Society of St Peter (Congrégation de Saint-Pierre)

Lamennais's long-cherished project to form a body of priests thoroughly equipped for pressing needs in the Church of France, a scheme which he outlined in 1825 in a letter to M. de Salinis, seemed well on the way towards fulfilment.

A vivid picture of the rule of life and the spirit of La Chênaie is to be found in the letters of Maurice de Guérin, whose companions were such men as Olympe-Philippe Gerbet, Guéranger, Jean-Joseph Gaume, Scorbiac and Ch.

On the final defection of Félicité, however, the Bishop of Rennes transferred to Jean-Marie the superiorship of the congregation, the members of which left La Chênaie for Malestroit, laymen being now excluded.

[3] The existence of the Congregation of Saint-Pierre was brief, barely 6 years, but it was marked by a large number of experiments of all kinds: seminary, direction of college of Juilly, missions, writings.

Religious and sympathizers conducted a study of theological, philosophical, historical, linguistic sciences in order to better understand the demands of the world, reflect on the social role of the Church, improve the training of clergy.