Cistercian and Monastic Studies Collection
Institute of Cistercian Studies Collection
One of our largest collections is the Cistercian manuscript and rare book
collection known as the Institute of Cistercian Studies Collection (ICS), which
contains medieval manuscripts, incunabla (books printed before 1501), and other
books printed before 1800.
These materials have been placed on permanent loan
here at Western Michigan University by a number of American Cistercian (O.C.)
and Trappist (O.C.S.O.) monastic communities. Prominent among our holdings is
the Obrecht
Collection from Gethsemani Abbey. The Cistercian's are a contemplative
monastic order founded by reformist Benedictines in France in 1098. The earliest
manuscript in the collection dates from before 1140.
Printed works in the collection
cover every aspect of Cistercian history and include many early editions of the
works of St. Bernard. The collection is also one of the best collections in the
United States of editions of the Rule of St. Benedict. |
