Trappists

Since the early nineteenth century Trappists has been the popular name for the main branch of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance who were centered at the Abbey of La Grande Trappe in France until the restoration of Citeaux as the motherhouse in 1892. The reform was originally introduced by Armand de Rance, godson of Richelieu, who was at an early age provided with a number of benefices, including that of commendatory abbot of La Trappe. In 1662 he resigned all his benefices except that of La Trappe, which he kept for his Cistercian reform. To the existing rules of the reformed Cistercians he ordered more stringent regulations, including his total prohibition of study. For a while in the nineteenth century there were three varieties of strict observance in force. In 1892 Leo XIII was unsuccessful in trying to unite these Cistercian groups but finally recognized two separate groups called the Order of Citeaux and the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (Trappists). The most important change in recent years has been the abolition of lay brothers as a separate class, the encouragement of study, and participation in ecumenical activities.

From the description of Trappisti, 1800-1801. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 145567972