Cistercians

The Cistercians were a monastical movement in the 11th and 12th centuries which sought to return to literal observance of the [|Rule of St Benedict]. Rejecting the forms of landholding wealth that earlier Benedicitines had turned to in order to maintain their abbeys, Ciestercian monks tried to reproduce life exactly as it had been in [|Saint Benedict's] time; indeed in various points they went beyond it in austerity. The most striking feature in the reform was the return to manual labor, especially field-work, a special characteristic of Cistercian life. Cistercian abbeys also refused to admit children, allowing adults to choose their religious vocation for themselves – a practice later emulated by many of the older Benedictine houses.

- This is important because it demonstrates a desire to forgo wealth and opulence on the grassroots level: reform of clergy's lifestyle - Can be seen as part of the Gregorian reform movement - Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was the most influential member.