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kathielee
Guest
Am I in the right place to discuss Trappist spirituality?
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drafdog
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
What do you want to discuss?Am I in the right place to discuss Trappist spirituality?
They follow the Rule of St. Benedict. You can read it at osb.org/rb/text/toc.html
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Dale_M
Guest
Sure, why not? I couldn’t explain exactly how it differs from Benedictine Spirituality, but I would enjoy learning and discussing about it.Am I in the right place to discuss Trappist spirituality?
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BennyBoy89
Guest
Wasn’t Thomas Merton a Trappist Monk? I’ve been thinking about reading his works.
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kathielee
Guest
There are so many good Trappist books. Cistercian Publications carries all Trappist spirituality. I am reading a Merton book now.
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kathielee
Guest
My spiritual director is a Trappist monk at Assumption Abbey in Missouri. They make some great fruitcake!
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kathielee
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I have a copy of the translation by Doyle. I think I got it from Amazon. Not sure what I want to discuss but thought there might be people here who are either interested in it or are already involved with a monastery/lay association/oblate.
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
I don’t know how many people around here are affiliated in any way with the Trappists. There are a number of Benedictine Oblates if you want to broaden it out at all.
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kathielee
Guest
Sure, I can definitely enjoy communication with Benedictines. Thank you. Kathie
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
I’m very familiar with the Trappist. My wife and myself make annual retreats at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, and we usually visit there once a month for Vespers and Benediction.
Essentially, they are called Cistercians of the Strict Observance. Their rule calls them to strict solitude and silence. At one time, all professed monks would observe complete silence, only using hand signals, when necessary. Today, complete silence is only observed by a few of the hermits, and they must have permission.
The monastery at St. Joseph’s Abbey, has about 70 monks. There use to be, 13 priest, but that could’ve changed by now.
There industry is Trappist Preserves and liturgical vestments, which I understand are the best.
Well known publish authors from the Trappist include, Fr. Thomas Merton, Fr. Thomas Keating and Fr. Basil Pennington.
The Abbey, here; spencerabbey.org/,
was built by the monks themselves, using the stones and trees from the monastery grounds. Today they own 2200 acres of property, which I love walking, when I’m on retreat there.
Jim
Essentially, they are called Cistercians of the Strict Observance. Their rule calls them to strict solitude and silence. At one time, all professed monks would observe complete silence, only using hand signals, when necessary. Today, complete silence is only observed by a few of the hermits, and they must have permission.
The monastery at St. Joseph’s Abbey, has about 70 monks. There use to be, 13 priest, but that could’ve changed by now.
There industry is Trappist Preserves and liturgical vestments, which I understand are the best.
Well known publish authors from the Trappist include, Fr. Thomas Merton, Fr. Thomas Keating and Fr. Basil Pennington.
The Abbey, here; spencerabbey.org/,
was built by the monks themselves, using the stones and trees from the monastery grounds. Today they own 2200 acres of property, which I love walking, when I’m on retreat there.
Jim
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mangy_dog
Guest
Yeah those guys are pretty nutty over there…My spiritual director is a Trappist monk at Assumption Abbey in Missouri. They make some great fruitcake!
OH! you mean the fruitcake!! I’m sorry. Yes, yes I’m sure they “make” a terrific fruitcake.
Merton is my favorite…actually he’s the only one I read. I have several books by Merton.
Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
I love Merton’s writing style.Yeah those guys are pretty nutty over there…
OH! you mean the fruitcake!! I’m sorry. Yes, yes I’m sure they “make” a terrific fruitcake.
Merton is my favorite…actually he’s the only one I read. I have several books by Merton.
Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.
In fact, I’m reading “The Ascent to Truth,” right now… This book is a must for those who want to understand better, what St. John of the Cross and St Teresa of Avila wrote on contemplation.
“New Seeds of Contemplation” is another book I enjoy very much.
Jim
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mangy_dog
Guest
I have a very old, hard-cover edition of “Seeds of Contemplation”. I must’ve read it at least 5X already. I keep “Thoughts in Solitude” in my office. And various other Merton works throughout the house and in my shop.
He is such a soothing read. I can almost feel the twigs and leafs under my feet and rustling of the wind thru the trees, animals of the forrest etc. - even in my office.
His work has been instrumental in my efforts at contemplation and a more focused life of the spirit.
Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.
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BennyBoy89
Guest
Merton sounds like someone worth checking out then.
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kathielee
Guest
I have a CD from St. Joseph’s Abbey that I just love. Often I go to sleep chanting with them. It’s “Gates of Holiness” with Lauds and Vespers.
Kathie
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kathielee
Guest
Yes, lol, as a matter of fact, my spiritual director tells some pretty nutty jokes and he laughs and laughs!Yeah those guys are pretty nutty over there…
OH! you mean the fruitcake!! I’m sorry. Yes, yes I’m sure they “make” a terrific fruitcake.
Merton is my favorite…actually he’s the only one I read. I have several books by Merton.
Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.
Kathie
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kathielee
Guest
If I hadn’t read books on the Cisterician spirituality, I might read Merton in a way differently than he intended. There are many Merton fans out there and many of them are “Mertonists” without knowing anything about his real spirituality. So, quite a few pagan-ish folk are reading him and never realizing that he isn’t a religion in himself. Know what I mean? kathie
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BarbaraTherese
Guest
I have five cassette tapes of Merton addressing novices in his monastery during his lifetime…wonderful! I fell in love with Scripture after reading his "On Opening The Bible"many years ago. I haven’t read all his works by far, but my two favourites besides that mentioned would be “Contemplation in a World of Action” and “Contemplative Prayer”. I appreciate his style of writing too - the lightness of spirit and the flashes of humour …
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Cara_Serrano
Guest
For good contemplative reading, don’t forget St Romuald and the Camaldolese monks who are also Benedictine based.
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