Our Lady of the Angels Trappistine Monastery

Our Lady of the Angels Trappistine Monastery (commonly known as Tenshien), was founded in 1898 by eight nuns dispatched from the Abbey of Ubexy near Nancy, France. In order to spread Christianity to Japan, especially in Hokkaido, and to achieve a rich spiritual harvest, it was keenly felt that the spiritual assistance of the Trappistine nuns was necessary because of the witness of their offering of prayer day and night and their proven respect for work. This became a reality at that time due to the efforts of Bishop Alexandre Berlioz of the Paris Foreign Mission Society. At present, the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance has spread throughout the world, and monks and nuns continue to respond to God's invitation, following the Rule of St. Benedict, living consecrated lives as contemplative monastic religious.

Additionally, visitors to the abbey will definitely want to buy and bring home madeleines, the French cakes that the nuns make. The cakes have a simple taste reminiscent of long ago, achieved by using a traditional French recipe and no additives. These madeleines can only be purchased from the shop inside the Trappistine Abbey. Because the cakes are made by hand, there is only a limited number of them. It's a popular product that often sells out in the morning, so anyone who wants to try them should plan their visit early.

References:

• Our Lady of the Angels Trappistine Monastery

Address

Hakodate, Japan

Details

Founded: 1898
Category: Religious sites in Japan