From Molesme to Citeaux

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If, due to the increase of the number of brethren, an abbot wishes to build an abbey, he should first look for a suitable site for the abbey; then he should show it to the two closest neighbouring abbots - if, that is, his own abbot is removed from him by a considerable distance - and let him do whatever they advise him. If, after listening to their advice he makes the abbey, he should either provide for the brethren whom he sends the necessities they require, or else look for such a person with the means to carry this out diligently, lest they should be devoting themselves to God’s service they be forced, driven by necessity, to beg shamefully.

[Institutes of the General Chapter, clause XXX, in Narrative and Legislative Texts from Early Citeaux, ed. and tr. C. Waddell (Citeaux, 1999), p. 468.]

The eleventh century was a time of religious reform and spiritual renewal. Robert of Molesme was typical of his age in trying to live a religious life of great simplicity. He founded a Benedictine monastery at Molesme, c. 1075, in order to be a centre of reform; it flourished and attracted a number of recruits, but Robert was still dissatisfied and sought greater poverty. With the support of Hugh, archbishop of Lyons, a breakaway group from Molesme established the ‘New Monastery’ in the marshy forest of Cîteaux, near Dijon, on 21 March, 1098 – the Feast of St Benedict.The small community embraced the severity and solitude of their new location, but were ‘withered of their shepherd’ in April 1099, when Robert was urged to return to Molesme.The monks of the New Monastery now elected Prior Alberic as their abbot. Alberic (1099-1109) consolidated the community and secured the papal privilege of 1100. He also oversaw their transfer from the original site at La Forgeotte to the present location, a distance of several kilometres.

Alberic was succeeded as abbot by an Englishman, Stephen Harding (1109-34), who had a long and distinguished abbacy. Harding’s example and personal appeal attracted significant donations, and under his leadership the New Monastery survived difficult times. During Harding’s abbacy Bernard of Clairvaux joined the Cistercians, and together these men reinvigorated the community. Numbers rose and in May 1113 Cîteaux founded the first of its daughter-houses, La Ferté. The following year Pontigny was established; in 1115 communities were founded at Morimond and Clairvaux. These abbeys were known as ‘the four elder-daughters’ and held a special position throughout the history of the Order.

Harding recognised the need for legislation to ensure uniformity, and drafted the official constitution of the Order, the Carta Caritatis (Charter of Love). This pioneering work established the necessary structure to maintain cohesion and regularity, and provided for future expansion of the order.