Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
New Melleray, Iowa (Trappist Abbey); Religious communities--Iowa; Monastic and religious life; Religious communities; Iowa;
Abstract
"Voices from the Cloister" is a study of the major facets of the recent history of Our Lady of New Melleray Abbey, a monastery of the Cistercian Order located in Dubuque County, Iowa. More precisely, t his project focuses on the changes which have occurred in the nature of monastic life and spirituality as practiced at New Melleray in the post-World War II era. Throughout, an attempt has been made t o demonstrate how the dynamics and values of contemporary society have effected the form of contemplative life instituted by St . Benedict in the sixth century and codified in his Rule. The monastic foundations of North America in general, and New Melleray in particular, have not been the subject of extensive historic al scholarship; hence, the methodologies of oral history were used to supplement published sources and the documents obtained from the New Melleray Archives. In the Fall of 1988, confidential interviews were conducted with twelve men who were or had been members of the New Melleray community. The information obtained from these interviews provided essential material not contained in any documentary records. The introduction orients the lay reader to the basic tenets and practices of Benedictine monasticism, reviews the research methodologies, and includes a glossary of terms specific to the monastic life . A brief overview of the history of western Christian monasticism is provided in the first chapter. The circumstances and personalities surrounding the origin of the Cistercian Order in the eleventh century are given special attention, as are the transformations which have occurred in the order since that time. The story of New Melleray's founding in 1849 is also recounted. Three topical chapters focus on the primary facets of New Melleray's recent past. The first of these examines the exponential growth of the community in the immediate post-war years and the precipitous decline in membership during the sixties and seventies. The impact of the monastic renewal engendered by the Second Vatican Council upon the Cistercian Order and New Melleray is addressed subsequently. The structural changes in the economic life of the monastery are explored in the final topical chapter. An integrative essay concludes the thesis.
Year of Submission
1989
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of History
First Advisor
Charles E. Quirk
Second Advisor
Thomas G. Ryan
Third Advisor
David A Walker
Date Original
1989
Object Description
1 PDF file (167 leaves)
Copyright
©1989 Benedict Julian Hussmann
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Hussmann, Benedict Julian, "Voices From the Cloister: Oral Perspectives on the Recent History of New Melleray Abbey" (1989). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 3008.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/3008
Comments
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