Three Cistercian Founders
The Abbey of the Genesee is a Roman Catholic community of contemplative monks belonging to the world-wide Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.) more commonly known as Trappists. We are part of the larger Cistercian family consisting of monks and nuns founded by by Sts. Robert Alberic and Stephen in 1098. We were founded from the Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, KY in the spring of 1951. As Cistercians we follow the Rule of St Benedict, and so are part of the larger Benedictine family as well. Our lives are dedicated to seeking union with God, through Jesus Christ, in a community of sisters or brothers.
As described in our Constitutions our community belongs to “. . . a monastic institute wholly ordered to contemplation. The monks dedicate themselves to the worship of God in a hidden life within the monastery under the Rule of St. Benedict. They lead a monastic way of life in solitude and silence, in assiduous prayer and joyful penitence. . .”. (Constitution 2)
Also, “The organization of the monastery is directed to bringing the monks into close union with Christ, since it is only through the experience of personal love for the Lord Jesus that the specific gifts of the Cistercian vocation can flower. Only if the brothers prefer nothing whatever to Christ will they be happy to persevere in a life that is ordinary obscure and laborious. And may he lead them all together into eternal life.” (Constitution 5)