Trappists

Trappist monks of Westvleteren Abbey, near Westvleteren, Belgium.
Orval Abbey, near Florenville, Belgium.

The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.: Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae), or Trappists, are a Roman Catholic religious order of contemplative monks who follow the Rule of St. Benedict.

The Trappists are a branch of the Cistercians, and like the other Cistercian orders they also have a women's branch commonly referred to as the Trappistines.

The Trappist monks of the Tre Fontane (Three Fountains) Abbey raise the lambs whose wool is used to make the pallia of new metropolitan archbishops that are presented by the Pope to them on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles; they are blessed by the Pope on the Feast of Saint Agnes, January 21.

Contents

History

The order takes the name of "Trappist" from La Trappe Abbey or "La Grande Trappe" in Normandy in France, where it began as a reform movement in 1664, in reaction to the relaxation of practices in many Cistercian monasteries[1]. The reform was led by Armand Jean le Bouthillier de Rancé, originally the commendatory abbot of La Trappe. As commendatory abbot, de Rancé was a layman who obtained income from the monastery but had no religious obligations. After a conversion of life between 1660 and 1662, de Rancé formally joined the abbey and became its regular abbot in 1663[2]. In 1892 the reformed "Trappists" broke out of the cistercian order and formed an independent monastic order with the approval of the pope[3].

Monastic life

The life of the Trappists is guided by the Rule of St. Benedict, written in the sixth century. The Rule describes ideals and values of a monastic life.

"Strict Observance" refers to the Trappists' aim at following closely St. Benedict's Rule, and take the three vows described in his Rule (c. 58): stability, fidelity to monastic life, and obedience. As Benedict also insisted on silence, it has some importance in their way of life. However, contrary to popular belief,they do not take a vow of silence.[4] Trappist monks will generally only speak when necessary, and idle talk is strongly discouraged. In years past, a Trappist Sign Language, distinct from other forms of monastic sign language, was developed to dissuade speaking. Meals are usually taken in contemplative silence, as members of the order are supposed to listen to a reading [5]. Trappists' silence should be understood as the wish to give space to what matters: gaining a deeper love and understanding of God.

The Trappists have received greater attention in recent years because of the popularity of the writings of Thomas Merton and, more recently, because of the popularity of Trappist ales such as Chimay, Westmalle, and a select few others.

Goods for sale

The 48th chapter of the Rule of St. Benedict states "for then are they monks in truth, if they live by the work of their hands" [6]

Following this rule, most Trappist monasteries produce goods that are then sold to provide an income for the monastery. The goods produced can range from cheese, bread and other foodstuffs to clothing and coffins. As the order does not require abstention from alcohol, some monasteries produce and sell alcoholic beverages. Some monasteries in Belgium and the Netherlands, such as Orval Abbey and Westvleteren Abbey, brew beer both for the monks and for sale to the general public. Trappist beers contain residual sugars and living yeast, and, as bottle-conditioned beers do [7] , will improve with age.[8] These have become quite famous and are considered by many beer critics to be amongst the finest in the world.[8]

Monasteries

Currently there are nearly 170 Trappist monasteries in the world, the home of approximately 2,100 Trappist monks and 1,800 Trappist nuns.[9]

Locations

Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Dominican Republic
France
Germany
Great Britain
Hong Kong
Indonesia
Ireland & Northern Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Netherlands
New Zealand
Philippines
Spain
United States
Venezuela

See also

References

  1. ↑ Pennington, M. Basil, OCSO. "The Cistercians: An Introductory History". The Order of Saint Benedict. http://www.osb.org/cist/intro.html. Retrieved 2008-01-01. 
  2. ↑ CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Jean-Armand Le Bouthillier de Rance
  3. ↑ History of the Cistercian Order in Europe
  4. ↑ FAQ-eng
  5. ↑ Rule of St. Benedict, c. 38: Reading must not be wanting at the table of the brethren when they are eating. The 1949 Edition Translated by Rev. Boniface Verheyen, OSB.
  6. ↑ Rule of Benedict, Chapter 48. From the 1949 Edition. Translated by Rev. Boniface Verheyen, O.S.B., of St. Benedict's Abbey, Atchison, Kansas.
  7. ↑ CAMRA bottled beer guide, 6th edition
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter - Chastity, poverty and a pint
  9. ↑ FAQ-eng

External links

Catholic Church
Organizations, Papacy, Teachings and Liturgical Traditions
History Kruis san damiano.gif
Hierarchy
Pope · Cardinals · Patriarchs · Major Archbishops · Primates · Metropolitans · Archbishops · Diocesan Bishops
Theology
Trinity · Original sin · One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church · Worship · Divine Grace · Salvation · Sermon on the Mount · The Ten Commandments · Dogma · Body and Soul
Sacraments
Baptism · Confirmation · Eucharist · Penance · Anointing of the Sick · Holy Orders · Matrimony
Mariology
Mariology · Veneration · History of Mariology · Mariology of the saints · Mariology of the popes · Marian Doctrines · Mother of God · Perpetual Virginity · Immaculate Conception  · Assumption
Doctors of
the Church
Pope Benedict XVI
Conclave · Theology · Works · Deus Caritas Est · Sacramentum Caritatis · Summorum Pontificum · Spe Salvi · Caritas in Veritate
Preceding Popes
Orders & Societies
Assumptionist · Augustinian Order · Benedictines · Capuchin Order · Carmelites · Carthusians · Congregations of Holy Cross · Dominican Order · Franciscan orders · Jesuits · Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
Vatican II
Definition of the Church · Gaudium et Spes · Lumen Gentium · Nostra Aetate
Particular Churches
sorted by
Liturgical Traditions
Alexandrian · Coptic · Ethiopic · Antiochian · Maronite · Syriac · Syro-Malankara · Armenian · Armenian · Byzantine · Albanian · Belarusian · Bulgarian · Croatian · Greek · Hungarian · Italo-Albanian · Macedonian · Melkite · Romanian · Russian · Ruthenian · Slovak · Ukrainian · East Syrian · Chaldean · Syro-Malabar · Roman · Ambrosian · Sarum · Mozarabic · Anglican Use · Latin
Coat of arms of the Holy See.svg Pope Portal 046CupolaSPietro.jpg Catholicism Portal