La Trappe
a Cistercian abbey of Northern France, in a narrow valley of Normandy, 30 miles N. E. of Alençon.
Founded in 1140, it had become in the 16th century a haunt of licentious monks known as the bandits of La Trappe. In the 17th century, however, the Abbot Armand Jean le Bouthelier de Rancé instituted a vigorous reform, and caused the monks to adopt a life of severe asceticism. The austere Trappists prayed 11 times daily, spoke no word to each other except the salutation of Memento mori (Remember thy death), fed on fruit and pulse, and every evening dug their graves. At the Revolution the own Trappists were obliged to leave France, but at the Restoration they returned to their old homes, though expulsions took place again in 1880. La Trappe continues to be the head monastery of the order, and they have also establishments in various parts of Europe, and in America. The professed brothers wear a a dark-colored frock, cloak, and hood, which covers the whole face. A female order of Trappists was founded by Louisa, Princess of Condé.