Saint Robert of Molesme
Also known as
• Robert of Cîteaux
memorial
• 29 April
• 26 January as one of the Founders of the Cistercians
Profile
Our saint today was born to the nobility, and answered God’s call he became a Benedictine monk in the year 1044. He eventually became the Abbott of his particular monastery but considered it to have lax standards. Saint Robert felt a more literal return to what St. Benedict put in place was in order; in 1075, in an attempt to return to a simpler form of Benedictine life requested by a group of hermits from the forests around Colan, France, he helped found a monastery around, Molesme France, with more severe rules.
The group, especially Robert, gained a reputation for piety, which led to heavy duty donations and with big bucks comes big interest so this led to an increase in size of the monastery. Naturally a lot of these newcomers were more interested in the dough than in the soul which led to internal difficulties, and suddenly there were many brothers that objected to the severe life practiced by the founders.
Robert twice left to live on his own, but was ordered back to his position by the pope. In early 1098 Robert, Saint Stephen Harding, Saint Alberic of Citeaux and 18 other monks left Molesme, and on 21 March they founded the monastery of Cîteaux near Dijon, France, with the goal of living strictly by the Benedictine Rule, strict vows of poverty, and frequent retreats; Robert served as the first abbot.
However, with conditions deteriorating at the Molesme house he was re-assigned as abbot there in 1100 with a mandate to reform; he lived and worked there the rest of his life. The house at Citeaux is traditionally considered where the Cistercians order of Monks began. These guys live a simple, quiet life doing manual labor…farming, working the fields etc. During the “Glorious” reformation especially in England but also in France under Robespierre, the Cistercians suffered and were almost disbanded. In the 1800’s the small communities grew again, the Trappists are an offshoot of the Cistercians. The Trappists make great jams, jellies, beer, wine and fruitcake. If anything happens to the Whip look for me at the Trappist Abby near Spencer Massachusetts….they speak only twice a year and they make beautiful vestments. Look here: http://www.spencerabbey.org
Born
• 1027 near Troyes, Champagne (in modern France)
Died
• 21 March 1110 of natural causes
• Robert of Cîteaux
memorial
• 29 April
• 26 January as one of the Founders of the Cistercians
Profile
Our saint today was born to the nobility, and answered God’s call he became a Benedictine monk in the year 1044. He eventually became the Abbott of his particular monastery but considered it to have lax standards. Saint Robert felt a more literal return to what St. Benedict put in place was in order; in 1075, in an attempt to return to a simpler form of Benedictine life requested by a group of hermits from the forests around Colan, France, he helped found a monastery around, Molesme France, with more severe rules.
The group, especially Robert, gained a reputation for piety, which led to heavy duty donations and with big bucks comes big interest so this led to an increase in size of the monastery. Naturally a lot of these newcomers were more interested in the dough than in the soul which led to internal difficulties, and suddenly there were many brothers that objected to the severe life practiced by the founders.
Robert twice left to live on his own, but was ordered back to his position by the pope. In early 1098 Robert, Saint Stephen Harding, Saint Alberic of Citeaux and 18 other monks left Molesme, and on 21 March they founded the monastery of Cîteaux near Dijon, France, with the goal of living strictly by the Benedictine Rule, strict vows of poverty, and frequent retreats; Robert served as the first abbot.
However, with conditions deteriorating at the Molesme house he was re-assigned as abbot there in 1100 with a mandate to reform; he lived and worked there the rest of his life. The house at Citeaux is traditionally considered where the Cistercians order of Monks began. These guys live a simple, quiet life doing manual labor…farming, working the fields etc. During the “Glorious” reformation especially in England but also in France under Robespierre, the Cistercians suffered and were almost disbanded. In the 1800’s the small communities grew again, the Trappists are an offshoot of the Cistercians. The Trappists make great jams, jellies, beer, wine and fruitcake. If anything happens to the Whip look for me at the Trappist Abby near Spencer Massachusetts….they speak only twice a year and they make beautiful vestments. Look here: http://www.spencerabbey.org
Born
• 1027 near Troyes, Champagne (in modern France)
Died
• 21 March 1110 of natural causes
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