A country house like no other
Manu, Nathalie and their five children live in a very modern house in Val-Dieu, a village in the Liege region. They have always had faith and do not hide it. They started with prayer circles in a room in their house that had become their chapel, where they prayed as a family or with religious friends. A few years ago, they joined the community of Val Dieu Abbey. The monks left about twenty years ago. Nathalie and Manu became interested in this unoccupied place and they gather there several times a week. They sometimes sleep in rooms that are made available to them, and their names are indicated in front of each room. The dream of this couple is to be able to live daily in this sacred place. As for the children, the two young boys like to go to Mass with them on Sundays, but the three older ones are now trying to find their own way and trying to understand how far their belief goes.
François rings the bells between the dormitory rooms.
Full breakfast at seven.
I received these two lego Bibles for my communion.
Sunday afternoon: helping with homework and watching the Trolls.
Twice-daily prayer.
Last summer, the couple did a cycle tour of the chappelles in Belgium, covering 200km per day. They practice this sport several times a week.
No training on this Sunday morning.
"The first day I helped with the Eucharist, the mass went by very quickly." François, 10 years old.
Sign of the cross and holy water.
The parents no longer forced the children to go to mass on a weekly basis: the girls decided to stay at home to study.
Preparation for tonight's 'God for you' concert.
It is only 10°C in the basilica, so mass is held in a small room next door during the winter.
After mass, they meet in the former monks' common room for a Val Dieu or an apple juice.
Morning routine in the Abbey couple's room.
Complicity and family serenity.