Citeaux

Location

Official Name Abbaye N.-D. de Cîteaux

01

Country France

City St-Nicolas-lès-Cîteaux

Address CS 40046

Postcode 50047

Contact Information

Telephone [33] (3) 80.61.11.53

Community Email [email protected]

Website www.citeaux-abbaye.com

Superior Dom Pierre-André Burton, Abbé 2021

Other Information

Juridical Status Abbey

Diocese Dioecesis Divionensis (Dijon)

OCSO Region CNE

Founded/Restored 1898

Origins

Founded 21 March 1098 by Ss. Robert, Alberic, Stephen and their companions.  It was suppressed during the French Revolution and re-established on 1 October 1898 by monks from various houses.

History

1898: Citeaux was purchased and repopulated by monks sent from various monasteries of the Order.  Dom Chautard, Abbot of Chambarand, was made superior.  Regular life began 1 October 1898.

1899: The community was granted the faculty to elect its own abbot by an indult dated 11 January of that year.  Dom Sebastian Wyart, already abbot general, was elected abbot of Citeaux. On 4 July a rescript re-established Citeaux as motherhouse of the Order honore et auctoritate princeps and, in fact, the seat of the abbot general.  Dom Robert Lescand was designated auxiliary superior Oct. 4.

1914-1918: The monastery serves as a military hospital.

1939-1940: The guest house serves as a military hospital.

1953: More of the former property of Citeaux is purchased.

1962: The general chapter modifies the governance of Citeaux: from now on, the abbot general would be the arch-abbot of Citeaux and the community would elect an abbot who would have full right de regimine, etc.

1963: A decree of 15 January approves the modifications proposed by the general chapter of 1962.  On 19 March Dom Jean Chanut is elected abbot general.

1971: Renovation  and consecration of the church.

1990: Until the next general chapter, the abbot general, after having consulted the brothers of Citeaux, would designate three abbots from outside the filiation to act together as juridical recourse.

1993: The abbot general will act in everything as father immediate to the community of Citeaux.

Juridical recourse for the community of Citeaux is constituted by the abbots of the four most senior houses of the Order after Citeaux: La Trappe, Westmalle, Melleray and Port-du-Salut.

Father Immediate

Abbot General

Daughter Houses

La Trappe; Port-du-Salut;  Sept-Fons (1898 -1963, 1965 – ); Bricquebec.
Westmalle (1898-1972); Aiguebelle (1898-1963); Oelenberg (1898-1963); Clarté-Dieu (1955-1963).

Lay Associates

1) Association Grange Saint Bernard de Clairvaux;

2) Pres De Cîteaux

Important Figures

St Robert; St Alberic; St Stephen Harding

Past Superiors

Jean-Baptiste CHAUTARD — Superior — 01/10/1898 – 01/10/1899
Robert LESCAND — Auxiliary Superior — 21/04/1899 – 14/09/1923
Fabien DUTTER — Auxiliary Superior — 15/09/1923 – 17/09/1932
Godefroid BELORGEY — Auxiliary Superior — 01/11/1932 – 17/09/1952
Jean CHANUT — Auxiliary Superior — 18/09/1952 – 19/03/1964
Jean CHANUT — Abbot — 19/03/1964 – 09/06/1969
Loys SAMSON — Abbot — 25/06/1969 – 22/01/1993
Gérard DUBOIS — Sup. ad nutum — 22/01/1993 – 05/08/1993
Olivier QUENARDEL — Abbé 05/08/1993 – 15/09/2021

Work and Sources of Income

Farming and cheese production

Guest Facilities

40 persons + a house for groups of young people (up to 30)

Transportation

Gare destinataire: Dijon, 25 km. Autobus: AMCO, Gare routière (à côté de la gare SNCF). Ligne 43 Dijon.

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