visited La Trappe, undertook a new reform of the Cistercian rule, and
thus became the founder of that branch of this Order which became
known as the congregation of La Trappe. In consequence of the
Revolution of 1789, one of the Trappist Fathers, Dom Augustin
conducted twenty-four of his brethren from France to Valsainte, in
Switzerland. Here they decided to adopt a rule still more strict than
that which they had hitherto observed. This step occasioned a
division in the Trappist Order: some monasteries following the rule
of Valsainte, others that of de Rance'. An appeal to Rome resulted in
a decree dated October 3rd, 1834, by which all Trappist monasteries
were placed under one government. The decree not having however had
the desired effect, the Holy See decided in 1847 to sanction two
distinct congregations, one to follow the constitution of de Rance',
and the other to observe the rule of St. Benedict, with the primitive
constitution of the Cistercian Order. To the latter congregation
belong the Trappist monasteries of Canada and the United States,
whose time-table on week days during winter is as follows:--

At two o'clock, a. m., the Trappists rise and proceed to their
chapel, where they devote their time to the recitation of the Office,
meditation, &c., till 7.45, when they have High Mass, followed by
manual labor, which, with the interruption of only half an hour given
to the recitation of Office and examen of conscience, continues till
2 p. m.; ten minutes more and they break their long fast of twenty-four
hours with the lean and only repast of the day. At 6 p. m. begins
spiritual reading, immediately followed by compline and other
devotional exercises till 7, when they retire to their much needed
rest on their hard straw mattresses. Perpetual silence is prescribed,
unless in case of necessity, so that the Trappist's whole life is one
of extraordinary austerity and of incessant recollection, reminding