Paul KeenanThe renowned Cistercian monastery, Mount St Joseph Abbey in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, is to open its doors this month to those interested in experiencing monastic life.
Extending an invitation to “experience the rhythm of monastic life” for one weekend, June 6-8, Mount St Joseph is to welcome men aged 20 to 40 interested in seeing the reality of life as a Cistercian within the abbey and those already discerning a monastic vocation. Saint Malachy of Armagh was instrumental in establishing the Cistercian Order in Ireland. On his way to Rome in 1139 he visited Clairvaux in France and was so impressed by the life of the Cistercian monks that, on his return leg, he left behind him there some of his Irish companions to be trained as Cistercian monks, and he sent more Irish postulants to France for the same purpose when he arrived back in Ireland. In 1142 Clairvaux sent the first Cistercians to Ireland. A strong Cistercian legacy was thus created, and Mount Saint Joseph Abbey was founded in 1878.