Quasar Posted July 2, 2016 Share Posted July 2, 2016 (edited) Hello! Is anyone familiar with this community in Dubuque, Iowa? They're contemplative Cistercian/Trappestine nuns; I'm just wondering if anyone has visited or spoken with them before. Thanks! Edited July 2, 2016 by Quasar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted July 2, 2016 Share Posted July 2, 2016 I visited. What would you like to know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katherineH Posted July 2, 2016 Share Posted July 2, 2016 1 hour ago, Gabriela said: I visited. What would you like to know? Gabriela is there any community you've haven't interacted with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hep_rsb Posted July 3, 2016 Share Posted July 3, 2016 I have visited them many times. They are a wonderful community and I would be happy to answer any questions you have! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salveregina10 Posted July 3, 2016 Share Posted July 3, 2016 (edited) This was one of the first communities I visited, they are wonderful. Trappistine life is challenging - the whole praying at 3 am thing and all, but they are joyful, healthy, and vibrant. I ended up being called to a missionary community, but encourage you to learn more about them. Their current Superior was vocation directress back then, and she is full of wisdom. Edited July 3, 2016 by salveregina10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted July 3, 2016 Share Posted July 3, 2016 19 hours ago, katherineH said: Gabriela is there any community you've haven't interacted with? Yeah, pretty much anyone active! (Except for the CDS and the Sisters of Life and the RSCJ, anyway. ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pia Jesu Posted July 3, 2016 Share Posted July 3, 2016 The community website http://www.mississippiabbey.org is great...but rapidly approaching the curmudgeon-age, I don't quite understand their age limit of 39...when one of their "newer" sisters (a former university theology professor) is clearly 60+! It was interesting to read their archived blog entries...especially as it appears that the community follows the Cistercian tradition (described in detail in Nancy Klein Maguire's An Infinity of Little Hours) of burying their deceased sans a standard coffin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriela Posted July 3, 2016 Share Posted July 3, 2016 4 minutes ago, Pia Jesu said: The community website http://www.mississippiabbey.org is great...but rapidly approaching the curmudgeon-age, I don't quite understand their age limit of 39...when one of their "newer" sisters (a former university theology professor) is clearly 60+! It was interesting to read their archived blog entries...especially as it appears that the community follows the Cistercian tradition (described in detail in Nancy Klein Maguire's An Infinity of Little Hours) of burying their deceased sans a standard coffin! An Infinity of Little Hours is about Carthusians. Also, Trappists are Cistercians, although a late-19th-century breakoff from them. Still, they participate in the inter/national Cistercian meetings and are considered by all to be just one branch of Cistercians. Trappists are famous for not really caring much about ages when it comes to new vocations. I wouldn't take any age limit on a Trappist website very seriously! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pia Jesu Posted July 3, 2016 Share Posted July 3, 2016 Thanks for clarifying my Carthusian/Cistercian/Trappist confusion! The Iowa community seems like a wonderful group of women! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Paul Posted July 3, 2016 Share Posted July 3, 2016 (edited) I visited after I left New Melleray last year on retreat. .They make good candy. Edited July 3, 2016 by John Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luigi Posted July 3, 2016 Share Posted July 3, 2016 1 hour ago, Pia Jesu said: The community website http://www.mississippiabbey.org is great...but rapidly approaching the curmudgeon-age, I don't quite understand their age limit of 39...when one of their "newer" sisters (a former university theology professor) is clearly 60+! It was interesting to read their archived blog entries...especially as it appears that the community follows the Cistercian tradition (described in detail in Nancy Klein Maguire's An Infinity of Little Hours) of burying their deceased sans a standard coffin! The older sister who is still in formation was well-known to the community. She had spent a lot of time there over the years, so when she asked to enter, they already had a clear idea of her spiritual state, her personality, and so forth. There might be more to that story, too - I don't know if was married and her husband passed away, or what the deal was, but the point is that she knew them and they knew her. Also , Trappists DO bury deceased in coffins - the monks at New Melleray produce coffins, and both the monks and nuns in Iowa use them when needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luigi Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Recent weather-related excitement at the abbey - storms, tornados (to the south), lightning [sometimes misspelled in the story below] strikes! I guess the nuns know how to read signs from God, and they're viewing themselves as lucky rather than as "smote." July 25, 2016 Stormy Weather! Last week we had our share of Midwest heat,humidity and storms. On Wednesday morning when most of the sisters were working at candy a fierce storm blew in. A torrential rain was falling accompanied by lots of lightning and thunder. There was also a big bang that was much louder than the thunder. We found that lightening struck the white pine tree outside of the front of the abbey. The tree literally exploded splitting the tree and sending branches scattered all over the lawn. We found out later that the lightening burned the roots allowing water to flow into the garage and causing damage to the electrical system. We were out of water for a few hours and the phone and computers were out for a few days. Thursday night we had another storm that dumped 3 inches of rain in a few houses causing flooding in the cloister and senior wing.On Saturday evening we had a tornado warning. In fact, 2 tornadoes touched down south of us. The high winds caused a tree to fall on the utility lines causing a power outage at the cabin. Today it is blissfully sunny and dry and warm. A relief from all that happened last week! The magnolia tree behind the white pine tree protected the roof from the force of the fall. The brand new roof was not damaged! What it looks like now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graciandelamadrededios Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Neat photos of the Trappistine Nuns before Vatican II. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 Lovely videos on their website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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