Katy Lemay / Maisonneuve Magazine / A Reclusorium of One’s Own

In this article illustrated by Katy Lemay, we discover the extraordinary life of Jeanne Le Ber, a seventeenth-century religious recluse in Montreal who chose a life of voluntary seclusion. Far from isolating her, her solitude became a powerful expression of spiritual devotion, self-affirmation, and connection to the community.
The article also draws a striking parallel with contemporary solitude, inviting us to reconsider this experience in a richer and more nuanced light.

Through a magnificent and symbolic illustration, Katy Lemay captured the silent strength and inner richness of Jeanne’s world—a world where stillness is not absence, but a deeply inhabited presence.
The artwork offers a reflection on modern understandings of solitude, suggesting it can be deeply social, intentional, and empowering.

Art Director: Nancy Pavan