Holy Cross Abbey – Wales
-
Velfrey Road, Whitland
Pembrokeshire, Wales, SA34 0QX - Cistercian
The Cistercians officially the Order of Cistercians, are a Catholic religious order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines and follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, as well as the contributions of the highly-influential Bernard of Clairvaux, known as the Latin Rule.
They are also known as Bernardines, after Saint Bernard himself, or as White Monks, in reference to the colour of the “cuculla” or cowl (choir robe) worn by the Cistercians over their habits, as opposed to the black cowl worn by Benedictines.
The Cistercian family comprises the Cistercians of the Strict Observance or Trappists, the Cistercians of the Common Observance, and a few smaller Orders including the Bernardine Cistercians. Lay Cistercians and Oblates are also part of the family.