Father Immediate

Pater Immediat ( Latin pater immediatelyus , immediate father), also father abbot , is in the Cistercian and Trappist orders the name of the abbot of a mother monastery who is responsible for a daughter monastery and where necessary exercises supervisory and supervisory functions. In the case of the Cistercians and Trappists , the Father Immediate has corresponding functions towards the abbess or, in the case of priories, the prioress .

According to the statutes of the orders, the Father Immediat a. regular visits to the daughter monasteries and supports them in the event of particular difficulties. If an abbey is without an abbot, he has overall responsibility for the community and for an orderly transition. He leads the election of abbots and can appoint a superior ad nutum (that is, until further notice). He can intervene in the event of a conflict; he is also involved in the dissolution of an abbey. Certain processes, such as the permanent transfer of the stabilitas loci of a monk or nun to another abbey, require his consent.

In the Trappist Constitutions it says:

“Father Immediate watch over the progress of his daughter houses. While maintaining the independence of the daughter house, the Father Immediat should support the abbot in the exercise of his pastoral task, help him and promote unity in the community. If he sees that there are any precepts of the rule or the order being violated, he should, after consulting the abbot there, try to heal the situation with humility and love. "

- Constitutions and statutes of the monks of the Trappist order No. 74

Web links

Father Immediate. In: Orden-online.de. September 19, 2009.; accessed on January 1, 2020

Individual evidence

↑ Cistercians of Stricter Observance (OCSO): Constitutions of the monks. (pdf, 182 kB) Nos. 34, 39, 67, 783, 74, 75, 82, October 27, 2016, accessed on January 1, 2020 (English). Abbot Bernardus Peeters: Excerpts from a letter to the members of the Association of Friends and Supporters of the Mariawald Abbey. Mariawald Abbey, December 12, 2016, archived from the original on January 30, 2017 ; accessed on January 2, 2020 .

[1] Cistercians of Stricter Observance (OCSO): Constitutions of the monks. (pdf, 182 kB) Nos. 34, 39, 67, 783, 74, 75, 82, October 27, 2016, accessed on January 1, 2020 (English). Abbot Bernardus Peeters: Excerpts from a letter to the members of the Association of Friends and Supporters of the Mariawald Abbey. Mariawald Abbey, December 12, 2016, archived from the original on January 30, 2017 ; accessed on January 2, 2020 .