Institute of Our Lady of Life, Institute of consecrated life in Venasque, France

The Institute of Our Lady of Life stands in Venasque behind a vineyard: a large building with a pale off-white rendered facade and a hipped roof of reddish-brown curved tiles, in two connected sections, a longer taller left block and a shorter right block set back. Two rows of rectangular windows pierce the facade, the upper ones with pale grey shutters, many open, the lower with dark recesses or blue-grey shutters. A flat-topped chimney and a small capped chimney stack rise from the left block's roof.

In 1929 three teachers, among them Marie Pila, met the Carmelite Marie-Eugène de l'Enfant-Jésus, and in summer 1932 the group settled in the former Marian sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Vie at Venasque. Approved in 1937 within the Carmelite Third Order, the community became a secular institute on 24 August 1948 and received pontifical right on 24 August 1962. A lay men's branch followed in 1963 and a priestly branch in 1964; in 1973 the Holy See recognised the three autonomous branches as one institute.

The institute's name comes from the old Marian sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Vie below Venasque, where Minims settled in 1613 and the church became Nostra Domina de Vita, entrusting children's lives to Mary. Members keep no distinguishing dress and live alone or in small groups, meeting in institute houses for prayer and rest.

The international centre sits at the foot of Venasque, in the Vaucluse; the theological Studium is separate, at Saint-Didier. Initial formation lasts two years at Venasque, Mexico or the Philippines depending on the member's country of origin. The German centre has been at Schloss Weisendorf near Erlangen since 1957, with the Edith-Stein-Haus retreat and education house.

The priestly branch, established in 1964, allows diocesan priests to combine their daily ministry with structured spiritual training. This happens through specialized houses where priests have dedicated time for silent prayer and reflection.