Freddy Derwahl - The Last Monk of Tibhirine: A True Story of Martyrdom, Faith, and Survival

T HE MONASTIC ORDER OF THE TRAPPISTS IS THE RESULT OF several reform movements. It originated in the twelfth century in the French Abbey Cteaux (Burgundy). Rooted in the Benedictine order, the new branch spread all over Europe under the influence of Bernard of Clairvaux. After its demise in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the order whose monks called themselves Cistercians was reformed again, especially in 1662, under the guidance of Abbot Armand Jean de Ranc in the Abbey La Trappe (Normandy), from which the Trappists took their name. In the Catholic Church the order has had the name Cistercians of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.) since 1903.

The reform of La Trappe was characterized by a strict life of prayer and work, silence, nightly wakes, and asceticism. The spiritual life of the order draws on the Bible, the Rule of St. Benedict of Nursia, as well as mystical writings of the early monks and Desert Fathers. Trappist cloisters usually are located in remote areas and are characterized by simplicity. The monastery currently has one hundred and two communities worldwide with 2,083 members. The seventy-four convents have altogether 1,735 sisters (as of 12/2010).

In Germany, in the Eifel area, there are Trappist monasteries in Mariawald and in Maria Frieden (women); the Austrian Trappist monks live in Engelszell. The members of the order wear a white habit with a black scapular and leather belt and, as choir habit, the white monk cowl. The most famous among them, later in the twentieth century, were the Sahara hermit Charles Foucauld, the American writer Thomas Merton, as well as the prior of the Algerian monastery Tibhirine, Christian de Cherg.

Further information at www.ocso.org

ABOUT PARACLETE PRESS

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Paraclete Press is a publisher of books, recordings, and DVDs on Christian spirituality. Our publishing represents a full expression of Christian belief and practicefrom Catholic to Evangelical, from Protestant to Orthodox.

We are the publishing arm of the Community of Jesus, an ecumenical monastic community in the Benedictine tradition. As such, we are uniquely positioned in the marketplace without connection to a large corporation and with informal relationships to many branches and denominations of faith.

What We Are Doing

Books | Paraclete publishes books that show the richness and depth of what it means to be Christian. Although Benedictine spirituality is at the heart of all that we do, we publish books that reflect the Christian experience across many cultures, time periods, and houses of worship. We publish books that nourish the vibrant life of the church and its peoplebooks about spiritual practice, formation, history, ideas, and customs.

We have several different series, including the best-selling Paraclete Essentials and Paraclete Giants series of classic texts in contemporary English; Voices from the Monasterymen and women monastics writing about living a spiritual life today; award-winning poetry; best-selling gift books for children on the occasions of baptism and first communion; and the Active Prayer Series that brings creativity and liveliness to any life of prayer.

Recordings | From Gregorian chant to contemporary American choral works, our music recordings celebrate sacred choral music through the centuries. Paraclete distributes the recordings of the internationally acclaimed choir Glori Dei Cantores, praised for their rapt and fathomless spiritual intensity by American Record Guide, and the Glori Dei Cantores Schola, which specializes in the study and performance of Gregorian chant. Paraclete is also the exclusive North American distributor of the recordings of the Monastic Choir of St. Peter's Abbey in Solesmes, France, long considered to be a leading authority on Gregorian chant.

Videos | Our videos offer spiritual help, healing, and biblical guidance for life issues: grief and loss, marriage, forgiveness, anger management, facing death, and spiritual formation.

Learn more about us at our website: www.paracletepress.com, or call us toll-free at 1-800-451-5006.

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THE ENTIRE TEXT OF THE RULE IS HERE, PLUS A LENGTHY introduction from Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. Detailed explanatory notes throughout explain difficult passages. The result is a classic reintroduced that will enliven any twenty-first-century expression of religious community.

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Available from most booksellers or through Paraclete Press:
www.paracletepress.com 1-800-451-5006
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