Trappists

The Trappists, officially known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Latin: Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae, abbreviated as OCSO) and originally named the Order of Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe,[1] are a Catholic religious order of cloistered monastics that branched off from the Cistercians. They follow the Rule of Saint Benedict and have communities of both monks and nuns that are known as Trappists and Trappistines, respectively. They are named after La Trappe Abbey, the monastery from which the movement and religious order originated. The movement first began with the reforms that Abbot Armand Jean le Bouthillier de Rancé introduced in 1664, later leading to the creation of Trappist congregations, and eventually the formal constitution as a separate religious order in 1892.

"Trappist" redirects here. For other uses, see Trappist (disambiguation).
Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance
Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae
Logo of the Trappists.
Armand Jean le Bouthillier de Rancé, the founder of the Trappists
AbbreviationOCSO
Formation1664 (1664)
FounderArmand Jean le Bouthillier de Rancé
Founded atLa Trappe Abbey
TypeCatholic religious order
HeadquartersViale Africa, 33
Rome, Italy
Abbot General
Eamon Fitzgerald
Parent organization
Catholic Church
Websitewww.ocso.org

A monk or nun of an order founded in 1098 as a stricter branch of the Benedictines. The monks are now divided into two observances, the strict observance, whose adherents are known popularly as Trappists, and the common observance, which has certain relaxations. "The Cistercian Order follows the reformed Benedictine Rule; Cistercians of the Strict Observance form the largest contemplative order."

History

The order takes its name from La Trappe Abbey or La Grande Trappe, located in the French province of Normandy, where the reform movement began. Armand Jean le Bouthillier de Rancé, originally the commendatory abbot of La Trappe, led the reform. As commendatory abbot, de Rancé was a secular individual who obtained income from the monastery but was not a professed monk and otherwise had no monastic obligations. The second son of Denis Bouthillier, a Councillor of State, he possessed considerable wealth and was earmarked for an ecclesiastical career as coadjutor bishop to the Archbishop of Tours. However, after undergoing a conversion of life between 1660 and 1662, de Rancé renounced his possessions, formally joined the abbey, and became its regular abbot in 1663.[2]

Orval Abbey in Belgium

In 1664, in reaction to the relaxation of practices in many Cistercian monasteries, de Rancé introduced an austere reform.[3][4] de Rancé's reform was first and foremost centered on penitence; it prescribed hard manual labour, silence, a meagre diet, isolation from the world, and renunciation of most studies. The hard labour was in part a penitential exercise, in part a way of keeping the monastery self-supportive so that communication with the world might be kept at a minimum. This movement spread to many other Cistercian monasteries, which took up de Rancé's reforms. In time, these monasteries also spread and created new foundations of their own. These monasteries called themselves "Trappist" in reference to La Trappe, the source and origin of their reforms.

In 1792, during the French Revolution, La Trappe Abbey, like all other monasteries at the time, was confiscated by the French government and the Trappists expelled. Augustin de Lestrange, a monk of La Trappe at that time, led a number of monks to establish a new monastery in the ruined and unroofed former Carthusian charterhouse of Val-Sainte in the Canton of Fribourg, Switzerland, where the monks subsequently carried out an even more austere reform practising the ancient observances of Saint Benedict and the first usages of Cîteaux. In 1794, Pope Pius VI raised Val-Sainte to the status of an abbey and motherhouse of the Trappists, and Dom Augustin was elected the first abbot of the abbey and the leader of the Trappist congregation. However, in 1798, when the French invaded Switzerland, the monks were again exiled and had to roam different countries seeking to establish a new home, until Dom Augustin and his monks of Val-Sainte were finally able to re-establish a community in La Trappe.[5]

In 1834, the Holy See formed all French monasteries into the Congregation of the Cistercian Monks of Notre-Dame de la Trappe, with the abbot of La Trappe being the vicar general of the congregation. However, there were differences in observances between the dependencies of Val-Sainte and those of Notre-Dame de l'Eternité, an abbey itself founded by Val-Sainte in 1795. This led to two different Trappist congregations being formed by decree of the Holy See in 1847. These were named the 'Ancient Reform of Our Lady of La Trappe' and the 'New Reform of Our Lady of La Trappe', the former following the Constitutions of de Rancé, with the latter following the Rule of Saint Benedict combined with the ancient constitution of Cîteaux, except in a few areas prescribed by the Holy See in the same decree.[5]

In 1892, seeking unity amongst the different Trappist observances, the Trappist congregations left the Cistercian Order entirely and merged to form a new order with the approval of Pope Leo XIII named the 'Order of Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe', formalising their identity and spirituality as a separate monastic community.[6]

In 1909, the Trappists of Mariannhill were separated from the rest of the Trappist Order by decree of the Holy See to form the Congregation of Mariannhill Missionaries.[7]

One of the most notable Trappist theologians was Thomas Merton, a prominent author in the mystic tradition and a noted poet and social and literary critic. He entered the Abbey of Gethsemani in 1941 where his writings and letters to world leaders became some of the most widely read spiritual and social works of the 20th century. Merton's widely-read works include his autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, as well as New Seeds of Contemplation and No Man is an Island.

The first Trappist saint was Saint Rafael Arnáiz Barón, who was a conventual oblate of the Abbey of San Isidro de Dueñas in Dueñas, Palencia. His defining characteristic was his intense devotion to a religious life and personal piety despite the setbacks of his affliction with diabetes mellitus. He died in 1938 aged 27 from complications of diabetes, and was beatified in 1992 by Pope John Paul II and canonised in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Monastic life
Monks of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in the early 20th century

Trappists, like the Benedictines and Cistercians from whom they originate, follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. "Strict Observance" refers to the Trappists' goal of following the Rule closely. They take the three vows described in the Rule (c. 58): stability, fidelity to monastic life, and obedience.

Trappist monks in Pertapaan Rawaseneng, Indonesia, praying Terce

Saint Benedict's precept to minimise conversation means that Trappists generally speak only when necessary; thus idle talk is strongly discouraged. However, contrary to popular belief, they do not take a vow of silence.[8] According to Saint 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 considered evil and is forbidden.[9] A Trappist sign language, one of several monastic sign languages, was developed to render speaking unnecessary. Meals are usually taken in contemplative silence as Trappists listen to a reading.[10]

Unlike the Benedictines and Cistercians,[11][12] Trappists fully abstain from meat as regards "four-footed animals".[13] They generally live as vegetarians, with their diet mostly consisting of vegetables, beans, and grain products, but they may sometimes eat fish.[13][14][13]

A Trappist novice reading at his desk
A Trappist novice kneeling at the cross

Though each monastery is autonomous and may have different rules, generally the stages to enter the Trappist life can be described as follows:[15]

  • 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 and services 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".[16] Following this rule, most Trappist monasteries produce goods that are sold to provide income for the monastery.

The goods produced range from cheeses, bread and other foodstuffs to clothing and coffins, though they are most famous[17] for Trappist beers, which are unique within the beer world,[18] and are lauded for their high quality and flavour.[19] Monasteries in Belgium and the Netherlands, such as La Trappe, Orval Abbey and Westvleteren Abbey, brew beer both for the monks themselves and for sale to the general public. Trappist beers contain residual sugars and living yeast, and, unlike conventional beers, will improve with age.[20]

The Trappist monks of the Tre Fontane Abbey raise the lambs whose wool is used to make the pallia of new metropolitan archbishops. The pope blesses the pallia on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul; the metropolitan archbishops receive those pallia in a separate ceremony within their home dioceses from the hands of the Apostolic Nuncio, who personally represents the pope in their respective countries.

The monks of New Melleray Abbey in rural Peosta, Iowa produce caskets for both themselves and sale to the public.

St. Joseph's Abbey in the town of Spencer, Massachusetts produced the first Trappist beer of the United States. It is named the Spencer Brewery in the Trappist tradition for the town in which it operates.

Cistercian College, Roscrea, a boys' boarding secondary/high school in Ireland, is the only Trappist school left in the world, and one of only two remaining monastic secondary schools in Ireland.

Organisation
Latroun Abbey, Latroun, Israel

Cistercian monasteries have continued to spread, with many founded outside Europe in the 20th century. In particular, the number of Trappist monasteries throughout the world has more than doubled over the past 60 years: from 82 in 1940 to 127 in 1970, and 169 at the beginning of the 21st century.[21] In 1940, there were six Trappist monasteries in Asia and the Pacific, only one Trappist monastery in Africa, and none in Latin America.[21] Now there are 13 in Central and South America, 17 in Africa, and 23 in Asia and the Pacific.[21] In general, these communities are growing faster than those in other parts of the world.[21]

Over the same period, the total number of monks and nuns in the Order decreased by about 15%.[21] There are on average 25 members per community – less than half those in former times.[21] As of 1 January 2018, there were 1,796 Trappist monks[22] and 1,592 Trappistine nuns[23] across the world.

Abbots General
Sébastien Wyart, 1st Abbot General of the Trappists between 1892 and 1904

The Abbot General and his Council reside in Rome and are generally in charge of the Order's affairs.[24] The present Abbot General is Dom Eamon Fitzgerald of Mount Melleray Abbey in Waterford, Ireland.[24] Every three years, the abbots and abbesses of each branch meet at the Mixed General Meeting, chaired by the Abbot General, to make decisions concerning the welfare of the Order.[24]

  1. 1892–1904: Sébastien Wyart
  2. 1904–1922: Augustin Marre
  3. 1922–1929: Jean-Baptiste Ollitraut de Keryvallan
  4. 1929–1943: Herman-Joseph Smets
  5. 1943–1951: Dominique Nogues
  6. 1951–1963: Gabriel Sortais
  7. 1964–1974: Ignace Gillet
  8. 1974–1990: Ambroise Southey
  9. 1990–2008: Bernardo-Luis-José Oliveira
  10. 2008–current: Eamon Fitzgerald

List of Trappist monasteries

As of 2018, there were 168 Trappist monasteries and convents.[25]

Monks Nuns
Africa
Asia
Europe
Latin America
North America
Oceania
 None
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See also

References
  1. Kinder, Terryl N. (19 Apr 2002). Cistercian Europe: Architecture of Contemplation. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 50. ISBN 9780802838872. ... the Order of the Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe (today called the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance [O.C.S.O.], popularly known as the Trappists and Trappistines) was founded in 1892.
  2.  Obrecht, Edmond (1913). "Jean-Armand le Bouthillier de Rancé". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  3. M. Basil Pennington, OCSO. "The Cistercians: An Introductory History". The Order of Saint Benedict. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  4. Chisholm 1911.
  5.  Obrecht, Edmond (1913). "Trappists". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  6. OCist.Hu - A Ciszterci Rend Zirci Apátsága (2002-12-31). "History". OCist.Hu. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  7. Denny-Dimitriou, Julia (Nov 23, 2010). "How one monk changed the South African landscape". OSV Newsweekly. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  8. "OCSO.org FAQ".
  9. "OSB. Rule of Benedict : Text, English, Jan May Sep 3/3". Osb.org. 2006-05-06. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  10. 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.
  11. Jennifer Horsman; Jaime Flowers (2006), Please Don't Eat the Animals, Quill Driver Books, p. 10, ISBN 9781884956607.
  12. Anthony Marett-Crosby, ed. (2003), The Benedictine Handbook, Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd, p. 331, ISBN 9781853114991.
  13. Can I maintain my own dietary discipline as a Trappist?, Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance
  14. "A Newcomer's Guide to the Trappists | Becoming a Trappist Monk or Nun". www.trappists.org. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  15. Becoming a monk or nun, Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae.
  16. "The Rule of St. Benedict". Ccel.org. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  17. "The Best Beer in the World". 99% Invisible. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  18. Bryce Eddings. "What are Trappist beers?". About.com Food. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  19. "TRAPPIST - THE SEVEN MAGNIFICENT BEERS". BelgianShop Online. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  20. "Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter - Chastity, poverty and a pint". Beerhunter.com. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
  21. "Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (Trappists): Frequently Asked Questions". Ocso.org. 2003-12-08. Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  22. STATISTIQUES Moines - Monks - Monjes (PDF). ocso.org (Report). Order of Cistercians of Strict Observance. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  23. STATISTIQUES Moniales - Nuns - Monjas (PDF). ocso.org (Report). Order of Cistercians of Strict Observance. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  24. "Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity: Brief History". Holytrinityabbey.org. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  25. "Alphabetical List : Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance : OCSO". ocso.org. Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  26. "The World Is Changing. This Trappist Abbey Isn't. Can It Last?". nytimes.com.
  27. RadioWest (3 October 2017). "To Close A Monastery" – via Vimeo.
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