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The Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary was founded in Annecy, France, by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal. The desire of these two saints was to give the church an order of religious in which women could love God and neighbor intensely, but where they would not have to practice extreme austerities. The special charism of the Visitation Order combines gentleness with a valiant spirit; initiative with communal support; dedication to prayer with presence in the world; a contemplative life with an apostolic dimension. Today the Order numbers about 3000 Sisters in 168 monasteries located in most countries of the world. In the United States there are 12 monasteries in two federations. Six are dedicated to the contemplative lifestyle, and the other six (Georgetown, St. Louis, St. Paul, Wheeling, Brooklyn and Minneapolis) add apostolic monasteries to their contemplative life.
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