Trappist Monastery Maria Resort

Sandwiched between De Moeren and the Pannenhoef is the Trappist monastery, complete with estate, consisting of cultivated land, forest and heathland. Trappists did not exist until 1892, when the monastic order of Cistercians split into two independent orders, that of the ? Ordinary maintenance? and that of the ? Strict maintenance?. The latter became Trappists. Ideals of this contemplative or ?contemplative? Order are an extremely austere life (including vegetarianism), life of Han¡den labor, and minimal contact with the outside world. Economic independence was guaranteed by the clearing of wild land, the clearing of forests and the draining of swamps. The Trappist monastery of Zundert was founded in 1900 from the Trappist monastery ? King's hooves? just east of Tilburg. A pious Zundertse donated a farm with land to the Trappists of Koningshoeven on condition that a monastery was also established in Zundert; which happened the same year with the establishment of 12 fathers. Many monasteries have a legend that precedes the foundation, including this one. In 1865 a peasant named Petrus Schrauwen was nicknamed ? Pietoom?, digging on the moor, until he was overcome with sleep. He flattered himself at the edge of the forest and had a dream that later turned out to be a vision. Before his mind's eye rose a large building with many windows, standing on the spot of ground where he was just working. Immediately after waking up, he rushed to his sister, ? Aunt Mie?, with whom he lived, and told his dream. Unfortunately, these modest people - they did not want to make a figure - did not immediately report the dream to the church authorities. They waited exactly half a century until the monastery was almost completely there.

Toineke