New Melleray Abbey
Encyclopedia
New Melleray Abbey is located near Dubuque, Iowa
. The monk
s there are members of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (commonly called the Trappists
). The abbey is located about 15 miles southwest of Dubuque and is located in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The current Abbot is the Right Reverend Brendan Freeman.
Currently the Abbey is home to about 37 monks. Many of the monks work in farming, as much of their food comes from the fields surrounding the Abbey.
The Abbey is well known for crafting high-quality wooden caskets and urns. They use the caskets for deceased monks, as well as selling them commercially. One of their more famous customers is Cardinal
Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, California
, who has reserved a casket for his own eventual use. Former Dubuque Archbishop James Byrne
has been buried in a casket made by the Abbey. Dubuque native and actress Kate Mulgrew
recently made a radio commercial for New Melleray's casket business.
The monks have a daily routine that involves spending a large part of their day in prayer, work, and contemplation. In keeping with ancient monastic
traditions, they begin their day with Matins
at 3:15 AM, and end their days at 8:00 PM with Compline
.
After the close of the American Civil War
, the present stone structure was built. The plans were drawn up by John Mullany, a prominent Dubuque architect who had designed several Dubuque area churches. The monastery was built in a 13th Century Gothic architecture style.
Since the founding of the monastery in 1849, the monks have served the religious needs of the surrounding region. When the pioneers living in the area felt the need to build their own parish church, the monks provided pastors to the parish for over 100 years, and relatives of one monk provided funds to the parish. In 1889, the present parish church was dedicated, and named Holy Family
.
The Abbey has been remodeled several times. One of the most notable projects was the completion of the Abbey's chapel. Because of financial concerns, the Abbey's chapel was not completed as originally envisioned by the architect. It had originally been on the second floor of the east wing, then was moved in 1920 to the second floor of the north wing. In the 1970s, the abbey was able to convert the entire north wing of the Abbey into a permanent chapel. The chapel features a very simple and very elegant design. Red oak is used in the choir stalls, doors, Eucharistic chapel, and other furnishings. The altar was made of granite that had been quarried in Minnesota, and it weighs five tons. The Traveler's Chapel at Wall Drug
in Wall, South Dakota
is based on the chapel at New Melleray.
Recently, the Abbey has embarked on rebuilding the infirmary for the elderly and sick monks. This has become even more important as the average age of the monks is now above 70. The Abbey did build an infirmary in the 1950s, but it has since become outdated, thus the new infirmary is being built to take better care of the members of the community.
, a group of monks hailing from the New Melleray Abbey take up residence at the space station. First appearing in the episode Convictions
, the monks wish to learn more about the varied aliens and their beliefs, and support that work by offering their services as computer experts and engineers. Led by Brother Theo the monks prove valuable to the Babylon 5 station in their three appearances. The Cistercian monks on the show are portrayed in a positive light, especially in the episode Passing Through Gethsemane.
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. The monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s there are members of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (commonly called the Trappists
Trappists
The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance , or Trappists, is a Roman Catholic religious order of cloistered contemplative monks who follow the Rule of St. Benedict...
). The abbey is located about 15 miles southwest of Dubuque and is located in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The current Abbot is the Right Reverend Brendan Freeman.
Currently the Abbey is home to about 37 monks. Many of the monks work in farming, as much of their food comes from the fields surrounding the Abbey.
The Abbey is well known for crafting high-quality wooden caskets and urns. They use the caskets for deceased monks, as well as selling them commercially. One of their more famous customers is Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, who has reserved a casket for his own eventual use. Former Dubuque Archbishop James Byrne
James Byrne (Archbishop)
-External links:* at Find-A-Grave...
has been buried in a casket made by the Abbey. Dubuque native and actress Kate Mulgrew
Kate Mulgrew
Katherine Kiernan Maria "Kate" Mulgrew is an American actress, most noted for her roles on Star Trek: Voyager as Captain Kathryn Janeway and Ryan's Hope as Mary Ryan...
recently made a radio commercial for New Melleray's casket business.
The monks have a daily routine that involves spending a large part of their day in prayer, work, and contemplation. In keeping with ancient monastic
Monasticism
Monasticism is a religious way of life characterized by the practice of renouncing worldly pursuits to fully devote one's self to spiritual work...
traditions, they begin their day with Matins
Matins
Matins is the early morning or night prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox liturgies of the canonical hours. The term is also used in some Protestant denominations to describe morning services.The name "Matins" originally referred to the morning office also...
at 3:15 AM, and end their days at 8:00 PM with Compline
Compline
Compline is the final church service of the day in the Christian tradition of canonical hours. The English word Compline is derived from the Latin completorium, as Compline is the completion of the working day. The word was first used in this sense about the beginning of the 6th century by St...
.
History
The Abbey was founded on July 16, 1849, when the first six monks arrived at the present site of the abbey. This was after the Trappists were invited to settle in the area at the invitation of Bishop Matthias Loras. When the first six brothers finished a temporary building, 16 more monks came to live at New Melleray.After the close of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the present stone structure was built. The plans were drawn up by John Mullany, a prominent Dubuque architect who had designed several Dubuque area churches. The monastery was built in a 13th Century Gothic architecture style.
Holy Family Catholic Church (New Melleray)
Holy Family Catholic Church is a parish in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. It is located about ten miles south of Dubuque, Iowa. For many years, the monks of New Melleray Abbey provided care and support for the parish.-Early history:...
.
The Abbey has been remodeled several times. One of the most notable projects was the completion of the Abbey's chapel. Because of financial concerns, the Abbey's chapel was not completed as originally envisioned by the architect. It had originally been on the second floor of the east wing, then was moved in 1920 to the second floor of the north wing. In the 1970s, the abbey was able to convert the entire north wing of the Abbey into a permanent chapel. The chapel features a very simple and very elegant design. Red oak is used in the choir stalls, doors, Eucharistic chapel, and other furnishings. The altar was made of granite that had been quarried in Minnesota, and it weighs five tons. The Traveler's Chapel at Wall Drug
Wall Drug
Wall Drug Store, often referred to simply as "Wall Drug", is a tourist attraction located in the town of Wall, South Dakota, United States. It is a shopping mall consisting of a drug store, gift shop, restaurants and various other stores. Unlike a traditional shopping mall, all the stores at Wall...
in Wall, South Dakota
Wall, South Dakota
Wall is a town in Pennington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 766 at the 2010 census...
is based on the chapel at New Melleray.
Recently, the Abbey has embarked on rebuilding the infirmary for the elderly and sick monks. This has become even more important as the average age of the monks is now above 70. The Abbey did build an infirmary in the 1950s, but it has since become outdated, thus the new infirmary is being built to take better care of the members of the community.
Cultural references
In the third season of the science fiction television series, Babylon 5Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
, a group of monks hailing from the New Melleray Abbey take up residence at the space station. First appearing in the episode Convictions
Convictions (Babylon 5)
Convictions is an episode from the third season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:A series of random bombings threaten the station, with one explosion seriously injuring Lennier. Lennier saved Mollari from the explosion and was injured in his place. This affects Mollari...
, the monks wish to learn more about the varied aliens and their beliefs, and support that work by offering their services as computer experts and engineers. Led by Brother Theo the monks prove valuable to the Babylon 5 station in their three appearances. The Cistercian monks on the show are portrayed in a positive light, especially in the episode Passing Through Gethsemane.