The history of the foundation of Citeaux and the beginnings of the Order is recorded in the Foundational Texts. Some of the important subsequent Papal documents are given here.
Parvus Fons
In 1265 Pope Clement IV issued the bull Parvus Fons which was to regulate relations between the Abbot of Citeaux and the four proto-abbots (the abbots of La Ferté, Clairvaux, Morimond, and Pontigny), and thereby also regulated matters concerning the preparation and running of the General Chapters.
Fulgens Sicut Stella
Pope Benedict XII issued Fulgens sicut stella in 1335. Pope Benedict had been a Cistercian monk and abbot before he became a bishop and Pope and this document was intended to begin a reform of the Cistercian Order through four particular measures: economic consolidation of monasteries that were in debt, compulsory attendance at the General Chapter and the payment of annual contributions, tightening of discipline within the monastery, and the reorganization of theological studies for monks.
Articles of Paris
The General Chapter of 1494 approved a major collection of reforms which had been drawn up earlier that same year by Dom Jean de Cirey, the Abbot of Cîteaux, at a meeting in Paris with about 40 French abbots. Statute 35 of the Chapter confirms the acceptance of the document, and Statutes 36 to 39 of the Chapter form an introduction.
In suprema
The apostolic constitution In suprema was Issued in 1666 by Pope Alexander VII in response to an appeal by Dom Claude Vaussin, the Abbot of Citeaux, for help in dealing with divisions in the Order over the question of reform. The Pope recognized the need for a general reform and invited the Order to reflect on how to implement it.
Decree of 1834
Pope Gregory XVI issued a decree in 1834 which united the different houses of Trappists in France in one congregation within the Cistercian Order, known as “The Congregation of Cistercian Monks of Our Lady of La Trappe”.
Licet monachi
In 1847 Pope Pius IX issued the decree Licet monachi which amended with provisions of the decree of 1834 and provided for the creation two Trappist Congregations within the Cistercian Order. They were to be called “The Ancient Reform of Notre Dame de La Trappe” (who followed the Regulations of de Rancé) and “the New reform of Notre Dame de la Trappe” (previously the group led by Dom Augustine Lestrange but now following the Rule of St Benedict with the primitive constitutions of Cîteaux). The first congregation subsequently split into two separate congregations (Sept Fons and Westmalle).
The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance
In 1892 the three Trappist congregations united to form a new order, distinct from the Cistercian Order, called “The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance”. In 2008 a history of the OCSO in the Twentieth Century was published in English, French and Spanish.