Humbeline was St. Bernard’s only sister. Married to a nobleman, she enjoyed the life of a noble lady in the world. Inspired by the Lord to visit her brothers at Clairvaux, she went escorted by a pompous entourage , but Bernard refused to see her. Upon hearing this, she came to herself and deeply repentant, broke into tears, exclaiming: “Even though I am a sinner, Christ died for sinners! And since I am a sinner, I come to seek the advice from those who are good. If my brother Bernard despises my flesh, let him not despise my soul. Let him come then and order me what I should do, for I am ready to obey him.”

She began to lead a life of piety and great austerity, and two years later, with the permission of her husband, entered the Benedictine convent of Jully, and became prioress about 1128. The Lord enriched her with the grace of sanctity. She died on August 21st, probably 1141, in the presence of Bernard, Andrew and Nivard (Source: Cistercian Menology)

The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance OCSO) also known as “Trappists”) is a Roman Catholic contemplative religious order, consisting of monasteries of monks and monasteries of nuns. We are part of the larger Cistercian family which traces its origin to 1098. As Cistercians we follow the Rule of St Benedict, and so are part of the Benedictine family as well. Our lives are dedicated to seeking union with God, through Jesus Christ, in a community of sisters or brothers.

Cîteaux Abbey was founded on Saint Benedict's Day, 21 March 1098, by a group of monks from Molesme Abbey seeking to follow more closely the Rule of St. Benedict. They were led by Saint Robert of Molesme, who became the first abbot. The second abbot was Saint Alberic, and the third abbot Saint Stephen Harding, who wrote the Carta Caritatis that described the organisation of the order. 

Aelred of Rievaulx, O Cist. (Latin: Aelredus Riaevallensis), also known as also Ailred, Ælred, or Æthelred; (1110 – 12 January 1167) was an English Cistercian monk and writer who served as Abbot of Rievaulx from 1147 until his death. He is venerated by the Catholic Church as a saint and by some Anglicans.

“Charity may be a very short word, but 

with its tremendous meaning of pure love, 

it sums up man's entire relation to God and 

to his neighbour.”

“Charity, therefore, begins with faith,
is exercised through the other virtues
but achieves perfection in itself.”

 ”Friendship is that virtue by which 

spirits are bound by ties of love and 

sweetness and out of many are made one.”

His feast is commemorated by the Cistercian Order

on 12 January.

Maurus, OSB (Mauro) (512–584) was an  monk best known as the first disciple of Benedict of Nursia, he is mentioned in the Gregory the great’s biography of the latter as the first oblate, offered to the monastery by his noble Roman parents as a young boy to be brought up in the monastic life.

Four stories involving Maurus recounted by Gregory formed a pattern for the ideal formation of a Benedictine monk. The most famous of these involved Maurus's rescue of Placidus, a younger boy offered to Benedict at the same time as Maurus. The incident has been reproduced in many medieval and Renaissance paintings.

Maurus is venerated on January 15 in the 2001 Roman Martyrology on the same date along with Placid in the Proper Masses for the Use of the Benedictine Confederation.

Placidus was a disciple of Benedict of Nursia. He was the son of the patrician Tertullus, was brought as a child to Benedict at Sublaqueum and dedicated to God as provided for in chapter 69 of the Rule of St. Benedict. 

Born: 515 A D, Italy.

Died: 541 AD (age 26 years), Messina, Italy

Full name: Placidus. 

Saint Anthony was born at Coma, Upper Egypt, in 251, of rich and virtuous Christian parents. After dividing all his possessions among the poor while still a young man, he retired into the desert. Here he lived the life of a hermit for many years, practicing heroic mortifications and devoting himself to silence, prayer and manual labor.

After a severe probation of twenty years in spiritual trials and assault of the devil, the fame of his sanctity and miracles and the power of his example and word, drew to him hundreds of followers, to whom he gave guidance and a rule of life. In 304 he founded a religious community of cenobites who lived in detached cells. He died in 356,

at the age of 105.

Prayer:

 Lord God, You, gave St. Anthony the Abbot the grace of serving in the desert in prayer with You. Aided by his intercession, may we practice Self-denial and hence always love you above all things. Amen.