The aged stones whisper tales. They stand before you the Prieur de la Sainte-Croix. This unassuming building in Croix holds a captivating history. It wasn’t always a priory.
Originally it housed the Petites Soeurs de l’Ouvrier. These nuns aided working-class families. They supported parents in factories and cared for children. Their presence was felt in numerous local factories. Founded around 1880 the convent also served as a novitiate. It closed in the mid-1970s. Secularization and deindustrialization led to its decline. Demolition loomed.
But the building’s story didn’t end there. Those who desired a place to practice the Tridentin rite found it. This traditional Latin Mass was opposed by Paul VI. They sought out the former convent. They secured its use. Traditional Mass resumed in March 1978.
In 1979 Marcel Lefebvre visited. He was based in Ecône. He advised on the former novitiate’s future. After difficult negotiations the sale was finalized on December 8. This was the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The chapel was dedicated to her. Lefebvre wished it. The novitiate became a priory of the Priestly Fraternity of St Pius X. That year Abbot Bruno Duthilleul was appointed its head. The priory received support from Maurice Guerle a priest from Saint-Amand-les-Eaux and Father Crespel a priest from Lens.
The Prieur de la Sainte-Croix stands as a testament. It reflects the enduring faith of a community. It is a place where tradition continues to flourish. Its stones have witnessed much. They continue to stand firm. The Prieur de la Sainte-Croix in Croix lives on. Its history is a vibrant tapestry woven through time.