The Way of the Pilgrim Guided by the Rule of St. Benedict

Following the First Fathers of our Order, we Cistercians pursue the search for God guided by the Rule of St. Benedict (c.450-c.550). At the head of the monastic family is a Father, the Abbot, who exercises his authority in the name of Christ. In this school of the Lord’s service, he must teach the way of Christ ‘by word and example’ (Rule of St. Benedict). He should unite in his person sanctity and wisdom, shepherding the community according to the monastic tradition received and handed on. St. Benedict reminds him that he must so order all things in the monastery that the strong may have something to strive for and the weak may not be discouraged.

Monastic obedience, and the humility which renders it fruitful, must be inspired by disinterested love, so that what the monk does is done out of love for God. Surrendering his will to God and submitting to the guidance of the Abbot dispose the monk to receive from the Holy Spirit the gift of pure and continual prayer.

The monastic life is no different from the life that all those who follow Christ are trying to live, with daily struggles, temptations and trials. In the spirit of pilgrims we encourage each other along the way.

The description of the early Christian community has always been the catalyst to inspire life in community:

Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common. (Acts 4:32)

Coupled to this is a thirst for the beauty of God himself. St. Augustine of Hippo (345 – 430) captures something of this experience:

You breathed your fragrance upon me, O Lord; and now I hunger and thirst after you! You touched me, O Lord; and now I hunger and thirst after you! You touched me, O Lord; and now I yearn for your peaceful embrace!