Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey
Encyclopedia
The Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey is located near Dubuque, Iowa
. The nuns there are members of the Order of the Cistercian Strict Observance (Trappists
), part of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The current Abbess is Sr. Nettie Louise Gamble.
Currently the Abbey is home to about 30 nuns, who, as is required by the Rule of St Benedict
, spend their days in a balance between choral and private prayer, lectio divina (meditative reading of Scripture and other spiritual books), and manual labor. The Abbey supports itself primarily with candy making, but also farms the land it owns on the bluffs of the Mississippi River
. Visitors are welcome to make a retreat and stay in any of several guest houses on the property but these are often booked months in advance.
The nuns have a daily routine that involves spending a large part of their day in prayer, work, and contemplation. Each day begins with the Office of Vigils
at 3:45 a.m.. Compline
, the last prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours
, is at 7:15 p.m.
The Abbey is well known for candy, Trappistine Creamy Caramels. From September through December the Sisters make over a ton of caramels each week and ship them world-wide. The nuns operate an on site gift shop stocked with candy from their factory as well as various religious gifts.
to the present site of the abbey. The Sisters began candy making soon after, but also attempted to support the Abbey through farming, growing Christmas trees, and raising livestock. Although candy is now their main support, they still raise some cattle and the farm is certified organic. Much of their land has been returned to forest.
In 1999, the nuns of the Abbey decided to begin a monastery, Tautra Abbey
, in Tautra
, Norway
, and five nuns of Mississippi Abbey and two Norwegian nuns from other monasteries arrived there. In March, 2006, Tautra Mariakloster became an autonomous priory.
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 nuns there are members of the Order of the Cistercian Strict Observance (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...
), part of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The current Abbess is Sr. Nettie Louise Gamble.
Currently the Abbey is home to about 30 nuns, who, as is required by the Rule of St Benedict
Rule of St Benedict
The Rule of Saint Benedict is a book of precepts written by St. Benedict of Nursia for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot. Since about the 7th century it has also been adopted by communities of women...
, spend their days in a balance between choral and private prayer, lectio divina (meditative reading of Scripture and other spiritual books), and manual labor. The Abbey supports itself primarily with candy making, but also farms the land it owns on the bluffs of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. Visitors are welcome to make a retreat and stay in any of several guest houses on the property but these are often booked months in advance.
The nuns have a daily routine that involves spending a large part of their day in prayer, work, and contemplation. Each day begins with the Office of Vigils
Vigils
Vigils is a term for night prayer in ancient Christianity. See Vespers, Compline, Nocturns, Matins, and Lauds for more information. A Vigil is a night spent in prayer....
at 3:45 a.m.. 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...
, the last prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours
Liturgy of the hours
The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office is the official set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited at the canonical hours by the clergy, religious orders, and laity. The Liturgy of the Hours consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and readings...
, is at 7:15 p.m.
The Abbey is well known for candy, Trappistine Creamy Caramels. From September through December the Sisters make over a ton of caramels each week and ship them world-wide. The nuns operate an on site gift shop stocked with candy from their factory as well as various religious gifts.
History
The Abbey was founded in 1964 when the first thirteen Sisters traveled from Mt St. Mary’s Abbey in Wrentham, MassachusettsWrentham, Massachusetts
Wrentham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,955 at the 2010 census.- History :Wrentham was first settled by the English in 1660 and officially incorporated in 1673. It was burned down during King Philip's War 1675-1676. For a short time, it was the...
to the present site of the abbey. The Sisters began candy making soon after, but also attempted to support the Abbey through farming, growing Christmas trees, and raising livestock. Although candy is now their main support, they still raise some cattle and the farm is certified organic. Much of their land has been returned to forest.
In 1999, the nuns of the Abbey decided to begin a monastery, Tautra Abbey
Tautra Abbey
Tautra Abbey was a monastery of Cistercian monks founded in the 13th century on the island of Tautra in the Trondheimsfjord. That abbey flourished and lasted until the 16th, when it was closed as part of Norway's acceptance of the Protestant Reformation. At the end of the 20th century, a community...
, in Tautra
Tautra
Tautra is an island in the municipality of Frosta in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the Trondheimsfjord, just north of the city of Trondheim. The island is connected to the rest of Frosta by a long causeway bridge....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, and five nuns of Mississippi Abbey and two Norwegian nuns from other monasteries arrived there. In March, 2006, Tautra Mariakloster became an autonomous priory.