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Third International Lay Cistercian Encounter
Clairvaux, France — June 1-7, 2005
The Third International Lay Cistercian Encounter was held at
Clairvaux, France from June 1 to June 7 near the site of the twelfth century
Abbey of Clairvaux founded by St. Bernard of Clairvaux in 1115. Since the late
1980s lay Cistercian associate programs have been forming in affiliation with
many Cistercian monasteries throughout the world. The Cistercian Order was
founded in 1098 at Citeaux in France. The Cistercians live according to the Rule
of St. Benedict and their Constitutions. The recent emergence of Cistercian lay
associates is the first experience for the Cistercians in their history spanning
nine centuries.
The first international meeting of lay Cistercians occurred in 1999 in Santiago,
Chile. The second meeting was held in 2002 at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit
in Conyers, Georgia. The week long meeting at Clairvaux in June 2005 addressed
topics of community, formation, commitment, and how lay Cistercians will relate
to the General Chapter of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance. An
international team of five lay Cistercians was elected during the Clairvaux
meeting who will be the official voice of lay Cistercians worldwide. There were
96 lay participants at the Clairvaux 2005 encounter representing lay Cistercian
communities in Europe, Africa, North and South America, and Indonesia. The
French lay Cistercian community, the Grange of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, served
as host of this year’s meeting. There were also 20 Cistercian monks and nuns in
attendance, including the abbot general, Dom Bernardo Olivera.
On the final day of the Encounter a visit to the Abbey of Our Lady of Citeaux
near Dijon was arranged for all the participants. The lay Cistercians were
received by the Abbot of Citeaux, Fr. Olivier Quenardel, with a ceremonial
“washing of the feet” ritual before a Mass celebrated with the monastic
community. The day also included a meal and a tour of the site of the New
Monastery (Citeaux) founded in 1098 and of a monastic museum. The site visit
concluded with a Vespers service at which the bishop of Dijon presided. The lay
Cistercians are considered members of the Cistercian family.
Attending the Clairvaux 2005 Encounter was Michael Brown of Louisville, Kentucky
and Michael Johnson of Oxford, Ohio representing the Lay Cistercians of
Gethsemani Abbey. Both Johnson and Brown were among a group of six who in 1989
founded the Cistercian lay community affiliated with the Abbey of Gethsemani in
Kentucky.
We want to offer to LCG members, candidates, and friends
access to the various resources of homilies, talks, and reflections from the Lay
Cistercian Encounter.
You may click on the following links to access the material. |
