Before the current abbey was consecrated a group of men, led by Dom Gérard Calvet, founded a small community of Benedictine monks in the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene in the Vaucluse region of south-east France.

On July 25, 1988 after a period of negotiations the monks were relieved of their sanctions and reconciled with the Holy See, while still being authorized to use the pre-concillar liturgy in accordance with the motu proprio Ecclesia Dei issued by Pope John Paul II the day after the excommunications.

[5] On June 18, 1989 the monastery was accorded canonical status[2] and on July 2 it was elevated to the rank of Abbey, with Dom Gerard Calvet as its first Abbot.

[8] As of May 2014 the Abbey had 57 members, including 26 priests, 1 deacon, 21 brothers, 1 student, 1 temporarily professed and 5 novices, with 44 being the average age.

[13] In order to enable oblates and other faithful to connect to the liturgical life of the monastery more closely, the monks began broadcasting their daily round of the Divine Office online.