Le vœu d'être chaste: roman

At the break of dawn in a sun‑lit August morning, the ancient stone corridors of a southern French seminary stir to life. Young seminarian Gilbert Nohèdes rises from his narrow dormitory, joining the chorus of prayers that echo through the cloister. As the faithful chant “Benedicamus Domino,” he prepares for a two‑month vacation, yet his mind remains tethered to the ritual of his vocation.

In the quiet moments before Mass, Gilbert turns inward, tracing the contours of his childhood devotion. He recalls his mother’s gentle guidance, the first whispers of prayer, and the tender rituals that shaped his early faith. But the loss of both parents and a startling letter revealing his father’s long‑held secret cast a shadow over his resolve, forcing him to confront the fragile balance between desire and the solemn vow of chastity he has embraced.