We all need mentors who guide us into the deeper reality of what we live, and who support us as we advance. The Cistercian Fathers and Mothers can be real mentors for us. The main goal of Cistercian Mentors is not so much to know what Bernard, Aelred or William said, but to meet the Christ they searched for and found. They wrote for us so that we can find in the field of our daily lives –ordinary, obscure and laborious as they are- the treasure we pre-tasted, and for which, full of joy, we sold everything to buy that field. They can guide us so that we can dig deeper and deeper and encounter the riches hidden in the Scriptures, our liturgy, work, prayer and common life. 

Main Lines of Cistercian Mentors

A.      Every 6 months we will propose a chapter or sermon by a Cistercian Father or Mother to be read by all the participants.

B.      A short introduction and application will be also provided. They both have three goals:

1.      Create a bridge between the thought of the Cistercian authors and contemporary thought

2.      Foster the interest and focus the reflection

3.      Help to internalize the reality presented in the text and to connect it with our own experience

C.      We encourage the participants to:

1.      read the proposed text

2.      read the introduction & application (if they get lost they could read the introduction before finishing the text the 1^st time)

3.      read slowly the proposed text for a second time

4.      choose a short passage from the text, and write a brief response 

D.     In addition, they are welcome to:

1.      write a longer commentary

2.      propose to the facilitator other values or sermons they would like to reflect on

3.      propose other short quotes and write a brief response