The Cistercian Order, also known as the Order of Cîteaux or the White Monks, is a Roman Catholic religious order of monks and nuns that was founded in 1098 in Cîteaux, France. The order is dedicated to following the Rule of Saint Benedict and is known for its emphasis on simplicity, austerity, hard manual labor, and seclusion from the world.
The origins of the Cistercian Order can be traced back to a group of Benedictine monks from the abbey of Molesme, who were unsatisfied with the relaxed observance of their monastery and wanted to follow a stricter form of monasticism. Under the leadership of Robert of Molesme, Alberic, and Stephen Harding, they left Molesme in 1098 to establish a new monastery in Cîteaux. Here they aimed to follow the Rule of Saint Benedict more closely and live in poverty and seclusion.
Initially, the monastery struggled and remained small, but under the leadership and influence of Bernard of Clairvaux, who joined the order in 1113, the Cistercians began to grow rapidly. Bernard helped establish 69 monasteries throughout Europe before his death in 1153. The Cistercians rejected the developments that had emerged in Benedictine monasteries over the preceding centuries, such as lavish decorations and books, and returned to a simpler, austere way of monastic living.
The Cistercians sought to live in remote areas and establish self-sufficient monasteries focused on prayer, simplicity, poverty, manual labor, and seclusion from the world. The monks wore undyed white habits as a symbol of their purity and simplicity. They adhered strictly to the Rule of Saint Benedict, emphasized corporate prayer such as chanting divine office, worked the land with their own hands, limited decoration and arts, and shunned possessions. The order expanded rapidly across Europe in the 12th century and organized itself hierarchically, based on a system of daughter houses.
The Cistercians made major contributions to agriculture and technology as they developed and perfected new techniques of farming, irrigation, use of machinery etc. The diligent and skillful work of the monks made the sterile, isolated lands granted to the monasteries very productive. They also contributed greatly to the study of theology and spirituality.
In the 12th century, the Cistercians allowed the creation of a female branch of the order, headed by Cistercian abbesses. The Cistercian nuns, known as Bernardines, follow a similar rule of life and prayer as the monks, with slight variations for their gender and different living situation. They emphasize simplicity, prayer, work, and seclusion from the world.
By the end of the 12th century, the rapid expansion of the order slowed down as their remoteness and austerity inhibited recruiting new members. Despite this stagnation, the Cistercians remained very influential on monasticism in medieval Europe. The order continued to spread to Eastern Europe, Spain and Portugal in the late Middle Ages, albeit more slowly.
In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation, wars, and dissolution of monasteries resulted in the decline of the Cistercians. However, the order recovered and revived somewhat in the 17th century with reform and new activity. Today, the Cistercians remain an important order in the Catholic Church with houses of both monks and nuns spread across Europe and the Americas.
Some key facts about the Cistercian Order:
- Founded in 1098 in Cîteaux, France by Robert of Molesme, Alberic, and Stephen Harding
- Follow the Rule of Saint Benedict very strictly
- Emphasize austerity, simplicity, seclusion, prayer, manual labor
- Known as the White Monks due to undyed white habits
- Shun possessions and decorations, advocate plain design
- Made major contributions to agriculture and technology in the Middle Ages
- Female branch founded in the 12th century for nuns
- Rapid expansion in 12th century, decline after the Reformation
- Still an active order in the 21st century
The Cistercian Order has made an immense impact on the world of Western monasticism through its reforming zeal, its return to austerity and manual work, and its spiritual wisdom embodied in influential thinkers like Bernard of Clairvaux. Though fluctuating in its vitality, the order has persisted for over 900 years and continues its mission today of seeking God through prayerful seclusion, simplicity, and diligent labor.
The Cistercians arose at a time when European monasticism was in need of reform. Many Benedictine monasteries were becoming increasingly wealthy and worldly, straying from the austerity prescribed in the Rule of Saint Benedict. The founders of Cîteaux sought a return to the purity of Benedictine life, removing innovations and rigorously observing poverty, seclusion, manual work, and asceticism. This reforming energy, based on applying the Benedictine Rule strictly, fueled the rapid expansion of daughter houses in the 12th century.
The Cistercian lifestyle was based on self-sufficiency from their own labors. Cistercian monks devoted themselves to tilling the land, tending livestock, and performing daily manual tasks. They pioneered new agricultural practices and technology like waterwheels that helped turn sterile lands into flourishing farms. This focus on austerity and productivity was revolutionary in Western monasticism and proved very influential.
Despite or perhaps because of their isolation from the world, Cistercian monks helped spread spiritual wisdom in medieval Europe through their prolific production of theology and spirituality writings. Bernard of Clairvaux, in particular, was renowned as one of the most influential religious thinkers of the 12th century. His works on loving God, humility, free will, and theology shaped much of medieval thought.
While fluctuating in vitality over the centuries, the Cistercian Order has endured as one of the most important and long-lasting religious orders in Catholicism. Tracing their origins directly back to the Rule of Benedict, the Cistercians have maintained a profound influence on Benedictine monasticism through their commitment to simplicity, prayer, labor, and spiritual rigor. Their reforms in the 12th century shaped Western monasticism for centuries and their wisdom continues to inspire.
The daily life of a Cistercian monk or nun revolves around prayer, manual labor, simplicity, and separation from the outside world. Some key elements of Cistercian life include:
- Prayer – Cistercians follow a rigorous schedule of communal prayer known as the divine office, involving psalms, hymns, readings, and other prayers. They attend mass daily and emphasize contemplation.
- Work – Manual labor takes up a large portion of the day. The Cistercians practiced agriculture, clearing lands, animal husbandry and other trades to sustain themselves.
- Meals – These are simple, sparse meals taken in silence while one monk reads aloud from scripture. Only limited conversation is allowed.
- Poverty – Cistercians renounce personal possessions, live simply and follow the Benedictine value of poverty.
- Seclusion – They reside in rural, remote abbeys far from cities or people to pray and work in silence and solitude.
- Chastity – Cistercians take vows of chastity and remain celibate. Their focus is purely on spiritual union with God.
- Obedience – All monks and nuns must obey the rules of the order and the abbey’s superior.
- Uniforms – They wear undyed habits and cowls as a sign of simplicity, renunciation of vanity and to eliminate class distinctions.
This simple, austere lifestyle ordered toward contemplation of God helped shape the spiritual landscape of medieval Europe through its focus on ascetic rigor, prayer, hard work, and liberation from worldly concerns. The Cistercian monk’s life of self-denial was seen as a path to sanctity.
The Cistercian Order structured itself in a uniform manner that enabled expansion and control. Some key elements of its organizational structure include:
- Abbeys were divided into houses of monks and nuns.
- Each daughter house founded more daughter houses, establishing networks of affiliated abbeys.
- They were grouped into regional provinces. Each filiation answered ultimately to the mother-house.
- Annual general chapters allowed addressong order-wide issues and maintained unity.
- The Abbot of Cîteaux was head of the entire order.
- All houses followed the same liturgy, rules, administration model.
- Lay brothers provided labor services like farming, allowing monks to focus on prayer.
- The nuns’ houses paralleled the structure of the monks.
- Abbeys were economically and administratively self-sufficient.
This hierarchical, uniform structure enabled rapid expansion across Europe. By the late 12th century, over 500 Cistercian houses had emerged. The order’s organizational coherence proved key to its influence on medieval society.
The Cistercian Order had an enormous impact on the religious, economic, agricultural and technological landscape of medieval Europe:
- They helped standardize liturgy and church practices across regions.
- Cistercian monks enhanced farming techniques, use of machinery, and land and water management – increasing productivity and food supply.
- Their shelters for pilgrims evolved into elaborate systems of hospitality.
- Monasteries became centers of artisanal production like metallurgy, forgery, textiles etc.
- They helped spread Christianity into Eastern Europe, Spain and Portugal through their missionary efforts.
- Cistercian abbeys played a central role in the economy through their agricultural and industrial output.
- The monks copied and produced a large number of manuscripts, contributing to medieval book production and scholarship.
- Influential Cistercian thinkers like Bernard of Clairvaux shaped theology and philosophy.
- The ascetic rigor and devotion of the Cistercians influenced Christian piety and shaped views on sanctity and religious vocation.
This multifaceted influence on almost every aspect of medieval society stemmed largely from the order’s remarkable vitality and rapid expansion in its early centuries. At its height, the Cistercian Order represented a powerful religious, economic and intellectual force. Even as expansion slowed, its legacy had already left a profound mark.
The Cistercians declined in the late Middle Ages due to various factors:
- Their geographical and economic isolation made recruiting new monks challenging.
- The Black Death devastated many Cistercian houses already struggling from over-expansion.
- Corruption and abuse of the vow of poverty crept in, contradicting core values.
- Early zeal and discipline waned as the order aged and became institutionalized.
- Political turmoil in the 14th-15th centuries disrupted monastic stability.
- Cistercian lands were frequently plundered during wars and uprisings.
- Humanist criticism emerged seeing monks as unproductive and their rules too rigid.
- The Protestant Reformation undermined public goodwill towards Catholic monasticism.
This combination of external social factors and the Order’s own complacency caused the network of Cistercian houses to contract sharply by the late 15th century. However, the Order remained embedded in European society and rebounded with a wave of reform and revival in the early 17th century.
Despite the upheavals of medieval decline and the Reformation, the Cistercians recovered and adapted while staying committed to the ancient Benedictine principles. Some factors in their survival and revival include:
- The spiritual heritage and writings of early Cistercians continued shaping Catholic piety and thought.
- Reforming movements like the Trappists restored discipline and zeal.
- New centralization efforts reinforced unity and order again.
- Shrewd heads of the Order negotiated successfully with secular leaders.
- The nuns’ branch upheld traditions and routine during difficult times.
- Cistercian education remained influential, spreading their values.
- Colonial ventures and missions revived expansion, building new houses overseas.
- They promoted arts like printing and music to enhance cultural engagement.
While the Order’s imprint on society diminished somewhat, the Cistercians proved adaptable enough to maintain their presence across a changing Europe. Their continuity highlights the lasting power of their spiritual vision.
Today, the Cistercian Order remains an active part of the Catholic Church. While their numbers are greatly diminished, they preserve their centuries-old traditions and spiritual practices.
- Modern Cistercian monks and nuns remain devoted to prayer, manual labor, simplicity and separation from the world.
- They follow the Rule of St. Benedict and the statutes of the 12th century Carta Caritatis.
- The order is divided into Common Observance monks and Strict Observance monks (Trappists).
- There are around 2,800 Cistercian monks and 1800 Cistercian nuns worldwide as of 2018.
- Houses are now built closer to cities and may operate schools or parishes.
- The order focuses on sustainable agriculture and trades like cheese-making to fund themselves.
- Lay associates affiliate themselves with monastic houses as a form of voluntary spiritual immersion.
- The abbot general residing in Rome oversees governance of the whole order.
While adapting outwardly to the modern world, the essence of Cistercian monastic living remains unchanged – prayer, asceticism, simplicity, work and seclusion still shape their vocation. This steadfast spiritual commitment has allowed the order to persist for over 900 years.
In summary, the Cistercian Order arose in the late 11th century as a reforming order aiming to return to the strict observance of the Benedictine Rule. Their emphasis on austerity, manual labor, poverty and prayer had an immense influence on Western monasticism. Rapid expansion gave the Cistercians great economic and intellectual influence until challenges caused decline after the late Middle Ages. However, the Order revived and, despite its reduced scale, continues bringing spiritual enrichment to the Catholic Church and the world through its timeless Benedictine traditions.