Sr Laura Begins Cistercian Monastic Formation in Rome

Today, Saturday 22 August, Sister Laura has set out from Glencairn on an important new stage in her monastic journey. She is travelling to Rome to take part in the Cistercian Monastic Formation (CFM) course, which begins on 24 August and continues until 18 September.

The CFM is a course of monastic formation hosted at the Generalate of the Cistercian Order in Rome. It brings together monks and nuns from the Cistercian, Trappist and Benedictine traditions for a rich programme of study, prayer and reflection on the sources of monastic life.

During the course, participants explore a wide range of subjects including Sacred Scripture, the history of monasticism, monastic theology, the Rule of St Benedict, the Cistercian Fathers, liturgical theology and the spirituality of religious life.

The course will give Sister Laura the opportunity to deepen her understanding of the tradition, while also meeting other junior monks and nuns from different Cistercian and Benedictine communities. It is a chance to learn from the richness and diversity of the wider monastic family.

We accompany Sr Laura with our prayers and entrust this time of formation to the Lord. May these weeks in Rome be a time of learning, encounter and grace, helping her to grow ever more deeply in her love of Christ.

We look forward to welcoming her home to Glencairn in September and hearing something of all that she has received and discovered during this special time of formation.