We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about New Melleray, the Cistercians, or our lifestyle.

You also may want to view some interviews with some of the members of our community about their vocatiuons and their lives here at New Melleray.

In addition you may wish to visit the Vocations Placement site. It is an organization with one mission: to assist those who are investigating a call to religious life in the Roman Catholic Church. To that end, its primary service is to schedule and facilitate retreats for those in the discernment process, with diocesan and monastic vocational directors in the area of their choice.

The monks of New Melleray are Christians professing the Rule of St. Benedict in the spirit of the Founders of Citeaux as handed on in the tradition of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance within a community wholly oriented to a contemplative life of prayer.

The Rule of St. Benedict is at the very core of our life as Cistercians. It is an excellent source for daily life both within and outside the monastery.

The Rule of St. Benedict is a set of guidelines and principles for monastic life. Written by St. Benedict in the 6^th century, the Rule of St Benedict, or RB, is still used as the basis for the lifestyle followed by Cistercian monks and nuns as well as their Benedictine brethren.

The monks of New Melleray have prepared this Primer as a brief introduction to the spiritual meaning of monastic observances that may be of assistance to you.

These few pages present a descriptive sketch of what it means to be a Cistercian monk.