Origins
The Cistercian order was founded in 1098 by St. Robert of Molesme in France, in the pursuit of a life under the rule of St. Benedict. He and 21 monks left the monastery in Molesme to start a new one in Cistercium, near Dijon. They left because the discipline of Benedictines in their monastery was getting lax and needed a reform. St. Benedict left much of his Rule up to the discretion of the abbot of a monastery, and thus many had different views on keeping strictly to the Rule of St. Benedict. The monastery of Citeaux, where the Cistercian order began, brought in lay brothers and re-established a harmony between common prayer, spiritual reading, and meditation, along with time in daily work.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux entered the monastery at Citeaux in 1112, to become one of the greatest contemplatives of all times.
In the late 12th century, the abbey at Zirc was founded in Hungary. Monks from Clairvaux brought prestigious French architecture and culture to the area, and the Cistercians continued to grow until secular powers took over in the invasion of the Ottoman Empire. Finally, in the early 1800’s, the monastery was restored, and in 1814 was independent of other orders. The monks were educators in schools around the country. In 1912 a new parish and school were built in Budapest, and after surviving the harsh world wars, the monks began to discern founding a monastery in the United States. There was much religious persecution in the mid-20th century, and out of 22 monks, only 7 made it out of Hungary all the way to Dallas, Texas. In 1950, these Hungarian Cistercians founded Our Lady of Dallas Monastery.
Cistercian Vocation
The Cistercians follow the Benedictine motto, "Ora et Labora," spending time in prayer through activities such as chanting the Divine Office and Mass, and vowing obedience and stability in joining the monastic family.
Work
Cistercian monks can study fields from theology and languages to math and science. They serve the pastoral needs of the students in the school and also in parishes around Dallas.
Cistercian Orders
The Cistercians of Dallas are part of the Order of Cistercians, abbreviated O. Cist. In 1892, three congregations of Cistercians united to separate into their own order, the Order of Cistercians of Strict Observance, O.C.S.O. They are more commonly referred to as Trappists, coming from the French Abbey, Notre Dame de la Trappe.
For more info, visit the Cistercian
website.
