RELIGIOUS OF OUR LADY OF THE RETREAT OF THE CENACLE. — They were founded in 1826 at La Louvesc (Ardèche), near the tomb of s. Fr. Regis, by the priest Stefano Terme and the blessed Maria Vittoria Teresa Couderc.
Their specific purpose was above all the continual adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament; at the same time, the sisters were to prepare young girls for First Communion and organize spiritual exercises for women. The Institute received the decree of praise on 10 March 1863 and definitive approval on 18 March 1870. At present it has four provinces with 44 houses and 1,250 sisters.
BIBL.: Arch. S. Congr. dei Religiosi, V. 19; G. Longhaye, La Société de Notre-Dame du Cénacle, Paris 1898; H. Perroy, Une grande Humble, there 1941; E. Pietromarchi, La b. Teresa Couderc, Rome 1951. Candido Bona