Exordium Parvum

A 12th century Cistercian document that includes the early history of Cîteaux, incorporating official letters and documents with narrative.

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These men are from a certain place which is called the New Monastery; they left the church of Molesme with their abbot and went to live there for the sake of a stricter, more secluded life according to the Rule of the Blessed Benedict, which they had resolved to observe, having set aside the customs of certain monasteries…

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