FRENCH FRIARS OF MONTPELLIER. — Congregation founded in 1861 by Mother François du St-Esprit (1812–82) with the assistance of Msgr. Thibaut, Bishop of Montpellier.
The sisters dedicate themselves to teaching, and, from the old castle near Montpellier, which since 1895 has been their motherhouse, they were also called the Sisters of St-Chinian. Soon they opened schools elsewhere as well. Since 1914 they have had houses in Spain. At present there are 19 houses with 161 sisters.
BIBL.: P. Norbert, Les religieuses franciscaines, Paris 1897, pp. 412–21. Cesario van Hulst