Definition of cistercian Cistercian

/sɪstɚˈʃʌn/ - [sistershun] - Cis•ter•cian

We found 7 definitions of cistercian from 6 different sources.

What does cistercian mean?

Noun
cistercian - member of an order of monks noted for austerity and a vow of silence
		Trappist, Cistercian

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cistercian (Noun)
A member of a monastic order, related to the Benedictines, who hold a vow of silence .

cistercian (n.)
A monk of the prolific branch of the Benedictine Order, established in 1098 at Citeaux, in France, by Robert, abbot of Molesme. For two hundred years the Cistercians followed the rule of St. Benedict in all its rigor.
cistercian (a.)
Of or pertaining to the Cistercians.

cistercian
sis-ter′shan, n. one of the order of monks established in 1098 in the forest of Citeaux (Cistercium), in France—an offshoot of the Benedictines

The term Cistercian is used to refer to a follower of Roman Catholic religious order. Officially the order is called "Ordo Cisterciensis" ("OCist"), or "Sacer Ordo Cisterciensis"("SOC"). These people follow the same rules as the Benedictines, that is to say those of St Benedict. Over time, the Benedictines made some changes to the rules and the way of life.

The Cistercians reject these. They went back to what St Benedict had taught. Sometimes their rules were more strict than those St Benedict had given. They also went back to manual labour, especially work in the fields. Because of this, the Cistercians helped spread technologies around Medieval Europe.

In 1882 certain monasteries formed a new order, called the Trappists. With the time, they split completely from the Cistercians.