St. Mary's Abbey, Glencairn
Encyclopedia
Mount Saint Mary's Abbey is a monastic community of nun
s located in County Waterford
in Ireland
. The community belongs to the Trappist
branch of the Cistercian order, thus the nuns are commonly referred to as Trappistines. The original community of this monastic tradition had been welcomed to Ireland by St. Malachy in 1142.
The monastery was founded in 1932 by nuns from the Abbey of the Holy Cross—located at that time in Stapehill, England
--which itself had been founded in 1802 by a small group of refugee nuns from France, led by a nun who had been imprisoned in the Bastille
during the French Revolution
, and narrowly escaped being sent to the guillotine
.
It was the first community of Cistercian nuns to be founded in Ireland since the Dissolution of the Monasteries
by King Henry VIII (1536–41). To date it is the only such community in the nation. It went on to found Mount Saint Mary's Abbey
, the first community of Cistercian nuns in the United States in 1949.
The community consists of 37 nuns (as of 2010), who support themselves in standard Cistercian practice through the farming of their 200 acre farm, the baking of altar breads
and providing greeting and spiritual cards for all occasions, both printed and handcrafted.
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s located in County Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The community belongs to the Trappist
TRAPPIST
TRAPPIST is Belgian robotic telescope in Chile which came online in 2010, and is an acronym for TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope, so named in homage to Trappist beer produced in the Belgian region. Situated high in the Chilean mountains at La Silla Observatory, it is actually...
branch of the Cistercian order, thus the nuns are commonly referred to as Trappistines. The original community of this monastic tradition had been welcomed to Ireland by St. Malachy in 1142.
The monastery was founded in 1932 by nuns from the Abbey of the Holy Cross—located at that time in Stapehill, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
--which itself had been founded in 1802 by a small group of refugee nuns from France, led by a nun who had been imprisoned in the Bastille
Bastille
The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. The Bastille was built in response to the English threat to the city of...
during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, and narrowly escaped being sent to the guillotine
Guillotine
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out :executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which an angled blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the head from the body...
.
It was the first community of Cistercian nuns to be founded in Ireland since the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
by King Henry VIII (1536–41). To date it is the only such community in the nation. It went on to found Mount Saint Mary's Abbey
Mount Saint Mary's Abbey
Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey is a monastic community of some fifty Trappistine nuns in Wrentham, Massachusetts. The more complete, formal name of the Order is the Cistercians of the Strict Observance , whose founding at Cîteaux, France dates back to 1098...
, the first community of Cistercian nuns in the United States in 1949.
The community consists of 37 nuns (as of 2010), who support themselves in standard Cistercian practice through the farming of their 200 acre farm, the baking of altar breads
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
and providing greeting and spiritual cards for all occasions, both printed and handcrafted.