What was the larger horizon that guided our founders’ decision to leave their monastery of Molesme to the wilderness of Citeaux?  We may ask the same question in this way: what was their dream? Dreams form the landscape, the horizon of our lives.  ‘Dreams’ come from a deep place within the individual and in the larger body of community and even an Order. 

(The Illustrated Capital "A" shown above is from the Bible of Stephen Harding, 12th Century, Abbey of Cîteaux, Dijon, France.  The illustration is of St Michael battling the Serpent.  The "A" introduces the Book of the Apocalypse, better known today as Revelations. Our founders were geniuses in the visual arts as well as the spiritual crafts.)

As part of the OCSO General Chapter, participants, Abbots, Abbesses and delegates attended a Papal Audience.  In his talk, Pope Francis spoke about the importance of dreams.  Dom Bernardus, our newly elected Abbot General, opened this year's chapter by inviting all the Superiors of our Order to share their dreams.  Over the course of the 3-week meeting in Assisi, the Superiors worked on many issues facing us today, but they also left room for creative responses to the challenges and opportunities.