SISTERS OF THE ORDER OF THE CISTERCIANS OF STRICT OBSERVANCE

SISTERS OF THE ORDER OF THE CISTERCIANS OF STRICT OBSERVANCE. The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (also known as “Trappists”) is a Roman Catholic contemplative religious order, consisting of monasteries of monks and monasteries of nuns. (1) The larger Cistercian family traced its origin to 1098.

In 1964 thirteen sisters moved to Dubuque to establish the order at the invitation of abbot of NEW MELLERAY MONASTERY. Although the newest of the tri-state orders, the Cistercians could trace their ancestry to the East Coast in the 1800s.

In 2016 Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey was a monastery of Cistercian (Trappist) nuns, a community of eighteen Roman Catholic women who followed Jesus Christ through a life of prayer, silence, simplicity, and ordinary work. Seven times a day the nuns gathered in the abbey church to sing God's praise in what is called "The Divine Office." Liturgies were open to the public. (2) The rule of life for the nuns, after the Gospel, was the Rule of St Benedict.

Their order, totally ordered to contemplation, earned its living through the Trappistine Creamy Caramels produced in a workshop on the property and sold by mail. Four small guest houses were available for individuals or very small groups of any religious tradition wishing to make a private retreat. (3)

In 2016 preparations for the future included training some lay people in some of the phases of the candy preparation. (4)

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Source:

1. O. C. S. O. Order of the Cistercians of Strict Observance. Online: http://www.ocso.org/

2. Jacobson, Ben. "Strong Sisterhood," Telegraph Herald, August 21, 2016, p. 2A

3. "Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey," Online: http://www.mississippiabbey.org/About_Us

4. Jacobson