What was the Trappists (OCSO) like?

What was the order like before them shaggin 'reforms' of Vatican II, i know they got up at 2am and retired at 8pm, but apart from that i don't know what the rest of the timetable was like.

Just wondering i am very interested in the order.

HamletOrHecuba

I dont think they have been that effected formally by Vatican II- their degeneration has been more in term of content, a drift towards syncretism which sees Buddhist or even Hindu mysticism is in essence the same as Christian.

Doc Farrell

Congratulations OP on mastering the Internet at such an advanced age, you must be over 70 considering you know so much about the changes that Vatican II brought. I'm surprised that you don't know more about the Trappist order however. I don't think that they have an age limit rule.

The movie Of Gods And Men will tell you all you need to know about their daily lives.

There are a number of Trappist and Cistercian monasteries where one can stay for short retreats.

Regarding the comment about their degeneration I recommend that posters google the practice of centering prayer which can be found on YouTube. There is nothing degenerative about it and as practiced by John Main OSB and Basil Pennington, a Trappist, is recommended by William A Barry, a Jesuit.

If you are actually a young man OP, may I recommend the Franciscans who are trying to help the working class kids in Limerick?

Thomas Merton, one of my favourite writers was a Trappist. His Abbey can be found here.
Www.monks.org

Doc Farrell

Doc Farrell wrote: »

I don't think that they have an age limit rule.

Actually most of the Trappist abbeys in Ireland, as far as i know, have age limits between 20-40/5. And so do most of the abbeys worldwide, as far as my limited knowledge goes.

And 'Of Gods Of Men' is set in 1996 not pre the Second Vatican Council. I was wondering what the daily timetable was like.

Doc Farrell

You are correct that the monks went to bed at 7pm and rose for prayer at 2am. If you click on the address for the Gethsemani Abbey above there is a video of a brother speaking about his day there when he arrived in the 50's.

Mellifont Abbey is a Cistercian abbey in Collon which you can visit, as mentioned there are addresses for various Abbeys where you can stay for a retreat all over the world. Just type in Trappist into Wikipedia.

thanks for the info

HamletOrHecuba

Azariah Quick Cemetery wrote: »

thanks for the info

Though he was a Benedictine you should check the writings of Dom Columba Marmion- one of Ireland's greatest sons in the 20 th century now sadly forgotten. His writings are deeply Biblical and Liturgical and so give a window into what once was and yet again shall be.

Doc Farrell

HamletOrHecuba wrote: »

Azariah Quick Cemetery wrote: »

thanks for the info

Though he was a Benedictine you should check the writings of Dom Columba Marmion- one of Ireland's greatest sons in the 20 th century now sadly forgotten. His writings are deeply Biblical and Liturgical and so give a window into what once was and yet again shall be.

Here's certainly a fascinating individual, well worth proper study. Is he forgotten? He was made Blessed only ten years ago, I suspect real theologians are studying him? Thanks h or h.

Peregrinus

Doc Farrell wrote: »

Here's certainly a fascinating individual, well worth proper study. Is he forgotten? He was made Blessed only ten years ago, I suspect real theologians are studying him? Thanks h or h.

Marmion's work is difficult to classify, sitting somewhere on the border between academic theology and spiritual direction. That's partly what makes him so interesting, of course, and what ensures that many of his works are still in print ninety years after his death. But I think it's fair to say that he's really only read and studied by the "experts". And it's fair to say that, on the spiritual direction side, his work mainly deals with the spiritual direction of clerics and religious, but he doesn't have a great deal to say that relates to the experiences and challenges of the lay life. And that, of course, limits somewhat the popular appeal of his work, and gives it a slightly old-fashioned cast.

HamletOrHecuba

Peregrinus wrote: »

Marmion's work is difficult to classify, sitting somewhere on the border between academic theology and spiritual direction..... his work mainly deals with the spiritual direction of clerics and religious, but he doesn't have a great deal to say that relates to the experiences and challenges of the lay life..

That is what makes it so powerful and spiritually nourishing- theological dogma plays a huge part in the spiritual life and once you start divorcing you run into serious trouble which brings us back to the problems of the Trappist order today which were already seen in the later work and activity of Thomas Merton (in particular his flirtation with eastern Religions).

The Christian life is essentially one for everyone though everyone; a life based on the commandments of the New Testament. We should all be striving after interior union. Yes he deals with a level often completely out of reach of people today but learning about would help to bring us to repentance no?