Cistercian Nuns

[ToJesusMyHeart]

Has anybody discerned with and/or had a friend enter the Cistercian nuns in Wisconsin? According to their website, they are currently the only Cistercian nuns in the English-speaking world. They look wonderful--very traditional (my preference) and so beautiful.

I've talked to the VD a little bit; they have 19 sisters ranging in age from 83 to 24. They observe enclosure but not papal. They have monastic enclosure which from the outside looks the same as papal enclosure but interior-ly (and historically) are different.

I'm meeting with a Cistercian priest next Sunday for spiritual direction (he's not my regular director, but since I'm interested in the order, I figured it'd be nice to chat with him too).

So has anyone had any contact/experience with these nuns? Thanks!

Some pictures:
[img]http://www.nunocist.org/my%20web%20site%20photos/vocations.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.nunocist.org/my%20web%20site%20photos/recreationb.jpg[/img][img]http://www.nunocist.org/my%20web%20site%20photos/narrowway.jpg[/img][img]http://www.nunocist.org/my%20web%20site%20photos/holyweekj.jpg[/img][img]http://www.nunocist.org/wpimages/wp4f80b842_00.jpg[/img][img]http://www.nunocist.org/my%20web%20site%20photos/solemnvowsa.jpg[/img][img]http://www.nunocist.org/my%20web%20site%20photos/cemetery.jpg[/img][img]http://www.nunocist.org/my%20web%20site%20photos/frauenthal1.jpg[/img][img]http://www.nunocist.org/my%20web%20site%20photos/divineoffice4.jpg[/img]

Sorry! I get carried away. They take my breath away. If nothing else, I hope you like the pictures as much as I delight in them.

Edited October 8, 2012 by ToJesusMyHeart

[ToJesusMyHeart]

A few more pics.

Compline in the dark!
[img]http://www.nunocist.org/my%20web%20site%20photos/compline.jpg[/img][img]http://www.nunocist.org/my%20web%20site%20photos/srmaryreginab.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.nunocist.org/my%20web%20site%20photos/community2.jpg[/img]

[emmaberry101]

[quote name='ToJesusMyHeart' timestamp='1349660687' post='2491083']

[img]http://www.nunocist.org/my%20web%20site%20photos/divineoffice4.jpg[/img]

[/quote]

BEAUTIFUL nuns! Just lovely.

The second nun (black veil) on the right in the quoted picture came out for the new Abbot's induction (?) at the Dallas Cistercian Abbey-she was wonderful to speak with, though her name eludes me. A very outgoing and funny nun! A girl from my University joined this community, but sadly I did not know her personally.

[TheresaThoma]

I contacted their VD once. She was really sweet and sent me a lovely packet full of stuff about the community. If you are interested in them I would go ahead and contact them.

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

The nun you refer to is Sr. Anne Marie, the novice mistress. The first professed nun from the front is Sr. Julianna, a friend of mine who entered there about 5 months before I entered the Dominicans.
This is an excellent monastery and as you may know they are trying to build a new monastery which they badly need!
At the time Sr. Julianna entered the community was still very Swiss/German but as they have received new sisters the community has, it seems, become more American.

According to Verbi Sponsa, monasteries in the monsatic tradition (Benedictine) should observe Monastic Enclosure which is defined in their own constitutions. It may "look" the same as Papal or Consitutiional enclosure but that the difference is what norms define the type of enclosure.

[PrayerSupporter]

Hello, ToJesusMyHeart,

These are a beautiful and wonderful group of nuns. I have received their newsletter for several years and have been so very happy to see both their deep spirituality and their growth as a community.

I'm certainly not trying to distract you from the Cistercians in Wisconsin, but just wanted to let you know that there are several other convents of Cistercian nuns in the U.S. -- in Iowa, Virginia, California, Massachusetts, and Arizona. If you want, you can find out about them by doing an internet search; and I think there have been some previous postings on Phatmass. Also don't forget YouTube -- there are videos there, including one about the nuns in Wisconsin.

I will be praying for you in your vocation discernment. May God bless.

PrayerSupporter

Edited October 8, 2012 by PrayerSupporter

[ToJesusMyHeart]

[quote name='PrayerSupporter' timestamp='1349697123' post='2491144']
I'm certainly not trying to distract you from the Cistercians in Wisconsin, but just wanted to let you know that there are several other convents of Cistercian nuns in the U.S. -- in Iowa, Virginia, California, Massachusetts, and Arizona.
[/quote]

Thanks, PrayerSupporter! Do you by chance know why the Wisconsin nuns have on their website[size=5]: "[font=Georgia, serif]Our community was founded in 1957 by the nuns of Frauenthal Abbey in Switzerland whose own foundation dates to the 13th century. We remain the Cistercian Order’s first and only community of nuns in the English-[/font][font=Georgia, serif]speaking world"?[/font][/size]

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

They are the only English speaking Cistercian nuns. The other communities PrayerSupporter is referring to are Cistercians of the Strict Observance.

[TIWW]

This is a lovely, vibrant and healthy community.
They are O.Cist, ( common observance)

The other communities O.C.S.O., ( Order of Cistercians of Strict Observance)

Below are some references for those interested in Benedictines

[u][url="http://www.osb.org/cist/index.html"]http://www.osb.org/cist/index.html[/url][/u]
[font=Times New Roman","serif][size=3][url="http://www.osb.org/cist/index.html#com"][color=blue]Cistercians of the Common Observance[/color][/url] (O. Cist.) [/size][/font]
[font=Times New Roman","serif][size=3][url="http://www.osb.org/cist/index.html#trapp"][color=blue]Cistercians of the Strict Observance[/color][/url] (O.C.S.O./Trappists)[/size][/font]

Thomsa Merton's [u]Seven Story Mountain, [/u]is a great book about his life and spiritual journey toward living as a Trappist.

Edited October 8, 2012 by TIWW

[i<3franciscans]

Just popping into say that the pictures took my breath away!!! Beautiful order!

[ToJesusMyHeart]

Does anybody know if they ever have Latin mass?

[PrayerSupporter]

[quote name='Sr. Mary Catharine' timestamp='1349710275' post='2491201']
They are the only English speaking Cistercian nuns. The other communities PrayerSupporter is referring to are Cistercians of the Strict Observance.
[/quote]

Thanks for the clarification. I've just read up about the two Observances -- the Common and the Strict (Trappist) -- so will know the difference in the future.

[emmaberry101]

[quote name='ToJesusMyHeart' timestamp='1349724045' post='2491305']
Does anybody know if they ever have Latin mass?
[/quote]

"[color=#595756][font=Georgia, serif][size=3]We have retained Latin and Gregorian Chant for the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered [/size][/font][/color][color=#595756][font=Georgia, serif][size=3][i]ad orientem[/i][/size][/font][/color][color=#595756][font=Georgia, serif][size=3] and [/size][/font][/color][color=#595756][font=Georgia, serif][size=3][i]versus populum[/i][/size][/font][/color][color=#595756][font=Georgia, serif][size=3]. "[/size][/font][/color]

[ToJesusMyHeart]

Thanks emma. I should have worded my question better. I am curious if they ever have the EF, not just the NO in Latin. (:

[Chiquitunga]

Here's a video of them from a few years ago (2007) ..

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln1uMWZqo8k[/media]