Germany: Historic Cistercian monastery to close

Source: Vatican Radio

A Cistercian monastery in Germany that is almost 900 years is closing. The Abbot of Himmerod Abbey, told German media on Saturday that the financial situation and the small number of monks had played a key role in a decision to close what is one of Germany's oldest houses of prayer and reflection. The Abbey was founded in 1134 by St Bernard of Clairvaux.

There are now just six resident monks. In the 1970s there were more than 30. The monastery's property, near the village of Grosslittgen, will be transferred to the Catholic diocese of Trier, while the six monks will move to other monasteries. It is not immediately clear what would happen to the monastery's other staff.

The closure comes as a setback for the Cistercians. Pope Francis recently told the order that from their "silent cloisters comes the unceasing prayer for the Church and the world."

Cistercian monasteries are divided into those that follow the Common Observance, the Middle Observance and the Strict Observance also known as Trappists.

But there are still more than 160 Trappist monasteries in the world, with more than 2,000 Trappist monks and around 1800 Trappist nuns.