The General Chapter is a gathering of all the superiors of all the houses of the order, along with various advisors and invited guests. It takes place once every three years and lasts for four weeks.

The tradition of a "General Chapter" dates to the very beginning of the Cistercian Order. It differentiated the Cistercians from other orders, such as Cluny, which were centrally administered. It acknowledged that each abbey was an independent entity and had a say in the life of the order as a whole.

All business of the order happens at the Chapter. Each abbey has prepared a report of its own situation, and all of these will be reviewed and recommendations made. In addition, houses wishing to change their status, to become independent abbeys, or to change their mother house, for example, submit their requests to the General Chapter. Perhaps most importantly, changes to the constitutions or statutes of the order must be discussed and passed by the General Chapter.

Here is a link to the English page of the central OCSO website which in turn has a link to a blog recounting the Chapter's progress day-by-day:

Click here