Glencairn Associates Meeting

Six persons  renewed their Promise, Jean, Elaine, Aine,Helen, Kathy and Sheila, and Anne Marie made her promise for the first time. Several Associates were unavoidably absent and we had 2 new observers.

This  promise is a simple commitment to try to live the Cistercian Charism ( in the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict.) in ways that are suitable to the circumstances of each ones daily life, the central aim being to seek God, to deepen ones Baptismal consecration and to glorify God in all the events of ones life.

This little covenant with God entails on -going conversion expressed in attending the Eucharist weekly, engaging in some Lectio Divina and in some small portion of the Divine Office daily. Associates also try to simplify their lives and to seek the values of silence and prayer as possible.They support and care for each other in all this. They meet with us 4 times each year and have a long week-end retreat. Several Associates give us some welcome voluntary help in our activities and in other ways also.

Recent General Chapters of our Order have expressed their  appreciation of this new Associate body wherever they are throughout the world ,seeing it as an authentic expression of the Cistercian charism ( a new branch on the Cistercian family tree, it has been termed) ! While travelling together to the same goal ,in the same spirit, we are still quite distinct but we mutually enrich one another.Our associates find this way a big encouragement  in living  their Christian commitment.