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Trappists

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This article is about the Cistercian order. For the cheese, see Trappista cheese. For the beer, see Trappist beer. For the telescope, see TRAPPIST.
Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance
AbbreviationOrder of Trappists (O.C.S.O.)
Formation1892
TypeCatholic religious order
HeadquartersViale Africa, 33
Rome, Italy
Abbas Generalis
Dom Eamon Fitzgerald
Websitewww.ocso.org

The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.: Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae) is a Roman Catholic religious order of cloistered contemplative monastics who follow the Rule of St. Benedict. A branch of the Order of Cistercians, they have communities of both monks and nuns, commonly referred to as Trappists and Trappistines, respectively.

History

The order takes its name from La Trappe Abbey or La Grande Trappe, located in the French province of Normandy. A reform movement began there in 1664, in reaction to the relaxation of practices in many Cistercian monasteries.[1] Armand Jean le Bouthillier de Rancé, originally the commendatory abbot of La Trappe, led the reform. 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 away from the Cistercian order and formed an independent monastic order with the approval of the pope.[3]

Monastic life

Trappist monks in Pertapaan Rawaseneng, Indonesia, are celebrating Terce.
A Trappist novice reading in his cell.

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

"Strict Observance" refers to the Trappists' goal of following closely St. Benedict's Rule and taking the three vows described in his Rule (c. 58): stability, fidelity to monastic life, and obedience. Benedict's insistence on lack of speech has some impact on their way of life, though (contrary to popular belief) they do not take a vow of silence.[4] Trappist monks generally speak only when necessary; thus idle talk is strongly discouraged. According to St. Benedict, speech disturbs a disciple's quietude and receptivity, and may tempt one to exercise one's own will instead of the will of God. Speech that leads to unkind amusement or laughter is seen as evil and is banned.[5] A Trappist sign language, distinct from other forms of monastic sign language, has developed to render speaking unnecessary. Meals are usually taken in contemplative silence as members of the order are supposed to listen to a reading.[6]

Comparing with the Benedictines and the Cistercians,[7][8] Trappists fully abstain from meat as regards "four-footed animals".[9] While living as vegetarians, they may sometimes eat fish and their diet mostly consist of "vegetables, beans, and grain products".[9]

Though each monastery is autonomous and may have different rules, generally the stages to enter the Trappist life can be described as follows:[10]

  • Candidate/observership: candidates or observers visit a monastery and consult the vocation director and/or the superior to help them discern their vocation. Usually they will be asked to live in the monastery for a short period of time, at least one month.
  • Postulancy: candidates live as a member of the monastery as a postulant for some months, they are guided by the novice director.
  • Novitiate: postulants will be clothed with the monastic habit and are formally received as a member of this order. Novices are still guided by the novice director, and they undergo this stage for two years.
  • After novitiate, novices may take temporary vows. They will live this stage for three to nine years to deepen study, practicing the Gospel in the monastic way and integration within the society.
  • After finishing the previous stage, the professed members may take final vows for their entire life.

Goods produced

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".[11]

Following this rule, most Trappist monasteries produce goods that are sold to provide income for the monastery. The goods produced range from cheese, bread and other foodstuffs to clothing and coffins, though they are most famous[12] for their beers, which are unique within the beer world,[13] and are lauded for their high quality and flavour.[14] As the order does not require abstinence from alcohol, some monasteries produce and sell alcoholic beverages. 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, unlike conventional beers, will improve with age.[15] Westvleteren 12 is often considered to be the single best beer in the world.[16]

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. The pope presents the pallia to them on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Holy Apostles; they are blessed by the pope on the Feast of Saint Agnes, January 21.

Monasteries

There are nearly 170 Trappist monasteries and convents in the world, homes to approximately 2,100 Trappist monks and 1,800 Trappistine nuns.[17]

Africa

Chapel of the Priory of Our Lady of Atlas, Midelt, Morocco.

Asia

Church interior of the Pertapaan Santa Maria Rawaseneng, Temanggung
Latroun Abbey, Latroun

Europe

Orval Abbey, near Florenville, Belgium.
Monastery of Santa María la Real of Oseira, in Galicia, Spain.

Latin America

North America

Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia, USA

Oceania

See also

References

  1. ^ M. Basil Pennington, OCSO. "The Cistercians: An Introductory History". The Order of Saint Benedict. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  2. ^ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Jean-Armand Le Bouthillier de Rance". Newadvent.org. 1911-06-01. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  3. ^ OCist.Hu - A Ciszterci Rend Zirci Apátsága (2002-12-31). "History". OCist.Hu. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  4. ^ "OCSO.org FAQ".
  5. ^ "OSB. Rule of Benedict : Text, English, Jan May Sep 3/3". Osb.org. 2006-05-06. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  6. ^ 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
  7. ^ Jennifer Horsman; Jaime Flowers (2006), Please Don't Eat the Animals, Quill Driver Books, p. 10, ISBN 9781884956607
  8. ^ Anthony Marett-Crosby, ed. (2003), The Benedictine Handbook, Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd, p. 331, ISBN 9781853114991
  9. ^ a b Can I maintain my own dietary discipline as a Trappist?, Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance
  10. ^ Becoming a monk or nun, Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae
  11. ^ "The Rule of St. Benedict". Ccel.org. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  12. ^ "The Best Beer in the World". 99% Invisible. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  13. ^ Bryce Eddings. "What are Trappist beers?". About.com Food. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  14. ^ "TRAPPIST - THE SEVEN MAGNIFICENT BEERS". BelgianShop Online. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter - Chastity, poverty and a pint". Beerhunter.com. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  16. ^ "A Sign From Above? Needing New Roof, Monks Sell Rare Beer In U.S." The Huffington Post. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  17. ^ "Directory". Retrieved 8 October 2015.
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