , † September 11, 2009 in Boulaur , Département Gers ) was a French Cistercian , abbess and founder of a monastery.
life and work
Colette Le Thomas attended the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in Paris and passed the exam in 1939 as the best of the year. In the same year she entered the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Michel de Kergonan and took the religious name Pia . The desire for a religious life with a Cistercian (i.e. neither Benedictine nor Trappist ) character brought her into contact with the former Trappist abbot Alexis Presse in Boquen Monastery , who had in mind a foundation for Cistercian women and who in 1948 encouraged her to look for a suitable foundation site. In 1949, Sister Pia and three co-sisters founded the Boulaur Monastery . The monastery was elevated to the status of a Cistercian Abbey in 1990 and Le Thomas was elected first abbess, an office she held until 2000. She died after 60 years of service as a Cistercian and after 70 years of membership in a monastery.
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| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Le Thomas, Pia |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Le Thomas, Colette (maiden name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | French Cistercian, abbess and founder of a monastery |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 6, 1920 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Viroflay |
| DATE OF DEATH | September 11, 2009 |
| Place of death | Boulaur , Gers department |