OITA TRAPPIST MONASTERY
GENERAL GUIDE
Although familiarly known as "Trappists" our formal name
is the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance. We
are one of the religious orders belonging to the Roman Catholic Church.
The Cistercian Order has an ancient
history and we trace our origins to the year 1098 in Citeaux in the
Burgundy region of France.
The Cistercians are a contemplative Order following the observances of
the Rule of St. Benedict. Under
St. Bernard of Clairvaux the new Order witnessed a remarkable expansion
so that from the 12th to the 13th
centuries there were about 1800 monasteries of the Order spread
throughout Europe. Centuries later a part of
the Order followed the reformed strict observances of the abbey of La
Trappe in Normandy and so became
known as the Cistercians of the Strict Observance, or more popularly
called the "Trappists."
At present the total number of monks and nuns in our world wide order
totals about 4,500. We live a life of
"prayer and work" dedicated to world peace and the happiness of all
humankind.
Oita Trappist monastery is located on a hill in the Yufu
mountains commanding a fine view of Beppu Bay. As part
of the Roman Catholic Church our official name is, "The Order of
Cistercians of the Strict Observance, Our Lady
of the Annunciation Monastery"
The
first Trappist monastery in Japan was founded with assistance from
the French abbey of Bricquebec in
Normandy in 1896 (Meiji 29) and is located in Kamiiso near Hakodate,
Hokkaido.
We are located in Hiji town, Hayami-gun, in Oita prefecture. The
monastery was established in 1980 (Showa 55)
on July 11th, the feast of St. Benedict by seven monks who were sent
from the abbey of "Our Lady of the
Lighthouse" in Hokkaido. Living the monastic life of "prayer and work"
we follow the teachings of Christ and the
Rule of St. Benedict interceding for the salvation and peace of the
world.
It is said that St. Francis Xavier, the first to preach Christianity in
Japan landed at Hiji, and so like Nagasaki
this town is regarded as very important in the history of Japanese
Christianity.
Our monastic life is based on the Rule of St. Benedict
(480-547). This Rule contains a compendium of the
teachings of Jesus as found in the Gospels and they are intended to be
fully put into practice. This way of life
encourages us to always seek God with deep eyes of faith and to put
everything into practice in our daily life in
His presence.
Life in a Trappist monastery is lived with God in silence and solitude,
praying while working and working while
praying. As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ we offer our lives in
service for the salvation of all.
We remain separated from secular society and as such we do not engage
in direct evangelization. Nevertheless
through unceasing prayer, and a hidden penitential life, in a
mysterious manner God's grace is continually
implored for all of humanity.
-
- AM.3:30Rise
3:45Vigils
5:00Laud
5:45Mass
6:45Breakfast
7:15Lecio Divina
8:00Tierce
8:30Work
11:00End of Work
11:20Sext
11:30 Lunch
PM.1:30None
2:00Work
4:30End of Work
5:30Vespers
5:45Evening Meditation
6:00Supper
6:25Study . Conference
7:30Compline
8:00Retire
The day of the Trappist monk begins at 3:30 am. We live in
common as brothers celebrating the Eucharist,
praying the Divine Office seven times a day, working and devoting
ourselves to the prayerful reading of the
Scriptures. The small hours of the Divine Office, Tierce, Sext and None
are related to the division of time as it
was established in the Roman period. While our practice of silence is
not as absolute as in past times it still
remains a characteristic observance of Trappist life.
There are two monasteries of Trappist monks (Cistercians
of the Strict Observance) and five monasteries of
Trappistine nuns in Japan.
【monks】
Our Lady of
the Lighthouse Abbey
329 Mitsuishi
Kamiiso-Cho
Hokkaido 049-0283
Japan
Our Lady of the Annunciation Monastery
3350-7 Minamihata
Hiji, Hayami-gun
Oita-ken 879-1509
Japan
【nuns】
Our Lady of the Angels Abbey
346 Kamiyunokawa
Hakodate 042-0914
Japan
Our Lady of Nasu Abbey
3101 Toyohara, Nasu-Machi
Tochigi-ken 329-3224
Japan
Our Lady of Nishinomiya Abbey
3-46 Jurinji-cho
Nishinomiya 662-0003
Japan
Our Lady of Imari Abbey
P.O. Box 3, Imari
Saga-ken 848-0032
Japan
Our Lady of Azimu Abbey
Kayagomori Azimu-machi Usa-gun
Oita-ken 872-0723
Unlike the regional division of other religious orders into provinces,
each Trappist monastery is independent.
However the monasteries of Japan form a regional union with the other
Trappist monasteries of Asia and
Oceania. This Oriens region of the Order facilitates
communication and cooperation among the monasteries.
The following are some requirements for those who may be
considering a desire to enter the monastery:
The candidate must be a single male, baptized a Catholic for at least
three years, and zealously living the
Christian life. He must obtain the recommendation of his parish priest
and the consent of his parents to enter.
Such a candidate must be willing to live his entire life as a celibate
person. He must not have any family
dependents, and as a member of the Order he will not be able to have
personal possessions.
In addition to good physical and mental health one must have sufficient
adaptability to live a life in common with
others.
After entrance into the monastery there is a six-month period of
postulancy followed by a two-year novitiate
after which the candidate makes his first temporary vows. Following
this three year period, the monk makes his
solemn profession promising a life time commitment to monastic life.
Oita Airport. From there 30 min. by car.
Nippo-line JR to Beppu Station. From there 30 min. by car.
Kyudai-line JR to Yufuin Station. From there 30 min. by car.
From Fukuoka or Nagasaki take the express bus (Express for
Amama) to Oita. From the bus stop a 20 min. walk.
Traveling on the Usabeppu highway get off at the Hayami
interchange headed in the direction of the African
safari Park. 10 min. from there.
- For further details contact:
Oita Trappist Monastery, 3350-7 Minamihata, Hiji,
Hayami-gun, Oita-ken 879-1509 JAPAN
Tel. (81)-977 (67) 7523 FAX(81)- 977 (66) 7938
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