The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-08
MONKS OF La TRAPPE
CATHOLIC BROTHERHOOD wH0sN
SACRED CREED Is SILENCE.
its Members spesk Only by PERMITS
sion of the Superior, and When
Confessing Sins and singing.
Washington Post.

erhood is about to be established in this
country. IL will be situated on the east
ward end OF Long island in an inviting part
OF the country, and will be the third Of It's
kind in the United States OF the others.
one is situated in Kentucky. sixty miles
from Louisville. and a smaller branch or
the brotherhood is located near Dubuque.
la. Work on the Long island monastery
will be begun shortly. II is established for
the benefit OF those in the Eastern States
who may wish for a spiritual retreat OF the
peculiar kind offered by the silent brother
hood.
Silent is the one word fitting this most
wonderful brotherhood Of men. A visit 10
any OF the monasteries in any part OF the
world is made forever memorable by the
impressive silence pervading all things Sc
lence is part of the sacred creed OF the
Trappist. Yet his life is a busy one. Idle
ness is not tolerated within the walls OF the
monastery. Every brother has his allotted
task. and he performs it all day long. with
out word or comment II he wishes to say
anything, he first obtains the consent OF the
superior. There are two other occasions
when he may utter a sound-when confess
ing his sins and when singing the Offices OF
the church.
The order dates back to 1850. when 1t was
founded. at La Trappe. France. by Armand
Jean lie Boutillier de Rance. a French no.
bleman OF fine parentage and great es-
tates. For many years this man had been
the leading spirit OF the gayest set In
France. He loved to adorn himself In jew
els and fine raiment; he Toasted and sport
ed and enjoyed to the fullest the carnAl
pleasures of life. Suddenly he deserted all
his cav niopo onI .ho+nnL htxoSo1F -
the ancient Abbey of La Trappe, in Nor
mandie. then inhabited by a number of
easy-going Benedictines.. These he reformed
regulations which to-day govern all the
monasteries OF the order. 1t Is said that so
pious were the brothers after the De Rance
regime, that one or them went for so many
years with his eyes fixed UPON the ground.
that at last when he raised them he did
not recognize a new addition 20 the abbey.
which had been built.
FIRST AMERICAN ABBEY.
In the latter part OF the last century,
some few Trappists came to this country.
settling in Pennsylvania They hal no
fixed monastry. wandering TO many places
and always moving westward In the hope
Of Christianizing the Indians. They got
into Missouri and western Illinois, but the
hardships they had TO endure made the
mortality so great thrt by 1913 only a few
were left. These were recalled to France.
In 1S4S another party came to this country
and established the Kentucky monastery.
called the Abbey OF Gethsemane. The do
main OF this abbey comprises some LOO
acres, and the new abbey to be estab-
the same as the one in Kentucky. The
architecture OF the Gethsemane abbey IN
studiously plain and %austere. 1t il a great
q~uadrangular pile of brick. three stories
in height. There is a large inner court
within the quadrangle, prettily laid out.
one side or IL consists or two chspelss
the one appropriated to the ordinary SER
vices Of the church, and entered from with
out the abbey wall by the general public;
Trappist order and entered oniy from with
in the wall. as the members rarely go out
side, and then only by permission OF the
superior.
The chapels of the Trappists are never
beautiful to look upon. The are
plain, the altar decorations crude. even the
figures of the crucihxion scene being In.
variably of wood and carved and painted
by the monks inhabiting the place.
One feature of the Trappist monastery Is
deeply impressive to the casual beholder-
1t is the little graveyard always TO be found
near the chapel, where the brothers who
without shroud or coffin. Above each grave
Is @ plain wooden ~crucifix, bearing the re-
ligious name of the dead monk. No hint
is given OF his worldly identity. A Trap
pist is supposed to have forgotten the world.
and by the world been forgotten. If a near
and dear relative dies the brother Is not
iOt0 VI - ot ~
side the monastery walls Is supposed to
have any interest for him, and nothing in
side except his duties and the care OF his
soul. In brief, the war of the ordinary
priest is with the world, the Trappist's war
is with himself. His tenement OF flesh Is his
enemy, and he subjects IL to all manner OF
austerities to keep 1t within control. Per-
petual poverty. manual labor, penance.
obedience. chastity. silence, secIusion and
might give pleasure or enjoyment Is the
Trappist Law.
DRESS. WORK AND FOOD.
The Trappist arises in the morning on
some days at midnight. on others at I
O'Clock, and never later than 2 o'clock. He
sleeps in his monks dress To remove IL
at night is regarded as a luxury. and conse-
! auently avoided. He works and sleeps in
the dress of dark-brown. serge-like stun.
made like a long robe, for two weeks.
when he changes II for another. The father
wears a similar garment. only white In
color, with a black scapular beneath. Ere
quent bathing, particularly by the younger
members OF the order. is deemed a luxury.
and. consequently. prohibited His food -
proportionately plain. Cheese. vegetables,
served serve r once once a day. unless the brother be
employed IN hard manual labor, like work.
ing in the field, when he is served an early
morning meal called mkt" II he is sick
or infirm, he can have eggs and fish.
All kinds OF work are performed by the
TrappistS- Each monastery is selt-suStain-
ing. There are cobblers, to make and re-
pair the rude shoes worn: a smithy In
which the brothers keep in repair the farm
implements: the gardens are to be cared
for, the fruits gathered, the cider made.
the grain mill and sawmill to be worked.
buildings to be repaired, the cooking to be
done. the washing OF clothes, the cleaning
OF the chapel; all these and hundreds OF
other mental tasks are performed by the
men, who. in the outside world, may have
occupied positions Of note.
There are no Americans in the Order
of La Trappe. Many have made the ex-
pertinent of entering, but none have per-
severed Up to the final conservation OF the
white cowl. No one is admitted. even to
the preliminary training. without being
made fully acquainted with the sacrifices
he must undergo.
The steadfast rule of silence is the great
est of all trials TO the novftiate. The monk
at work with another uses the necessary
signs. which are first taught him on en-
tering the order. Should he accidentally
wound a sorrow Is ex-
| pressed by striking his breast. A desire to
confess is shown by lifting one hand TO the
mouth and placing the other upor the
breast. Every precaution is taken against
| creating the smallest possible noise. II A
brother obtains permission TO read q re-
ligious book, he must turn the leaves with
out making the slightest sound. AT meal
time should a brother drop a fork or
| spoon. he Immediately prostrates himself
upon the floor until hidden to rise by the
<srrcrfor