Exordium is a program of reflection and study on the Cistercian reform offered to all Cistercian houses in honor of the Ninth Centenary of the founding of Cîteaux (1098-1998). It was prepared by Father Michael Casey of Tarrawarra Abbey in Australia.

Letter of the Abbot General presenting the Program.

(Note: In order to read the following units, you will need to have the software Acrobat Reader of Adobe. If you do not have it, you can download it free of charge from the Adobe Homepage.)

• Introductory Unit 
• Unit One:         Historical Context of the Foundation of Cîteaux 
• Unit Two (a) : The Founders 
• Unit Two (b) : The Founders (Primary Sources) 
• Unit Three :     Primitive Cistercian Documents 
• Unit Four :       Reading the Exordium Parvum 
• Unit Five :        Reading of the Carta Caritatis 
• Unit Six :         The Paternity of St. Benedict 
• Unit Seven:     Unanimity 
• Unit Eight:       Austerity 
• Unit Nine:        Liturgy 
• Unit Nine a):   Gregorian modes 
• Unit Ten:         Communion 

See also a new English translation of the Primitive Documents of
Cîteaux by Father Chrysogonus Waddell of Gethsemani Abbey, USA.

  ocsoroma@ocso.org