A monastery is a school of charity, a place where we learn to love God with our whole heart, our whole mind, and our whole soul. This is the simple, unique goal of the monastic way of life. As Cistercian Trappist monks we dedicate our time and energy to attaining this goal. It is our vocation in the Church. We witness to the world that God is the center of our life. We believe that the closer we come to God, the more aware we become of the real needs of the world. We live our lives for those who are in need by being faithful to our vocation of helping "to restore all things in Christ."

Schedule of Our Day
3:15 Rise
3:30 Vigils
4:00 Scripture/Private Prayer. Breakfast
6:30 Lauds
7:00 Mass
8:00 Scripture/Private Prayer
9:15 Terce
9:30 Work
11:45 Sext
12:00 Dinner
1:45 None
2:00 Work
4:30 Scripture/Private Prayer. Supper
5:30 Vespers
6:00 Scripture/Private Prayer
7:20 Compline
8:00 Retire

Tradition and History

New Melleray Abbey, founded in 1849 by Cistercian monks from Mount Melleray Abbey in Ireland, belongs to a monastic tradition that reaches back to the monks of the desert, who in the early Christian centuries left everything to follow Christ. In the 6th Century, Saint Benedict adapted the desert tradition in his Rule of Monasteries which has become the norm for all Western monasteries. A number of monastic families developed from this source. The Cistercians originated in 1098 at Citeaux Abbey in France. Throughout the centuries reform movements arose within the Cistercian Order. One of these centered in the French Abbey of La Trappe. Hence the name Trappist, which has become associated with the Cistercians of the Strict Observance.

Life in a Monastery

The school of love is an education of the heart. It leads to a gradual transformation of our lives into the image and likeness of God. Prayer--interior prayer and community prayer--lies at the heart of monastic life. Reflective reading of Scripture provides the foundation of this prayer. The rhythm of the monastic day comes from our time-tested balance of prayer, reading, and manual labor

Becoming a Monk

Becoming a monk is a journey with the Holy Spirit that takes time and experience. The journey begins with you and the community getting to know each other. Initially, this is accomplished through visits to New Melleray and discussions with the Vocation Director. Someone considering joining our community should have an attraction to prayer, reading, and reflection. He should be able to balance the creative use of time alone with the sociability necessary for community life.

Applicants should be in good physical and psychological health. When someone applies to enter, he is interviewed by members of the Formation Council and offered a residency of several weeks with the community. Then after some time away from the community for further prayer and reflection, a candidate may request formal entrance with us as a postulant. The postulancy lasts from six months to one year, depending on individual circumstances. After the postulant receives the monastic habit, he becomes a novice. The two-year novitiate is a time of study and formation. It is followed by at least three years as a temporary professed monk before making final vows.

If you would like to look further into becoming a monk of New Melleray, we cordially invite you to write to our Vocation Director. You may either use this form or write to use directly at the address given below.

We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about Cistercians vocations or about joining the community of New Melleray. You may , or visit the Questions and Answers section on our Vocations page. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible.

If you would like, you may write to us at the following address:


Vocations Director
New Melleray Abbey
6632 Melleray Circle
Peosta, IA 52068

Phone: 563.588.2319