SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY Saints celebrated on the 26th of January WELCOME! THE FIRST ABBOTS OF CÎTEAUX The first three abbots of Cîteaux are regarded as the Founders of the Cistercian Order:  Saint Robert of Molesme , Saint Alberic , and  Saint Stephen Harding  were the pioneers of the monastery in Cîteaux, France. Their way of life was based on a particular interpretation of the Rule of  Saint Benedict . The Cistercian Order celebrates their joint feast ( January 26 ) as a solemnity. PRAYER: Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of the first abbots of Cîteaux may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH Saints celebrated on the 28th of March WELCOME! SAINT STEPHEN HARDING, ABBOT  Saint Stephen Harding, the third Abbot of Cîteaux, was born at Sherborne in Dorsetshire, England, about the middle of the eleventh century; he died March 28 , 1134 .  THE NEW FOUNDATION He received his early education in the monastery of Sherborne and afterwards studied in Paris and Rome. On returning from the latter city he stopped at the monastery of Molesme and, being much impressed by the holiness of Saint Robert , the abbot, joined that community. Here he practised great austerities, became one of  Saint Robert ’s chief supporters and was one of the band of twenty-one monks who, by authority of Hugh, Archbishop of Lyon , retired to Cîteaux to institute a reform in the new foundation there.  HE INSISTED ON STRICT OBSERVANCE When  Saint Robert  was recalled to Molesme (1099), Stephen became prior of Cîteaux under  Alberic , the new abb...