Account for the appeal of Cistercian Monasticism in the twelfth century

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Eleanor Fell                                                                        Nick Vincent

Account for the appeal of Cistercian Monasticism in the twelfth century

Cistercian monasticism was one of the many ‘new orders’ established in the 12th century during a time of monastic revival. It began when Robert of Molesme, ‘a Benedictine abbot of high reputation’, left his community at Molesme to found a movement that would be true to his ideals of monasticism – living in poverty under the Rule of St Benedict, separated from the secular world, as the early monks had done. He set up the first Cistercian house at Citeaux in 1097, but was forced to return to Molesme, leaving Abbots Alberic and Stephen Harding to run the house, creating an organised order. Despite this, the Cistercian house dwindled in numbers and did not look as if it would survive. However, St Bernard joined the order in 1113, along with many of his brothers, almost doubling the number of monks. Following this, Cistercian monasticism ‘grew rapidly to fame’, comprising of 353 houses in 1151 and 742 in 1675. The question must be raised therefore, just what was the appeal of Cistercian monasticism that caused such an unprecedented growth and interest?

Many historians have suggested that the appeal of Cistercian monasticism and the ‘extraordinary rapidity and extent of its growth and diffusion… was the work of a single man, St Bernard of Clairvaux’. He became the abbot of Clairvaux in 1115, and began preaching and writing of the Cistercian order and its beliefs. As his writings (many of which were in Latin allowing a great audience) and teachings spread, (which they did widely as a result of his disciples) he gained a reputation as a great intellect, and people desired to be under his teaching. His great enthusiasm and ‘excited spiritual energy’ attracted people, and he ‘absorbed the doctrine of the fathers of the desert; infused it with mystical theology derived from the Latin fathers… and laid it out in immaculate prose to inspire and edify his monks’. He therefore made Cistercian monasticism attractive, and therefore enticing.

Many monks therefore joined Cistercian houses either because they were inspired by what Bernard preached, for example a strict following of the Benedictine Rule, a reversion to simplicity, and being able to ‘[walk] the path of the apostles’, or simply to be in his presence. It has been said that Bernard had ‘a power to influence men, not just by eloquence, nor just by force of character, but a combination of these qualities with a sense of urgency and spiritual adventure that proved almost irresistible’, and he was ‘dynamic’, explaining why his character attracted so many people to the order.

The belief that St Bernard himself made Cistercian monasticism so appealing is partly the result of Clairvaux (where Bernard was abbot), rather than Citeaux (the order’s founding house) being the centre of the transformation from a ‘small fervent order… into a way of salvation for the nations’, founding 65 daughter houses throughout Europe. When it was known that St Bernard was coming to preach in a town, mothers would supposedly hide their sons, for fear that they would wish to follow him, as his preaching was so powerful and he himself was ‘magnetic’. This illustration also reflects the appeal of Cistercian monasticism as being St Bernard.

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However, although St Bernard was undoubtedly a great influence, it cannot be considered that he was solely responsible for the desirability of the Cistercians. Historians have since suggested that there were many other contributing factors. Cistercian monasticism developed at a time of change within Europe, where populations increased and the economy was growing. For many people, this brought great uncertainty, and the Cistercian order offered ‘a clear, comprehensive rule of life’ that provided security and isolation from the changing society. This factor itself supplies an explanation that could account for the appeal of Cistercian monasticism. However, the rise in the ...

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