What is Cistercian?
The term '''Cistercian''' is used to refer to an order of [[Roman Catholic]] [[monk]]s. Officially the order is called ''Ordo Cisterciensis'' (''OCist''), or ''Sacer Ordo Cisterciensis'' (''SOC''). These people follow the same rules as the [[Benedictine]]s, that is to say those of [[St Benedict]]. Over time, the Benedictines made some changes to the rules and the way of life. The Cistercians reject these. They went back to what St Benedict had taught. Sometimes their rules were more strict than those St Benedict had given. They also went back to [[manual labour]], especially work in the fields. Because of this, the Cistercians helped spread [[technology|technologies]] around Medieval [[Europe]]. In [[1882]] certain [[monasteries]] formed a new order, called the [[Trappist]]s. With time, they split completely from the Cistercians. {{religion-stub}} [[Category:Roman Catholic religious orders]]