Trappists - History, Monastic life, Goods for sale, Monasteries

The popular name of the Cistercians of the More Strict Observance, centred on the monastery of La Trappe, France, until 1892. The Order continues throughout the world, devoted to divine office, and noted for its austerity (eg perpetual silence, and abstention from meat, fish, and eggs).

The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.: Ordo Cisterciensium reformatorum), or Trappists, are a contemplative Roman Catholic religious order, that follows the Rule of St. Benedict.

They are a branch of the Cistercians and like the other Cistercian order they also have a women's branch commonly referred to as the Trappistines.

History

The order began as a reform movement at the Abbey of Notre Dame de la Grande Trappe in 1664 in reaction to the relaxation of practices in many Cistercian Monasteries. After a conversion of life between 1660 and 1662, de Rancé formally joined the abbey and became its regular abbot in 1663.

Monastic life

The life of the Trappists is guided by the Rule of St. Benedict, written in the sixth century.

As a contemplative order, the Trappists live a life of prayer and penance. Manual work is preferred over other types of work and Trappist monasteries generally provide for themselves through the sale of goods produced in the monastery.

Goods for sale

The 48th chapter of the Rule of Benedict states that You are only really a monk when you live from the work of your hands.

By this rule, most Trappist monasteries produce goods that are then sold to provide an income for the monastery.

Monasteries

Currently there are nearly 170 Trappist monasteries in the world. These monasteries are the home of approximately 2500 Trappist Monks and 1800 Trappistine Nuns.

Belgium:

Chimay Orval Abbey, Florenville Rochefort Westmalle Westvleteren Achel

Canada:

Abbey of Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Oka, Quebec Monastère Notre-Dame de Mistassini, Dolbeau-Mistassini, Quebec

Japan:

Hiji, Hayami District, Ōita Prefecture Kamiiso, Hokkaido

United States:

Abbey of New Clairvaux, near Vina, California Abbey of the Holy Spirit outside Conyers, Georgia New Melleray Abbey, near Dubuque, Iowa Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey (Trappistine nuns), Dubuque, Iowa Abbey of Gethsemani near Bardstown, Kentucky St. Joseph's Abbey, Spencer, Massachusetts Mount St. Mary's Abbey (Trappistine nuns), Wrentham, Massachusetts Abbey of the Genesee, Piffard, New York Assumption Abbey, Ava, Missouri Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey, Lafayette, Oregon Mepkin Abbey, Moncks Corner, South Carolina Holy Trinity Abbey, Huntsville, Utah Holy Cross Abbey, near Berryville, Virginia St. Benedict's Monastery, Snowmass, Colorado

Others include:

Marija Zvijezda (Maria Stern) near Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina Mount St. Bernard Abbey, Coalville, Leicestershire, England Our Lady of the Snows (Ardèche), France ("Notre-Dame-des-Neiges") Mariawald Abbey, Heimbach (Eifel), Germany Our Lady of Joy Abbey (Trappist Haven Monastery), on Lantau Island, Hong Kong Mount St. Joseph Abbey, Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland Latrun (about 15 kilometers west of Jerusalem), Israel Monastery of St. Mary of Miraflores, Rancagua, Chile Novy Dvur, the Czech Republic