Comments on: Cistercian Spirituality http://cistercianvocation.wordpress.com Thoughts to help or interest those discerning vocation to monastic life Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:09:56 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: memoriadei http://cistercianvocation.wordpress.com/cistercian-spirituality/#comment-94 memoriadei Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:29:32 +0000 http://cistercianvocation.wordpress.com/?page_id=16#comment-94 Do you know a place online where there is a complete list of Cistercian saints both monks and nuns? Thank you and God bless. Do you know a place online where there is a complete list of Cistercian saints both monks and nuns? Thank you and God bless.

]]> By: Sr Eleanor http://cistercianvocation.wordpress.com/cistercian-spirituality/#comment-23 Sr Eleanor Mon, 05 May 2008 10:45:48 +0000 http://cistercianvocation.wordpress.com/?page_id=16#comment-23 Hi Theresa, thanks for your interesting question. In terms of spirituality, there is very little difference between Cistercians and Benedictines. We all follow the Rule of St Benedict, and share the same fundamental traditions. There are many kinds of Benedictines, and Cistercians may be seen as one branch of the broad Benedictine family. The Cistercians began as a reform movement within Benedictine monasticism in the late 11th century. The "founders" didn't set out to found a new Order, but to restore a balance and simplicity which had been lost and to adhere more faithfully, as they saw it, to the Rule of St Benedict. It was due to historical circumstances that this developed into a separate Order. Today, the main differences might be seen as the Cistercians being a bit more austere. For example, we maintain the office of Vigils as a night Office, so that it is celebrated during the hours of darkness (4.10 a.m. in my own monastery). We also observe St Benedict's injunction about abstaining from meat, so we have a vegetarian diet. Some might say that we have traditionally had more emphasis on manual labour, such as farming. But there are so many Benedictine communities that it is difficult to make generalisations about them. Other differences exist in the organisational structures of the Order as a whole (e.g. the Benedictines are divided into Congregations, we are not). I hope this helps! God bless, Sr Eleanor Hi Theresa, thanks for your interesting question.
In terms of spirituality, there is very little difference between Cistercians and Benedictines. We all follow the Rule of St Benedict, and share the same fundamental traditions. There are many kinds of Benedictines, and Cistercians may be seen as one branch of the broad Benedictine family.
The Cistercians began as a reform movement within Benedictine monasticism in the late 11th century. The “founders” didn’t set out to found a new Order, but to restore a balance and simplicity which had been lost and to adhere more faithfully, as they saw it, to the Rule of St Benedict. It was due to historical circumstances that this developed into a separate Order.

Today, the main differences might be seen as the Cistercians being a bit more austere. For example, we maintain the office of Vigils as a night Office, so that it is celebrated during the hours of darkness (4.10 a.m. in my own monastery). We also observe St Benedict’s injunction about abstaining from meat, so we have a vegetarian diet. Some might say that we have traditionally had more emphasis on manual labour, such as farming. But there are so many Benedictine communities that it is difficult to make generalisations about them.
Other differences exist in the organisational structures of the Order as a whole (e.g. the Benedictines are divided into Congregations, we are not).

I hope this helps!
God bless,
Sr Eleanor

]]> By: Theresa http://cistercianvocation.wordpress.com/cistercian-spirituality/#comment-11 Theresa Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:15:12 +0000 http://cistercianvocation.wordpress.com/?page_id=16#comment-11 Sister, Can you tell me what the difference is between the Cistercian nuns and the regular Benedictine nuns? If it's not too long an explanation! Thanks, God bless. Sister,

Can you tell me what the difference is between the Cistercian nuns and the regular Benedictine nuns? If it’s not too long an explanation! Thanks, God bless.

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