Citeaux Charter

The Citeaux Charter, established in 1098, is a foundational document of the Cistercian monastic order, founded at Cîteaux Abbey in France. It outlines the rules and practices that guide Cistercian life, emphasizing simplicity, self-sufficiency, and a return to the original monastic ideals of St. Benedict. The Charter promotes communal living, prayer, and work, stressing humility and the importance of agriculture. It helped shape the Cistercian movement's influence on European monasticism, focusing on rigorous adherence to discipline and a spiritual life connected to nature and community.