Trappist Abbey In Utah - Will Probably Close

[Luigi]

This article is from April 2012, but I just found it. I knew the monastery was struggling for lack of vocations, but now they're openly talking about their probable close. (I also didn't realize that they used to have 80 (!!) monks living there at one time.)

[url="http://www.utahstories.com/2012/04/25/trappist-monastery-eden-utah/"]http://www.utahstories.com/2012/04/25/trappist-monastery-eden-utah/[/url]

[stlmom]

That is really sad to read. I've picked up from other sources that several Trappist monasteries are struggling with similar problems--New Melleray in Iowa and Assumption Abbey in Ava, Missouri come to mind. It's puzzling, as Trappists have been very consistent in their spirituality and way of life even as many orders were overzealous with change during Vatican 2.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

This is very sad. But when I read in the article that the monks have 1800! acres of pristine land, my first thought was.....Hmmm, I can think of at least a couple of Communities that very much need space--and there are probably more that I haven't heard of.

If the monastery does need to be shut down, I hope that the monastery and its land is used for another Community, and is not sold and developed for secular purposes. In the heart of "Mormon country" it's important to have strong Christian prayers. (My personal view is that, whatever they call themselves, Mormons are not Christians. However, I am saying this only to clarify my comment, not to start a debate over whether Mormons are Christians. The Debate Board, not VS, is the place for those kind of discussions.)

[emmaberry]

[quote name='stlmom' timestamp='1347385724' post='2481358']
It's puzzling, as Trappists have been very consistent in their spirituality and way of life even as many orders were overzealous with change during Vatican 2.
[/quote]
Yes, I am puzzled by the lack of vocations as well. Personally, I feel no draw to the Trappist spirituality, but it still surprises me that there aren't young men eager to live the Trappist life.

Many prayers for this struggling community.

[Luigi]

[quote name='stlmom' timestamp='1347385724' post='2481358']
That is really sad to read. I've picked up from other sources that several Trappist monasteries are struggling with similar problems--[b]New Melleray in Iowa [/b]and Assumption Abbey in Ava, Missouri come to mind. It's puzzling, as Trappists have been very consistent in their spirituality and way of life even as many orders were overzealous with change during Vatican 2.
[/quote]

By way of an encouraging word...

New Melleray in Iowa may have had problems in the past, but I think they're doing reasonably well now. If you go here: [url="http://www.newmelleray.org/meetthebrothers.asp"]http://www.newmeller...thebrothers.asp[/url] you can review the whole community, including when each monk professed vows. They're listed in alphabetical order by monk's given name, not chronologically, but just glancing down the lists you can see that a number of men have joined in the 2000's. The home page says they're a community of about 30 monks, but they actually have 37 at the moment (one had a very recent & very serious illness; another one died recently (at the age of 100!) and I'm not sure if he's still on the list).

That's the beauty of web pages - IF the community updates them - you can get a clearer picture of what's happening rather than having to rely on old or fifth-hand information.


The Ava abbey does seem to be in real trouble. The Order closed the novitiate (although the monastery continues to accept 'long-term guests'). The monastery seems to be developing a relationship with Vietnamese Cistercians (of the Common Observance) - an order which is growing [i]very [/i]rapidly in Vietnam. The intent seems to be that the current Trappist monks will turn the monastery over to the Vietnamese Cistercians on the condition that the Trappists can live the rest of their lives there. But we shall see.

Edited September 11, 2012 by Luigi

[filius_angelorum]

The thing is that vocations are God's initiatives. Although in many cases it seems that communities grow when they are faithful, it does not follow that they will always grow if they are faithful. Sometimes God has other plans for the men or women involved. I had a look at this abbey's website, though, and that sanctuary would frighten me if I were an aspiring novice. Still I note that they have the whole office except for Prime and the extraordinary form, if only for guests, so it seems that they have a firm grasp on their function in the Church.