A monastic life rooted in . . .

History & Charism

The Visitation Sisters of Brooklyn, New York hold a treasure that we’d like to bequeath to you. The Lord Jesus has entrusted His Sacred Heart to the Visitation Order in a special way, through the revelations made in the past to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitandine of Paray-le-Monial, France. Our riches are the virtues that flow from His Heart into ours, especially His gentleness, humility and simplicity. Our hope is to entrust our spiritual inheritance to prayerful women today who, generously, will accept the call to live contemplative monastic life in Brooklyn.

Our Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary was founded in 1610 by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal in Annecy, France, a renowned city in the awesomely majestic Jura mountain range.

In 2010 we are celebrating our 400th anniversary as an Order! In honor of this Jubilee, Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has issued a decree granting a plenary indulgence to all who worship at a Visitation Monastery throughout 2010.

In the spirit of our motto "Live Jesus," we strive to imitate the Heart of Jesus. Flowing from the mystery of the Visitation, (Luke 1:39-46) we model Our Blessed Mother Mary's visit to St. Elizabeth in carrying the presence of her Son to others in the unfolding events of each day, adoring God in spirit and in truth.