On Cistercian Week 2026

As the echoes of our recent Cistercian Week (August 15–22, 2026) linger in the quiet cloister of our monastery, we find ourselves filled with a profound sense of gratitude and spiritual renewal. This week was not merely a series of lectures; it connected our modern lives to the enduring wisdom of our Cistercian forebears.

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to the Sisters who dedicated themselves to preparing their papers and presentations.  Your enthusiasm was edifying, and the serious study and reflection you brought into your work can help our community’s reflections beyond the Cistercian Week.  We are inspired by Sisters Concepcion, Benedicta, and Anne to read the works of Stephen of Sawley, and by Sr. Roxanne to pursue the “quiet elegance and splendor of discipline” as Adam of Perseigne encourages us. We were also deeply moved by Sister Stella Maris’s presentation on the contemporary witness of Marian consecration and martyrdom in Father Christophe Lebreton.  Finally, we thank Mother for her insights into Allan of Lille and the Blue Madonna of Chartres Cathedral, and Sister Julie Ann for her masterful historical-theological overview of devotion to the Sacred Heart through Saint Lutgarde of Aywières, reminding us of our call to encounter and communion.

As we return to our daily rhythm of Ora et Labora, we carry with us the insights gained during this blessed week. We are reminded once more that in the School of Love we are always beginners, and from our Cistercian fathers and our sisters, we can find inspiration to live our monastic life today.