# 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, 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 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.

## 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.
In 1664, in reaction to the relaxation of practices in many Cistercian monasteries, de Rancé introduced an austere reform. 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 Benedict of Nursia 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.
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.
In 1892, seeking unity among 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.
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.
A well-known Trappist theologian 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 to be canonized was 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, was beatified in 1992 by Pope John Paul II and canonized in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI.

## Monastic life

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.
Benedict's precept to minimize 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. According to 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. 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.
Unlike the Benedictines and Cistercians, Trappists fully abstain from "flesh meats" (pig, cattle, sheep, venison, etc), described by Saint Benedict as "four-footed animals". However, they generally do not live as strict vegetarians, as they consume poultry, fish and seafood, though their diet mostly consists of vegetables, beans, and grain products. Some monasteries also raise broiler chickens.

### Daily life

The Liturgy of the Hours is the foundation of every Trappist's life. However, the details of daily life can vary from community to community and based on the liturgical calendar. The following schedule is a representative summary of a Trappist's daily life.
* 3:30 AM | Rise
* 4:00 AM | Vigils followed by Meditation, Lectio Divina or private prayer
* 5:30 AM | Breakfast available
* 6:30 AM | Lauds
* 7:30 AM | Eucharist (Mass) (10:00 AM on Sundays)
* 8:00 AM | Great Silence Ends
* 8:30 AM | Terce
* 9:00 AM | Morning work period begins
* 12:00 PM | Sext
* 12:15 PM | Dinner
* 12:45 PM | Rest
* 1:30 PM | None
* 1:45 PM | Afternoon work period begins
* 5:00 PM | Supper
* 6:00 PM | Vespers
* 7:30 PM | Compline
* 8:00 PM | Grand Silence Begins & Retire

### Becoming a Trappist

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

### Manual labor

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". Thus, the life of a Trappist monk is centered on manual labor in addition to their spiritual activities. In addition to the tangible results of manual labor, which goes to support the economy of the community and the poor, the monk's work also contributes and reinforces the monk's and community's spiritual growth.
The goods produced range from cheeses, bread and other foodstuffs to clothing and coffins. Their most famous products are Trappist beers. These are a unique category within the beer world, and are lauded for their high quality and flavor. These monasteries brew beer both for the monks themselves and for sale to the general public. Trappist beers contain residual sugars and living yeast and are felt to improve with age, unlike conventional beers.
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.
Cistercian College, Roscrea, a boys' boarding secondary school in Ireland, is the only Trappist school left in the world, and one of only two remaining monastic secondary schools in Ireland.

## Organization

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. In 1940, there were six Trappist monasteries in Asia and the Pacific, only one Trappist monastery in Africa, and none in Latin America. Now there are 13 in Central and South America, 17 in Africa, and 23 in Asia and the Pacific. In general, these communities are growing faster than those in other parts of the world.
Over the same period, the total number of monks and nuns in the Order decreased by about 15%. There are on average 25 members per community – less than half those in former times. As of 1 January 2018, there were 1,796 Trappist monks and 1,592 Trappistine nuns across the world.

### Institutional Structure

Cistercian communities are autonomous but united in a communion implemented by key institutions:
* Regular Visitation: An independent "Father Immediate" is appointed to help and support the abbot in the exercise of his pastoral charge and to foster concord in the community. The Father Immediate or other representative visits the monastery approximately every two years. The purpose of this “Regular Visitation” is to strengthen and supplement the pastoral action of the local superior, to correct violations where necessary, and to renew the nuns’ or monks’ spiritual fervor.
* General Chapter: The General Chapter is the supreme authority of the order. Since 2011, Abbots and Abbesses form a single General Chapter. They meet every 3 years for three weeks to strengthen the bonds of the order and to make key decisions, including the election of the Abbot General when necessary. The Abbot General chairs the General Chapter.

### Abbots General

The Abbot General is elected for an unrestricted amount of time by the General Chapter. He is assisted by a Council that is composed of five members, four of them are elected by the General Chapter and the fifth is chosen by the elected Council members. The Abbot General and his Council reside in Rome and are generally in charge of the order's affairs. The present Abbot General is Dom Bernardus Peeters of Koningshoeven Abbey in the Netherlands.
* 1892–1904: Sébastien Wyart
* 1904–1922: Augustin Marre
* 1922–1929: Jean-Baptiste Ollitraut de Keryvallan
* 1929–1943: Herman-Joseph Smets
* 1943–1951: Dominique Nogues
* 1951–1963: Gabriel Sortais
* 1964–1974: Ignace Gillet
* 1974–1990: Ambroise Southey
* 1990–2008: Bernardo-Luis-José Oliveira
* 2008–2022: Eamon Fitzgerald
* 2022–present: Bernardus Peeters

### List of Trappist monasteries and convents

As of 2018, there were 168 Trappist monasteries and convents.
| Monks | Nuns |
| Africa ||
| Abbey of Our Lady of Atlas, Médéa, Algeria Mosteiro Cisterciense, Benguela, Angola Monastère Notre-Dame de l'Emmanuel, Kinshasa, DR Congo Monastere Notre-Dame des Mokoto, Goma, DR Congo Our Lady of Mount Calvary Monastery, Enugu, Nigeria Holy Cross Monastery, Illah, Nigeria Our Lady of the Angels Priory, Nsugbe, Nigeria Monastère Notre-Dame de Kokoubou, Parakou, Benin Monastera Masina Maria [fr], Fianarantsoa, Madagascar Bamenda Abbey, Bamenda, Cameroon Monastère Notre-Dame de Koutaba, Koundja, Cameroon Priory of Our Lady of Atlas, Midelt, Morocco Monastery of Our Lady of Victoria, Kyotera, Uganda | Mosteiro Cisterciense, Huambo, Angola Abbaye de la Clarté-Dieu, Cyangugu, Bukavu, DR Congo Monastère Notre-Dame de Mvanda, Kinshasa, DR Congo St. Justina's Monastery, Abakaliki, Nigeria Monastère l'Étoile Notre-Dame, Parakou, Benin Monastera Masina Maria Ampibanjinana, Fianarantsoa, Madagascar Soeurs Trappistines, Kibungo, Rwanda Monastère Notre-Dame de Grandselve, Obout, Cameroon Abbey Our Lady of Praise, Butende, Masaka, Uganda |
| Asia ||
| Our Lady of Joy Abbey, Lantao, Hong Kong Kurisumala Ashram in Vagamon, India Pertapaan Trappist Lamanabi in Tanjung Bunga, East Flores, Indonesia Pertapaan Santa Maria Rawaseneng in Kandangan, Temanggung, Indonesia Latroun Abbey [fr], Latrun, Israel Our Lady of the Annunciation Monastery [ja] in Minamihata near Hiji, Ōita, Japan Our Lady of the Lighthouse Abbey in Mitsuishi, Hokkaido, Japan Our Lady of the Philippines Trappist Abbey in Jordan, Guimaras, Philippines Holy Mother of God Monastery in Shuili, Nantou, Taiwan | Ananda Matha Ashram, Kunnambetta near Wayanad, India Pertapaan Bunda Pemersatu Gedono in Getasan, Semarang, Indonesia Ajimu no Seibo Shudoin in Kayagomori, Ōita Prefecture, Japan Torapisuto Shudoin in Imari, Saga, Japan Our Lady of Nasu Monastery in Nasu, Tochigi, Japan B. M. Nishinomiya (Torapisuto), Nishinomiya, Japan Torapisuto Shudoin (Tenshien) in Kamiyunokawa near Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan Trappistine Monastery "Our Lady Star of Hope", Macau Our Lady of Matutum in Polomolok, South Cotabato, Philippines Trappistine Monastery in Sujong-ri, Masanhappo-gu, South Korea Monastero Beata Maria Fons Pacis in Talkalakh, Syria |
| Europe ||
| Engelszell Abbey in Engelhartszell, Austria Saint Benedictus-Abbey in Achel, Belgium (closed January 2021) Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Orval in Villers-devant-Orval, Belgium Abbey of Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy in Rochefort, Belgium Scourmont Abbey in Forges, Belgium St. Sixtus' Abbey in Westvleteren, Belgium Westmalle Abbey in Westmalle, Belgium Opatija Marija Zvijezda in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina Nový Dvůr Monastery, Czech Republic Myrendal Kloster in Allinge, Denmark Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Acey [fr] in Vitreux, France Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Aiguebelle in Montjoyer, France Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bellefontaine [fr] in Bégrolles en Mauges, France Abbaye Notre-Dame de Grâce [fr] in Bricquebec, France Abbaye Notre-Dame de Cîteaux in Saint-Nicolas-lès-Cîteaux, France Abbaye Sainte-Marie du Désert [fr] in Bellegarde-Sainte-Marie, France Abbaye Notre-Dame de la Trappe in Soligny-la-Trappe, France Abbaye Notre-Dame de Melleray in La Meilleraye-de-Bretagne, France Abbaye Sainte-Marie-du-Mont [fr] in Godewaersvelde, France Abbaye Notre-Dame-des-Neiges in St-Laurent-les-Bains, France Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Oelenberg in Reiningue, France Abbaye Notre-Dame du Port-du-Salut in Entrammes, France Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sept-Fons in Dompierre-sur-Besbre, France Abbaye Notre-Dame de Tamié in Plancherine, France Abbaye Notre-Dame de Timadeuc [fr] in Bréhan, France Mariawald Abbey in Heimbach, Germany (closed September 2018) Mellifont Abbey in Collon, Ireland Mount Melleray Abbey in Cappoquin, Ireland Mount St. Joseph Abbey in Roscrea, Ireland Monastero Cistercense “Madonna dell’Unione” di Boschi in Monastero di Vasco, Italy Abbazia Nostra Signora del Santissimo Sacramento in Frattocchie, Italy Abbazia delle Tre Fontane in Rome, Italy Abdij O. L. Vr. van Sion in Diepenveen, Netherlands Cisterciënser Abdij Lilbosch in Echt, Netherlands Abdij O.L.Vrouw van Koningshoeven in Berkel-Enschot, Netherlands Abdij Maria-Toevlucht in Klein Zundert, Netherlands Munkeby Abbey near Levanger, Norway Monasterio de San Pedro de Cardeña [es] in Castrillo del Val, Spain Monasterio de Santa María de las Escalonias [es] in Hornachuelos, Spain Monasterio de Santa María de Huerta in Santa María de Huerta, Spain Monasterio de Santa María la Real de la Oliva in Carcastillo, Spain Monasterio de Monte Sión in Toledo, Spain Monastery of Santa María la Real of Oseira in Oseira, Spain Monasterio de San Isidro de Dueñas [es] in San Isidro de Dueñas, Spain Monasterio de Santa María de Sobrado in Sobrado, Spain Abadía de Santa María de Viaceli [es] in Cóbreces, Spain Monasterio de Santa María de Cenarruza [es] in Cenarruza, Spain Caldey Abbey on Caldey Island, Wales Mount Saint Bernard Abbey near Coalville, England Sancta Maria Abbey in Nunraw, Scotland Our Lady of Bethlehem Abbey in Portglenone, Northern Ireland | Abbaye Notre-Dame de Brialmont [fr] in Tilff [fr], Esneux, Belgium Abbaye Notre-Dame de la Paix in Chimay, Belgium Abbaye Notre-Dame de Clairefontaine [fr] in Bouillon, Belgium Priorij O.L. Vr van Klaarland [fr] in Bocholt, Belgium Abdij O.L. Vr. van Nazareth in Brecht, Belgium Abbaye Notre-Dame de Soleilmont in Fleurus, Belgium Klášter Naší Paní nad Vltavou in Neveklov, Czech Republic Abbaye Notre-Dame de Baumgarten [fr] in Bernardvillé, France Abbaye de Belval [fr] in Troisvaux, France Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bon Secours [fr] in Blauvac, France Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bonneval [fr] in Le Cayrol, France Monastère de la Paix-Dieu in Anduze, France Abbaye de la Joie Notre-Dame [fr] in Campénéac, France Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur de Chambarand [fr] in Roybon, France Abbaye Notre-Dame de Bonne-Espérance [fr] in Échourgnac, France Monastère Notre-Dame des Gardes [fr] in Saint-Georges-des-Gardes, France Monastère Notre-Dame de la Coudre [fr] in Laval, France Monastère du Jassonneix [fr] in Meymac, France Abbaye Sainte-Marie du Rivet [fr] in Auros, France Abbaye Notre-Dame de Saint-Joseph d'Ubexy [fr] in Charmes, France Abbaye Notre-Dame du Val d'Igny [fr] in Arcis-le-Ponsart, France Kloster Gethsemani at Donnersberg near Dannenfels, Germany Trappistinnenabtei Maria Frieden in Dahlem, Germany St. Mary's Abbey in Glencairn near Lismore, County Waterford, Ireland Monastero di N.S. di Valserena in Guardistallo, Italy Monastero Trappiste Nostra Signora di San Giuseppe in Vitorchiano, Italy Abdij O.L. Vr. van Koningsoord [fr] in Arnhem, Netherlands Tautra Mariakloster in Frosta, Norway Monasterio Santa MarÍa de San José in Alloz-Estella, Spain Monasterio de Santa María la Real near Arévalo, Spain Monasterio de Armenteira in Armenteira, Spain Monasterio Cisterciense de Santa Ana in Avila, Spain Monasterio Santa Maria de Gratia Dei in Benaguasil, Spain Monasterio de Santa María de Carrizo [es] in Carrizo de La Ribera, Spain Monasterio Nuestra Señora de la Paz in La Palma, Cartagena, Spain Monasterio de Santa María de la Caridad [es] in Tulebras, Spain Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Vico [es] in Arnedo, Spain Abbaye de la Fille-Dieu in Romont, Switzerland Monastère Notre Dame de Géronde in Sierre, Switzerland Holy Cross Abbey in Whitland, Wales |
| Latin America ||
| Abadía Nuestra Señora de los Angeles in Azul, Argentina Nossa Senhora do Novo Mundo in Campo do Tenente, Brazil Monasterio Sta Maria de Miraflores in Rancagua, Chile Monasterio Santa Maria del Evangelio in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic Monasterio de Santa María del Paraíso in Latacunga, Ecuador Monasterio Cisterciense Virgen del Curutarán in Jacona, Mexico Monasterio Nuestra Señora de los Andes in El Vigía, Venezuela | Monasterio de la Madre de Cristo Hermanas Trapenses in Hinojo, Argentina Mosteiro Trapista Nossa Senhora da Boa Vista in Rio Negrinho, Brazil Monasterio Nuestra Señora de Quilvo in Curicó, Chile Monasterio de Santa María de la Esperanza in Esmeraldas, Ecuador Abadía Madre de Dios El Encuentro Rincón de San Jerónimo in Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico Monasterio Santa Maria de la Paz in Santo Tomás, Nicaragua Monasterio N.S. de Coromoto in El Tocuyo, Venezuela |
| North America ||
| Notre Dame du Calvaire Abbey in Nouvelle-Arcadie, New Brunswick, Canada Monastère N.-D. de Mistassini in Dolbeau-Mistassini, Quebec, Canada Our Lady of the Prairies Abbey in Holland, Manitoba, Canada Abbaye Val Notre-Dame in Saint-Jean-de-Matha, Quebec, Canada Abbey of Notre-Dame du Lac in Oka, Quebec, Canada, now defunct Assumption Abbey in Douglas County, Missouri, United States Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville, Virginia, United States Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia, United States Our Lady of the Genesee Abbey in Piffard, New York, United States Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Bardstown, Kentucky, United States Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey in Carlton, Oregon, United States Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity in Huntsville, Utah, United States. Closed down August 2017. Mepkin Abbey in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, United States New Melleray Abbey in Peosta, Iowa, United States St. Benedict's Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado, United States St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts, United States Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina, California, United States | Notre-Dame de l'Assomption Abbey in Nouvelle-Arcadie, New Brunswick, Canada Abbaye N.-D. du Bon Conseil in Saint-Benoît-Labre, Quebec, Canada Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Crozet, Virginia, United States Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey in Dubuque, Iowa, United States Our Lady of the Redwoods Abbey in Whitethorn, California, United States Santa Rita Abbey in Sonoita, Arizona, United States Mount St. Mary's Abbey in Wrentham, Massachusetts, United States |
| Oceania ||
| Tarrawarra Abbey in Yarra Glen, Australia Southern Star Abbey in Takapau, New Zealand | None |