Trappist Caskets is a work of the self-sufficient monks of New Melleray Abbey, located near Dubuque, Iowa. We are monks of the Roman Catholic Church who belong to the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, known as Trappists. The simple and yet structured Trappist day begins with our first prayers at 3:30 a.m. The life of a Trappist monk is wholly ordered to contemplation, as we are guided by the mandate to “Let nothing be preferred to the work of God.”
Founded in 1849, New Melleray Abbey was established at the time of the great famine by the monks of Mt. Melleray Abbey in County Waterford, Ireland.
As Cistercians, we follow the ancient monastic Rule of St. Benedict. Consistent with that rule, our vocation is expressed in a hidden life of silent prayer, community liturgy, and manual labor. Simple living is one of the hallmarks of our life. We support ourselves by the work of our hands.
New Melleray Abbey launched Trappist Caskets in 1999, when we began selling caskets and urns directly to families at wholesale costs. Our work at Trappist Caskets provides us with both meaningful work and vital financial support. We view our casket business as a ministry – a corporal work of mercy. We hope to impart a sense of sanctity into all that we make.
Throughout the course of a day, the sound of bells call us to prayer, to spiritual reading, to manual labor, or to simple enjoyment of the company of our brothers.
While it’s become commercially strategic these days for companies to talk about becoming “eco-friendly”, we at New Melleray Abbey have been guided by the spiritual mandate to practice responsible stewardship for over 160 years. Consequently, we work hard to be sustainable, even if it means less profit or slower production. Much of the wood we use is taken directly from our own award-winning 1200 acre forest. We manage our forest to be a diverse eco-system. Our plan calls for continuous forest improvement, which includes planting far more trees than we will ever harvest. In fact, a new tree is planted as a living memorial to every person who uses a Trappist casket or urn.
We are not a high volume manufacturer. We work at a monastic pace, paying close attention to detail. Our artisans employ techniques perfected through generations – producing caskets and urns of unique quality.
To learn more about New Melleray Abbey please visit: www.newmelleray.org
If you would like to learn more about the Trappist order, please visit www.trappists.org
