Life of Cistercian Nuns

[Antiphyletist]

Thank you for this lovely video. But why are the sisters all in the gallery, and the priest celebrating Mass alone downstairs, as it were?

[madelyn525]

This was a beautiful video. Thank you.

[lelhajj100]

thank you for sharing this video to the public. For the people that are thinking about following a religious life, this is a small view of what is the life in a monastery.

[GORDITO1000]

Nuns and Monks are cool :-)

[SuperGreatSphinx]

The term Cistercian (French Cistercien), derives from Cistercium, the Latin name for the village of Cîteaux, near Dijon in eastern France. It was in this village that a group of Benedictine monks from the monastery of Molesme founded Cîteaux Abbey in 1098, with the goal of following more closely the Rule of Saint Benedict.

[SuperGreatSphinx]

The emphasis of Cistercian life is on manual labour and self-sufficiency, and many abbeys have traditionally supported themselves through activities such as agriculture and brewing ales.

[SuperGreatSphinx]

The Order of Cistercians (O.Cist. Latin: Ordo Cisterciensis or, alternatively, O.C.S.O. for the Trappists (Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance)) is a Catholic religious order of enclosed monks and nuns. They are sometimes also called the Bernardines or the White Monks, in reference to the colour of the habit, over which a black scapular is worn.

[ladyirish711]

the ironic thing is I just talked to father Ed at my church today about finding an order to join!

[alargedog]

its a hard life

[MrBusterfoot]

Thank you for this beautiful music and for posting it. It is a higher calling,

in many ways, to leave behind this world for a life of prayer.

[eternaldeacon]

Beautiful! (-:

[FRANCECHILD]

STAY STRONG JN JESUS.

[tobesograteful]

These souls are devoting their lives to experiencing the Will of GOD, who cannot see value in that whatever your beliefs are? The important thing is to seek Him.

[lekunberriko1]

fantastic documentary.

[belartful]

It amazes me everytime I hear someone devalue the Catholic faith....which is in reality , the Body of Jesus Christ..... It IS Salvation! Show me someone who talks against the Catholic Church and Ill show you someone who really doesnt know the FAITH.....

[hezheilyoutification]

i have great respect on them..

[doothless]

starzgrasp, why don't you shut up until you know what you're talking about? "He who talks the most knows the least."

[rhiannemmoynihan]

Wow I did not expect to find you guys online. Wow. Thanks for posting this. I have been to your website and look forward to communicating with you soon.

[freakylocz14]

Their devotion to the Lord will be rewarded greatly in the afterlife.

[MyBetty111]

At least they wear religious habits, but what's up with that small altar table? It looks like a KITCHEN, not a church? Where is the high altar?

[HelpPreventPregnancy]

This Video is very uplifting

[HR1800]

cop out? try living the lifestyle, NOT easy, most the first hour would run out.

[djb413]

they don't look very joyful,singing

[MaryOfBethany]

I have not seen them in many years but I can assure you that they _are_ very joyful. I suspect they are still the only Latin rite women's order in the U.S. Their's is a very blessed community very much in love with God and structured with a lot of 'empty' to allow room to come to know Him better. They would remind you that they're far from angels (!) no doubt. I found them very human and humble about their failings, however, and also radiant regarding what God has accomplished!

[scottknitter]

@djb413 Joy goes deeper than how you look.

[paxcoder]

why are they singing so faintly? it could've been beautiful.

[choirboyfromhell1]

I really like the way they face each other 'collegiate' style in the choir stalls/balcony.

[Tpal91]

i once visited a Cistercian monastery in Austria it's really a special type of live there but the nuns were friendly and all very happy.

[SundayRoseDE]

God bless these beautiful ladies.

[xaviernie]

its not easy to practise silence life...try shut yourself for a day...and observer your feeing,body and thought...try...

[back2thefutre]

very peaceful place

[plcar]

There are 17,000 martyrs in 1789-1793.

[chrisklecker]

To those who seem to be not contributing anything "helpful" to this comment board please understand this is a beautiful place filled with wonderful people who do not judge you on who you are. They are definitely among some of the most blessed people I know. Let's try to offer respect or simply be on your way.

[LogicConsumedGod]

I cant believe nuns are still around in the 21st century. what a cop out from living a real life in reality.

[MrXcz]

When you come to realize our need for their personal sacrifices and prayers on behalf of humanity, remember to accept God's Grace which will come to you!

[GilChrist77]

It is not a cop out to do what you were made from birth to do. It is fulfilling as only following the will of God can be. Just wondering, have you ever met any nuns? They are some of the most joyful young women I have ever met in my life. They aren't concerned with what's on the outside, they only care about the inside, and they care very passionately about the inside of every person in the world.

[mariemarie1980]

What reality?

The one on Survivor? The capitalistic, materialistic reality?

A real life is attained when we directly confront who we are...not amidst the hectic rat race...but in aloneness and silence. That is how we enter the world...and that is how we leave it.

[blardosplats]

@mariemarie1980

IMHO, aloneness and silence is not how most of us enter the world. We don't know how we will leave it. Some leave amid much clamor. Hiding away from the (Christian) world that sweats and pays for a place where a select few can find food and peace is ignoring the world, and is very unChristianlike.

Again, JMHO.

[MainframeCobol]

@blardosplats

What are you talking about? Nuns and monks don't hide from the world nor do they ignore it. They serve our Lord in the manner that he called them. For some nuns, cloistered ones, that means praying for the world. For others it means serving their community and mirroring the love of Christ to neighbour. Peace of Christ be with you.

[arig020888]

A cop out really? I wish you would go research the lives of some of the nuns that you speak of. What of Mother Teresa? Was she a cop out?

[conceil8]

.

Remember Christians, the will of God is no Catholic, Protestant,Orthodox, Penticostal, Adventist, JW, Etc. NO DIVISION, Only Christians, holy, helping and sharing instead of buying and selling.

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17:9-21)

.

[twoout221]

I love the cistercian order. God bless all their sisters and brothers.

[JasonJpig]

had a dream about this last night

[AbcSchoolOfPolish]

Very interesting way of life. Sometime I wish I could slow down my life and have more time for myself and the family.

[mizzzlizzz02]

There is something eerily peaceful about their way of life. I wonder what they do for fun?

[lovesGod40]

beautiful. I admire them, I could never be cloistered.

[Bebekoualy]

Very nice video. A good collection of pictures. I love the cistercian Order.

[PoppyDadswell]

gentle video

[ocistnun]

We wear the cuculla normally in Choir. However as it was 95 degrees and we have a small space and low ceiling, we do not wear it at those times. Also it was an altar bread baking day and so some of the sisters were in work smocks and hoods. I am a member of this community and happened upon this video made by a photographer who visited here several years ago.

[sammlucero]

Hey sister, this is Sam the photographer. Thanks for posting your note. I hope all's well in Prairie du Sac. I hope you're OK with this video on YouTube. As you can see, a lot of people have viewed it and like it.

[quodomine]

que bonito

[camilillo5]

Oro por las vocaciones sacerdotales y religiosas en especial por las de clausura como ustedes hermanas y espero ver todos los monasterios llenos de religiosas y monjes entregados a la oración que nos hace mucho bien en un mundo lleno de miseria y guerra religiosa

[TrebleLover]

@ Rosamystical: about the full habit that's not entirely true. While in the quire, they should wear the white cuculla over the habit.

[catholicpriest1]

Perhaps they wear the cuculla on special feasts. Just be thankful that they were a habit. The Carmelites in Baltimore and the Poor Clares in Great Falls, Montana don't were a habit.

[magpie4321]

What's the deal with them takin communion in the hand? Benedictine nuns are the only way to go!

[discalced11]

Cistercians ARE Benedictines.

The keynote of Cistercian life was a return to literal observance of the Rule of St Benedict. Rejecting the developments the Benedictines had undergone, the monks tried to reproduce life exactly as it had been in Saint Benedict's time; indeed in various points they went beyond it in austerity.

[Trefethan]

Are you all aware of the special concessions bestowed upon Carthusian Nuns

[rosamystical]

Nice to see them in full habit. VERY Disheartening to see them receiving Communion in the hand while standing. This is not what Heaven wants! The Belgian bishops began this hand communion without the knowledge of the Pope (Paul VI). Read Fr. John A. Hardon S.J he had a retreat in N.Y. and discussed this. Every priest MUST give Communion on the tongue while kneeling to anyone who wishes to receive in this manner. Is not God worth it? Hand Communion is also the cause for increasingly abuses.

[planetar4564]

"In approaching therefore, come not with your wrists extended, or your fingers spread; but make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. And having hallowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. So then after having carefully hallowed your eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it."

St. Cyril of Alexandria. I'm sorry, but you've been fed propaganda by traditionalists of the worst sort, who seek division with the Mother Church.

[hopstop3721]

why so dramatic?

"Hand Communion is also the cause for increasingly abuses."?????????????? God loves me either way and we both know this!

[elizdeu]

what else do they do apart from praying and singing. I know mother thersa did alot for the poor but what do the other orders do ?

[m00125]

it depends. all of the cloistered nuns pray for the world essentially. we never know it usually but there is always people praying for us. nuns that are not cloistered (sisters) go out into the world and spread the message of God either by, like you said, stuff like what mother thersa did or teaching in schools or just helping out in the community. it just depends on what order they are in casue they are all diffrent but the two main ones are cloistered and non cloisterd(sisters)

[lasirena29]

Thank you for posting this. This is the order one of my dear friends (my college roommate) joined. As such, I haven't seen her in some time. I was able to spot her in the video, which made my day!

[HappyCatholicMum]

Oh Thats wonderful. Take care and God Bless. Eileen

[pwoggyland]

dont they all have to wear those little hats? some of 'em aren't! gasp...

[EvangeliumVitae1]

They are called veils.(I'm pretty sure I splelled it right). The ones who are not wearing them are in formation and most likely are postulants.

[marykimbro70]

some may be Postulants, meaning they haven't taken all of the vows yet.

[nirvanafatal]

Do nuns get paid?

[faithhopelove101]

no, they take a vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience. they give up there lives for Jesus, proving that the only thing ones needs to live is Jesus

[188dexter]

is it mandatory for nuns to wear glasses??

[runningnaruto]

sometimes i think we don't really need nuns because we have priests and lay people helping the church

[cosette2193]

In the mystical economy of the Kingdom of God, one praying cloistered nun might be worth more than a hundred priests and a thousand lay people. We simply don't know, but God's ways are not our ways.

[darwintrr]

Are you saying we don't need pure hearted people who want to help people?

[crstprst]

Oh how I wish we had a monestary close to here. What inspiration they provide.

[cherturnbacktime]

very lovely video of the sisters singing. a real calling to god....

[kfunk01]

I absolutely agree -

[StrwbreFldz4evR]

The more I see of life the more the tranquility of living in a cloister has an appeal. As for religion-I am an Anglican and I believe in one Holy Catholic Church, of course in that sense it means a universal church. I 2 believe that a committment to God is the basis and heart of life.

[viviananderson]

Dear Strw,

Have you looked at an order called Servants of the Sacred Cross? Google it.

[JelenaSRB87]

Well..interesting video! :)

[psychedelicpython]

A video very well done. I think its great seeing a nuns in habits. They look very beautiful and people know that they serve God that way. A lot of nuns don't wear habits these days so its hard to tell who they are.

[NiallMS]

It's becoming a habit!

[BaronessAM]

Words Of Importance!

It was His Holiness, Pope Jean Paul II's wish that all nuns would go back to wearing their original habits. With minor changes, if necessary. There are several reasons why His Holiness wished this so. One was, the "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" effect that was keeping nuns from being seen. Not seeing nuns for so long, as past generations had, put them out of the minds of the general populous.

[EverydayAngel726]

He was right about them not being seen. I hadn't seen a Sister all my life until 6 months ago.

[BaronessAM]

Thus, there were not many young girls wanting to become nuns due to them not encountering any. This must change, if we would like to see more nuns in a world that needs them now more than ever. We wish you all to encourage and enspire girls to become nuns, of the "older" orders. If we do not act upon this in earnest, we shall witness the further decline of our sisters. We have technology and an ever changing world to fight against, or we shall vanish in years to come.

[Audreygirlie]

What do you mean "We have technology and an ever changing world to fight against"? I'm 19 and thinking about becoming a nun but I was under the impression that nuns (indeed Christians in general) were supposed to be relevant to the world and look for the Holy Spirit moving in it. I don't want the "further decline of our sisters," but I don't want to "fight" against the very world I want to reach and to make better. Am I misunderstanding your post?

[crstprst]

Hi there... actually all nuns are sisters, but not all sisters are nuns. Nuns are usually cloistered and not "in the world." Their life is one ofr prayer and work. Other congregations may have sisters that do work "in the world." It's sort of like the difference between St. Francis and St. Thomas Aquinas... two different and necessary contributions of spirituality and ministry.

[blackaliceband]

I agree, I would like to see the habit back in wider use. Unfortunately, the state of the Church as it is, ie the many cases of abuse against children would make this unlikely, as the nuns would be standing targets of hostility. Shame, but thats what happens when perversion is hidden.

[EverydayAngel726]

I'm discerning a call to the religious vocation as a Sister. I know that this is my calling, I just need to find the right community that God wants me to join.

[justwanttruth]

read the book from convent to pentecost first

[darwintrr]

Technology can't beat the help and work of a human's hand.

[permalink]

exactly chambatoka , do you know how many false religions exist?every week there's probably somone who decides to begin a new church. this is becasue satan wants to make confusion using false religions. THERE IS ONLY ONE CHURCH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH!!!

[OctopusDemon420]

I'm Catholic, but I believe that if you are committed to God, are a loving person, and do good, then God doesn't care what religion you belong to. Religion is merely an EXPRESSION of our spiritual love for God.

[Stitchman3875]

I concur.  Couldn't have said it better.

[Meaheiwa]

I love their habits. :)

[youthcoup]

All hail the Cistern Nuns!

[chambatoka]

For those bickering over Catholicism v Protestantism, I ask you, "Is Christ divided?" Let us remember the Apostle Paul's stern admonition:

"I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose. For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers...that there are rivalries among you" 1 Corinthians 4

[heymexicandude]

Those of you that think you know God so well as to feel free to diss the Church He started should give half the example these ladies are giving. Running your mouth off is one thing. Outdoing the Church in holiness is the real thing. I haven't seen it yet. Nor will I.

[h0llowc0st]

Thank you for posting this video.

[starzgrasp]

JESUS said: "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES HUMAN PRECEPTS. YOU DISREGARD GOD'S COMMANDMENT BUT CLING TO HUMAN TRADITION." He went on to say, "HOW WELL YOU HAVE SET ASIDE THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD IN ORDER TO UPHOLD YOUR TRADITION!" (Mark 7:6-9) (NAB) (1126)

[curprich]

Oh starzgrasp! I know of few people who consider these verses more carefully then these nuns with whom I am acquainted. Be very careful not to rashly judge where their hearts are in relation to God based upon your own notions of true worship.

Realize too that in the verses you quoted tradition is not evil in itself, but rather disordered when vanity and pride turn it into an idol. These sisters strive to worship the Lord Jesus with their hearts and combat pride by their love for one another.

[Persphonefallen]

Elegantly put.

[starzgrasp]

Yes, thank you. Salvation does exists outside the church... Thank Jesus. Now we can go directly to him. :)

[sammlucero]

My comment would be that the Catholic Church does not profess to be the only way to Christ. Just yesterday, Oct. 10, Pope Benedict, in his weekly audience at the Vatican stated:

"Assuming a human nature, the Son of God united every human being to himself. Because of this, the path toward Christ is open to everyone."

[starzgrasp]

How come you don't show the awful things they do to Nuns in the Convents? Research Former Nuns, and Former Priests, you will be surprised. The Catholic Church is NOT the ONLY TRUE CHURCH. Their "traditions" and "doctrines" CONTRADICT the Bible. God will NOT make a church that CONTRADICTS HIS WORD. I don't want to make enemies here, but JESUS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT SAVES. NOT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

[sammlucero]

Rather than remove starzgrasp's comments, I invite other viewers to respond in a Christian manner. Any mean-spirited attacks will be removed ASAP. Thanks for your message starzgrasp. MORE TO COME

[cistercian0girl]

"JESUS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT SAVES. NOT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH."

the Catholic and Orthodox churches only can claim a direct line of apostolic sucession, all other christian groups are fractured cults which argue with the very source of there own origin! How do they think the New testament got to them in the first place?

[permalink]

GOD JESUS said " Simon you are Peter and on this rock I will build MY Church " (Peter stands for pietra wich means rock)saint Peter was the first pope placed at head of GOD'S Church by GOD JESUS HIMSELF!!!(Mathrew 16:18)and his successors are thew popes at head of GOD'S Catholic church,HIS ONLY CHURCH!!!saint Peter is buried right unders saint Peter's basilica in the Vatican.

[cistercian0girl]

anyone leaving negative feedback obviously hasnt read the whole post, i argue against the quotation! i myself am Catholic

[kensingtonpalace]

i would add a correction to the initial post~ Jesus is the only one who saves, not ANY church. Churches are only expressions of salvation, not a means thereof. There are frauds and fakes in every denomination on earth; and there are true, sincere folks in every denomination on earth. It all depends on the individual.

[Cathain78]

@starzgrasp

Starzgrasp, feel free to present your case in a civil and well-thought out way and I would be happy to answer you. Which traditions do you believe contradicts the bible (bearing in mind the Church was the composer of the bible and is a product of the Church, not the other way around).

[juniornutshell]

@starzgrasp Christina, The Catholic church does not worship itself as autonomous deity. There is a broad spectrum of discussions that guide us to our evangelical mission to advocate misfortune. Despite our diversity, we are determined to remain in communion, this is the only meaning of the church to most modern Catholic.

[AJC1948]

@starzgrasp If you are a Catholic, then you do NOT know your faith, if you are not a Catholic,then try to read the Bible if you think what you said is correct and try to learn from it.

[mariaserafina]

gracias por colocar este video!es hermoso!

[ChaimFanGirl]

Absolutely beautiful, thank you for posting.

Although I am not Catholic, I have said it before and I say it again, I really envy them, not in a bad way, in a good way in the sense that I admire them so much.

Thanks again!

[permalink]

why not be Catholic then , why envy what you can have when you want.

[ChaimFanGirl]

Well, I admire and envy the fact that they can dedicate thier lives to G-d 24/7 whereas I live in a materialistic Los Angeles. I try to be closer to G-d within Judaism and am very religious, I will start a religious study program later so I too can experience a more religious life. I cant wait!One can never have enough!

Thanx for your reply and may G-d bless and keep you!

[permalink]

GOD bless you too chaim, i meant turn Catholic , nit necessarily become a cistercian nun, the Cathlolic Church is the ONLY HOME OF GOD in the world , too many religions, only one true one.

[yes2life2]

I just love the Cistercian chant of the Salve. Beautiful!

[stgianna]

Everyone should pray for vocations.