!!!Zisterzienser

Cistercians (OCist or SOCist = Sacer Ordo Cisterciensis), White Monks 
or Bernardines, monastic order formed by a group of Benedictine monks, 
founded at Citeaux (Burgundy) in 1098; assumed European importance 
when St. Bernard of Clairvaux joined the order in 1112; established 
many monasteries in Austria, mostly in valley locations. The first 
Cistercian monastery in Austria was founded as early as 1129 at  Rein, 
Styria;  Otto von Freising called Cistercian monks from France to 
Lower Austria, where they founded a monastery on the Sattelbach stream 
in the Vienna Woods in 1133 (later to be called  Heiligenkreuz); many 
other monasteries were founded from Heiligenkreuz (e.g.  Lilienfeld,  
Zwettl. Owing to their colonisation efforts, particularly in remote 
forest areas, the Cistercians assumed outstanding importance in the 
12th and 13th centuries. They established model farms, promoted 
horticulture and wine growing, horse breeding, fish production, mining 
and wool trade, and contributed greatly to the spread and development 
of the art and culture of the High Middle Ages in Austria. Today, 
their focus is on pastoral care and education.

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The strict organisation of the Cistercian Order and the fact that the 
individual monasteries remained dependent upon their parent 
institution had considerable impact on their architecture, which was 
subject to extremely strict rules (no towers or spires, rectangular 
chancels without apses, flat-roofed naves, absence of ornamentation, 
compensated by the excellence and noble proportions of the masonry; 
except for wooden crucifixes, sculptures and paintings were forbidden, 
as was stained glass other than grisaille). This austerity was 
somewhat relaxed with the transition to  Gothic art; in the  Baroque 
period, the Cistercians vied with the other major  Orders  for 
architectural excellence. In art, Austria is indebted to the 
Cistercians for the early introduction of Gothic  Architecture (Hall 
choirs at Heiligenkreuz, Lilienfeld and Zwettl, numerous cloisters), 
which the master builders (Cistercian monks) brought from their parent 
monasteries in France. The Cistercians also contributed greatly to 
Austrian historiography (Otto von Freising,  Johann von Viktring,  
Gutolf von Heiligenkreuz, Annales Sancrucenses, Chronicon Zwettlense, 
Annals of Rein).

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During the Hussite wars and the Reformation many Cistercian 
monasteries were severely damaged and some completely destroyed, but 
the order witnessed a glorious revival during the Baroque era. In the 
course of Joseph I's reforms a number of monasteries were 
abolished or converted to other uses. In the 20th century the 
Cistercians regained importance, in particular in the field of 
education, and also engaged in some mission work in Latin America. (In 
1928 a mission was established in Bolivia by monks from Wilhering and 
in 1938 monks from Schlierbach founded an abbey at Jequitibà, 
Brazil).

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Cistercian abbeys in Austria: Austrian Congregation of the Sacred 
Heart at Rein (Styria,1129), Heiligenkreuz (Lower Austria, 1133), 
Zwettl (Lower Austria, 1138), Wilhering (Upper Austria, 1146), 
Lilienfeld (Lower Austria, 1202), Neukloster at Wiener Neustadt (Lower 
Austria, 1444, since 1881 a priorate of Heiligenkreuz), Schlierbach 
(Upper Austria, 1620); Mehrerau Congregation: Stams (Tirol, 1272), 
Wettingen-Mehrerau (Vorarlberg, 1854).

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Former Cistercian abbeys: Baumgartenberg (Upper Austria, 1141-1784), 
Viktring (Carinthia, 1142-1786), Marienberg (Burgenland, 1194-1532, 
razed), Schlaegl (Upper Austria, 1204, ceded to Premonstratensians in 
1218), Engelszell (Upper Austria 1293-1786, Trappist monastery since 
1925), Neuberg (Styria, 1327-1786), Saeusenstein (Lower Austria, 
1334-1789).

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The female order of Cistercians was founded almost simultaneously with 
the male order (first abbess appointed in 1125). The regulae governing 
female Cistercians are the same as those of the male order, and they 
are either directly subject to the order or to diocesan bishops. 
Principal activities are contemplation and handicrafts. They had 
institutions in Vienna (near the Stubentor Gate and in Singerstrasse), 
St. Bernhard bei Horn (1277-1610), Ybbs an der Donau (ca. 
1280-1598), Friesach (1251-1608) and Schlierbach (1355-1556, 1620 
reopened as a male monastery). Existing monasteries: Mariastern Abbey 
at Gwiggen-Hohenweiler (Vorarlberg), Priorate Marienfeld bei Maria 
Roggendorf (Lower Austria, newly founded, consecrated in 1982), 
Marienkron Abbey near Moenchhof (Burgenland); Mariengarten abbey in 
South Tirol/Alto Adige).

!Literature
L. Janauschek, Originum Cisterciensium, 1877; H. Rose, Die 
Baukunst der Zisterzienser, 1916; Festschrift zum 800-Jahr-Gedaechtnis 
des Todes Bernhards von Clairvaux. Oesterreichische Beitraege zur 
Geschichte des Zisterzienser-Ordens, 1954; H. Halm, Die fruehe 
Kirchenbaukunst der Zisterzienser, 1957; L. J. Lekai and A. 
Schneider, Geschichte und Wirken der weissen Moenche, 1958; A. 
Schneider (ed.), Die Cistercienser. Geschichte, Geist, Kunst, 
%%sup 3/%1986; J. Sydow, E. Mikkers and A. B. Hertkorn, Die 
Zisterzienser, %%sup 2/%1991; Die Zisterzienser in Oesterreich, Stand 
vom 1. 11. 1993.


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