More about Cistercians and Lay Contemplative Associates

---

We seek to live a life that is Christ centered and in harmony with the Cistercian tradition. This means we daily seek out times of silence, listening with the ears of our heart, praying the liturgy of the hours, attending Mass frequently, and reconciliation, as well as time for sacred reading and contemplative prayer.

Our daily life is like almost everyone: we go to work, perhaps manage a business, or tend to a family. But whatever a lay Cistercian does, he or she tries to make it a point to seek a balance between work and prayer life.

A lay Cistercian is a member of a community of Lay Cistercians associated with a nearby Cistercian (Trappist) monastery. While there are monasteries throughout the world, not every monastery supports a lay community.

Men and women who live within the Cistercian charism as a monk or nun live under the Rule of St. Benedict and founding fathers, especially St. Bernard of Clairvaux of the Roman Catholic Church. 

The Order derives from the Benedictine tradition, following the Rule more strictly, thus: The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (OCSO). The cloistered monks and nuns take vows of stability, conversion, and obedience. Their day is divided between work (to support themselves) prayer (both private and community in the Hours of the Liturgy), study, and silence.

Cistercian monasteries can be found throughout the world.

There have always been gatherings of men and women desiring to follow the teachings of God. In the mid 1980’s a lay Cistercian community was encouraged by Fr. Anthony Delisi, OCSO at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers Georgia. Since then, many communities have come into existence throughout the United States and the world.

Our community, Lay Contemplative Associates, first formed in 1997at the Abbey of the Genesse and transferred to Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in 2008 under the initial guidance of Fr. Anthony and currently under the guidance of Fr. Cassian Russel, OCSO.

We are also associated with the International Association of Lay Cistercians.

· Prayer: Prayer is at the heart of the Benedictine and Cistercian traditions.

· Daily recitation of Morning and Evening Prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours or recitation of five decades of the Rosary.

· Daily practice of contemplative prayer.

· Daily spiritual reading - lectio divina.

· Frequent reception of the sacrament of reconciliation

· Frequent attendance at Mass.

· Stability: 

o A commitment to participate in a few assigned readings and other designated formative assignments.

o Response and sharing via group email.

o Attendance at quarterly ZOOM meetings 

o Attendance at the Annual Retreat at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit is strongly encouraged.

Any baptized Christian can become a Lay Cistercian in our Lay Contemplative Associates community.

With emphasis on Cistercian (Trappist) spiritually of peace, silence, simplicity, and humility it is a lifestyle commitment. Thus, it doesn’t matter if you are young or old, a man or a woman, married or single. This is a lifestyle of being ordinary, obscure, and laborious, of following the Cistercian charism and the Rule of St. Benedict. It is not a lifestyle of pretending to be a monk, although lay Cistercians have a special relationship with monks and nuns.

We welcome members from throughout the United States.

But first of all, understand that becoming a Lay Cistercian is a process of discernment (is it really what you want and does it fit your lifestyle), learning, and development.

Our vocation director can provide you with an application and materials to guide you through the steps of discernment, postulant, novice, committed member, permanent Lay Cistercian.