Question about Catholic religious orders

[Tommy999]

Thak you everyone for all the helpful info on the religious orders. I will read the links more in depth today. Your help is much appreciated.

 

[otjm]

What may not be well known in the US is that the Jesuits are really a missionary order. However, in the US, their mission turned primarily to teaching, and they were (ad perhaps still are) known for founding a number of universities and high schools (I attended one of the high schools - and it was excellent). My great uncle was a Jesuit priest, and I have a picture of him, taken before World War 2, standing in the front part of a small sampan in China.

One Trappist abbey is going to go commercial in the production of a Trappist beer, and they had to go through a rather long, several year process to be allowed to use the name “Trappist” for their product, as the name is controlled by several abbeys in the Flemish area of Europe.

Our local Benedictine abbey is going to be producing beer (beer, along with coffee, seems to be particularly a west coast/northwest specialty); however, they intend only to produce enough for local consumption and will not be marketing it anywhere except at the abbey. It seems appropriate as some of their land was originally used to produce hops (Oregon being the second largest producer of hops in the US).

And the New Melleray Trappist abbey makes coffins (having ordered one for my mother’s funeral at her request, I can attest that they do beautiful work),

 

[Tommy999]

What may not be well known in the US is that the Jesuits are really a missionary order. However, in the US, their mission turned primarily to teaching, and they were (ad perhaps still are) known for founding a number of universities and high schools (I attended one of the high schools - and it was excellent). My great uncle was a Jesuit priest, and I have a picture of him, taken before World War 2, standing in the front part of a small sampan in China.

One Trappist abbey is going to go commercial in the production of a Trappist beer, and they had to go through a rather long, several year process to be allowed to use the name “Trappist” for their product, as the name is controlled by several abbeys in the Flemish area of Europe.

Our local Benedictine abbey is going to be producing beer (beer, along with coffee, seems to be particularly a west coast/northwest specialty); however, they intend only to produce enough for local consumption and will not be marketing it anywhere except at the abbey. It seems appropriate as some of their land was originally used to produce hops (Oregon being the second largest producer of hops in the US).

And the New Melleray Trappist abbey makes coffins (having ordered one for my mother’s funeral at her request, I can attest that they do beautiful work),

Thanks for the info, otjm. Sounds like a lot of the orders are mutli-talented. I wonder if the Trappists use the proceeds from their labors to help sustain themselves financially like the Apostle Paul did with his tent making. It would make sense unless they receive additional funding from elsewhere.

 

[TimothyH]

Benedictine monasteries are supposed to be self sufficient. The proceeds from their commercial efforts go toward the upkeep and operation of the monastery. Yes, just like Paul.

It was a huge problem in the middle ages - wealthy benefactors exerting influence over the monastery. Monasteries were the center of some cities and the modern university system grew out out of the schools run by some monasteries. St. Benedict was clear that this was not how a monastery was to be run and many reforms took place in the tenth century and onward. Now monasteries are run according to the vision of St. Benedict. Industry and agriculture on the grounds of the monastery support the monks and any charities they support.

This thread however, seems to give the impression that making beer and jellies is all monks are about. They are first and foremost individuals consecrated to God who live in a community as brothers under rule of St. Benedict. Their entire purpose in life is praise God and seek unity with the Trinity.

-Tim-

 

[OraLabora]

Thanks for the info, otjm. Sounds like a lot of the orders are mutli-talented. I wonder if the Trappists use the proceeds from their labors to help sustain themselves financially like the Apostle Paul did with his tent making. It would make sense unless they receive additional funding from elsewhere.

The Rule of Saint Benedict (of which the Cistercians of the Strict Observance-that is Trappists, the Cistercians of the Common Observance, and the Benedictines, follow) stipulates that monasteries should be self-sustaining. Our abbey, for instance, produces and sells the following:

-A variety of award-winning cheeses
-Apples from their orchards
-Apple cider and other apple products
-Jams and preserves
-Maple syrup
-Vestments.

They also have a gift shop/bookstore to sell their products; in addition this store sells products from other monasteries in Canada and abroad and is the agent for Solesmes’s books in Canada.

In addition to their products, a surprisingly large part of their income is from their government pensions, as many of them are over 65. Of course this money goes into a common pot for the entire community. Finally, they of course accept offerings and charitable donations.

They used to also have a dairy farm and produce their own milk for their cheeses but advancing age forced them to abandon the farm and purchase the milk locally instead.

I would imagine that the Trappists do much the same. Monks make use of the products of the land they cultivate, so one place may produce beer, another wine, etc.

 

[Tommy999]

Benedictine monasteries are supposed to be self sufficient. The proceeds from their commercial efforts go toward the upkeep and operation of the monastery. Yes, just like Paul.

It was a huge problem in the middle ages - wealthy benefactors exerting influence over the monastery. Monasteries were the center of some cities and the modern university system grew out out of the schools run by some monasteries. St. Benedict was clear that this was not how a monastery was to be run and many reforms took place in the tenth century and onward. Now monasteries are run according to the vision of St. Benedict. Industry and agriculture on the grounds of the monastery support the monks and any charities they support.

This thread however, seems to give the impression that making beer and jellies is all monks are about. They are first and foremost individuals consecrated to God who live in a community as brothers under rule of St. Benedict. Their entire purpose in life is praise God and seek unity with the Trinity.

-Tim-

Hi Tim,
Thanks for the helpful info. The intent of this thread when I started it was to better understand the roles of the the different religious orders and where they fit into Catholicism because (as a protestant) I didn’t have much background on them, although I had heard them mentioned.

I had assumed that all of the religious orders are devoted to serving the Lord and mankind in some way. I just wanted to zero in on what they are most known for religiously and vocationally.

 

[Pitcharan]

Hi Tim,
Thanks for the helpful info. The intent of this thread when I started it was to better understand the roles of the the different religious orders and where they fit into Catholicism because (as a protestant) I didn’t have much background on them, although I had heard them mentioned.

I had assumed that all of the religious orders are devoted to serving the Lord and mankind in some way. I just wanted to zero in on what they are most known for religiously and vocationally.

This earlier post by Bro. JREducation is most enlightening:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=439055&page=5

 

[Tommy999]

The Rule of Saint Benedict (of which the Cistercians of the Strict Observance-that is Trappists, the Cistercians of the Common Observance, and the Benedictines, follow) stipulates that monasteries should be self-sustaining. Our abbey, for instance, produces and sells the following:

-A variety of award-winning cheeses
-Apples from their orchards
-Apple cider and other apple products
-Jams and preserves
-Maple syrup
-Vestments.

They also have a gift shop/bookstore to sell their products; in addition this store sells products from other monasteries in Canada and abroad and is the agent for Solesmes’s books in Canada.

In addition to their products, a surprisingly large part of their income is from their government pensions, as many of them are over 65. Of course this money goes into a common pot for the entire community. Finally, they of course accept offerings and charitable donations.

They used to also have a dairy farm and produce their own milk for their cheeses but advancing age forced them to abandon the farm and purchase the milk locally instead.

I would imagine that the Trappists do much the same. Monks make use of the products of the land they cultivate, so one place may produce beer, another wine, etc.

Thank you, OraLabora. I would enjoy visiting such an abbey because I love apples, apple cider, cheese, etc. Thanks fior sharing that.

 

[Tommy999]

This earlier post by Bro. JREducation is most enlightening:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=439055&page=5

Thanks for the link, Pitcharan. I just started reading it.

 

[OraLabora]

Thank you, OraLabora. I would enjoy visiting such an abbey because I love apples, apple cider, cheese, etc. Thanks fior sharing that.

You would be most welcome to visit, although from Oklahoma, Quebec is quite a trek! Most abbeys though will work on a similar basis though it may be different products. The closest one to you would be Clear Creek abbey in your state. It’s of the same congregation as mine (Solesmes). The Liturgy is in Latin (including Extraordinary Form Mass, that is the pre-Vatican II form of the Mass).

clearcreekmonks.org/index.html

It would appear their main products are icons and religious art.

 

[Tommy999]

Thanks for the link to the abbey closest to me, OraLabora. However, if I ever go to the Quebec, your abbey sounds like a nice place to visit.

 

[TimothyH]

This earlier post by Bro. JREducation is most enlightening:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=439055&page=5

I reread his post…

The Franciscans and the Benedictines were called by Christ to do two things: contemplate in silence (Benedictines) and live in brotherhood with each other and with other men (Franciscans),

It is a most excellent post from someone with intimate knowledge about the subject. I wish the whole thing could be reposted here.

-Tim-