Description
The
Cistercians were founded in France in 1098 by Saint Roberto as a
reformatory
movement. He was inspired by the
actuation of the Saint Benedetto's rule which had the watchword “Ora et
labora”, that is pray and work.
The order
reached lots of vigour with Saint Bernardo who founded the mother abbey
of
Chiaravalle in France. From this one and from the other mother abbeys
come
hundreds abbeys all around Europe, like
our Morimondo abbey.
The Monks
devoted themselves in particular at field's works, at his improvement,
drainage
and irrigation. The Cistercians Monks of Parabiago were of “common
observance”,
that is the one with lower austerity. They wore a white tunic with cowl
and
black “patience” and cordon belt. In the religious functions they were
wrapped
in a white mantle. Around '700 the cistercian abbey of Saint Ambrogio
della
Vittoria was the most field's owner of Parabiago community, even more
than
nobles of that time. When the Parabiago's abbey was confiscated there
were 13
between monks and converges.
