Ethan Walker
The Catholic Church has several monastic orders, each with its own rules and practices. Among these, the Trappists, or the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, are known for their dedication to manual labor and spiritual activities. The Carthusian Order, on the other hand, is considered by some to be the strictest Catholic order. They emphasize a life of silent prayer and manual labor, minimizing contact with the outside world and even keeping community activities to a minimum.
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What You'll Learn
Trappists
The Trappists are named after La Trappe Abbey, or La Grande Trappe, located in the French province of Normandy, where the reform movement originated. In 1792, during the French Revolution, La Trappe Abbey was confiscated by the French government, and the Trappists were expelled. Augustin de Lestrange, a monk of La Trappe, led a group of monks to establish a new monastery in Switzerland, where they practised even more austere reforms. In 1794, Pope Pius VI raised this monastery, Val-Sainte, to the status of an abbey and motherhouse of the Trappists. However, when the French invaded Switzerland in 1798, the monks were exiled once again.
In 1847, due to differences in observances between the dependencies of Val-Sainte and Notre-Dame de l'Eternité, two different Trappist congregations were formed by decree of the Holy See. These were named the 'Ancient Reform of Our Lady of La Trappe' and the 'New Reform of Our Lady of La Trappe', following different constitutions and rules. In 1892, seeking unity among the different Trappist observances, the Trappist congregations left the Cistercian Order and merged to form a new order with the approval of Pope Leo XIII. The new order was named the 'Order of Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe', marking their formal identity and spirituality as a separate monastic community.
A well-known Trappist theologian was Thomas Merton, a prominent author, poet, and social and literary critic. Merton's 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, known for his intense devotion to a religious life and personal piety despite his affliction with diabetes mellitus.
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Carthusians
The Carthusians, also known as the Order of Carthusians (in Latin: Ordo Cartusiensis), are a Latin enclosed religious order of the Catholic Church. The order was founded by Bruno of Cologne in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns. The order has its own rule, called the Statutes, and their life combines both eremitical and cenobitic monasticism. The motto of the Carthusians is "Stat crux dum volvitur orbis", which means "The Cross is steady while the world turns".
Carthusian monks were expelled from France by the army because contemplative orders were deemed "useless to society". However, the only goal of the Carthusian way is contemplation, by the power of the Spirit, living as unceasingly as possible in the light of the love of God. This implies a purity of heart, or charity.
The Sélignac Charterhouse was converted into a house in the 21st century, where laypeople could experience Carthusian retreats, living the Carthusian life for shorter periods (with an eight-day retreat being the minimum).
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Discalced Carmelites
The Discalced Carmelites, or the Order of the Discalced Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, is a mendicant order in the Roman Catholic Church. The order was established in the 16th century by two Spanish saints, Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross. The Discalced Carmelites are friars and nuns who dedicate themselves to a life of prayer and ministry, in a fraternal setting. Their roots can be traced to the 12th century when a group of European men settled on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land and led a simple life of prayer. The first Discalced Carmelite convent was founded in Duruelo, Spain, in 1568.
The Discalced Carmelites are known for their commitment to contemplation, simplicity, and community. They follow a strict routine of prayer and mental discipline, with periods of silent mental prayer and liturgical offices throughout the day. The hermits of the order also engage in hard manual labour and humble service, which is considered integral to their spiritual work. They do not operate any businesses, and their days include community recreation and shared meals accompanied by reading.
The Discalced Carmelites are a separate province of the Carmelite Order, established by the decree Pia consideratione of Pope Gregory XIII in 1580. This decree granted the Discalced Carmelites the autonomy to elect their own superiors and author their own constitutions while remaining subject to the Prior General of the Carmelite Order in Rome. The first provincial of the Discalced Carmelites, Jerome Gratian, was elected at the Discalced Carmelite Chapter in Alcala de Henares, Spain, in March 1581.
The third order affiliated with the Discalced Carmelites is the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. The term "discalced" is derived from the Latin "without shoes".
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Franciscan's
Franciscans, or the Order of Friars Minor, are one of the three Franciscan First Orders within the Catholic Church. The other two are the Conventuals and the Capuchins. The Order of Friars Minor in its current form is the result of an amalgamation of several smaller orders completed in 1897 by Pope Leo XIII.
Franciscans are known for their strict observance of Franciscan austerity, with extreme poverty being a notable aspect of their rule. The Rule of Saint Francis, established in the thirteenth century, states that the order as a whole, and not just individual members, must observe poverty. This rule has been a major source of conflict within the order, resulting in numerous secessions. The degree of observance required of members has been contested, with some believing that the church's right to have possessions would be condemned.
The Franciscan rule also includes other strict regulations, such as forbidding brothers from having suspicious relationships or conversations with women, and not allowing them to enter monasteries of nuns without special permission. The brothers are also forbidden from being godfathers of men or women.
The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, established in 1342, is still in force today. The Capuchins, the youngest branch of Franciscans, founded in 1525, is now a separate order with a presence in 106 countries worldwide.
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Cistercian Order
The Cistercians, officially the Order of Cistercians (Latin: (Sacer) Ordo Cisterciensis, abbreviated as OCist or SOCist), are a Catholic religious order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines. The Cistercians follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, as well as the contributions of Bernard of Clairvaux, known as the Latin Rule. They are also known as Bernardines, after Saint Bernard, or as White Monks, due to the colour of their cowls—in contrast to the black cowls worn by Benedictines.
The Cistercians were founded in 1098 in Cîteaux, near Dijon in eastern France, by a group of Benedictine monks from the monastery of Molesme. The first three abbots were Robert of Molesme, Alberic of Cîteaux, and Stephen Harding. The Cistercians soon distinguished themselves from the Benedictines by wearing white or grey tunics instead of black. The keynote of Cistercian life was a return to the literal observance of the Benedictine Rule, with an emphasis on austerity, manual labour, and a simple life of work, love, prayer, and self-denial.
Over time, the Cistercian order expanded into a network of closely related but independent monasteries throughout medieval Europe. The early Cistercians created a charter of fraternal communication, titled the Carta Caritatis (Charter of Charity), which emphasised the independence of individual houses. Each abbey had its own abbot, elected by its own monks, and its own property and finances, administered without outside interference. The Carta Caritatis also required each Cistercian abbot to make an annual inspection of his daughter houses and to convene annually with his brother abbots at Cîteaux for a "general chapter" dedicated to the governance and promotion of the order.
The Cistercians made significant contributions to culture and technology, particularly in architecture, agriculture, and hydraulic engineering. In 1892, the order was consolidated into a new order called the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (OCSO). The Cistercians who remained within the original order are known as the Cistercians of the Common Observance (OCist).
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Frequently asked questions
The strictest Catholic order is often regarded to be the Carthusians.
Carthusians spend most of their lives in silent prayer and manual labour, minimising contact with the world and community activities.
The Carthusians have existed for over 900 years, with their way of life remaining largely unchanged. Their mass originates from the oldest liturgy, dating back to when Caesar ruled the world.
Yes, the Trappists, officially known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, are another strict Catholic order. They follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, with their way of life centred around manual labour and spiritual activities.
