Carthusian spirituality: solitude, silence, prayer 

I am beginning to believe that the only truly sane people today are living in monasteries.

Do not be afraid of silence. Silence is a wonderful companion.

I really love the Carthusians. I had the privilege of staying 'in cell' at Parkminster about 12 years ago, discerning a vocation.

I pray every day for the Carthusian monks intercession. I’m fascinated with their spirituality. They are the living Saints.

Thank you, Fr. Stephen. I live near a ruined Carthusian House, Mount Grace, in North Yorkshire (suppressed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII in the 1530s). Your description.of the monastery at Parkminster, and especially the little houses that are the cells, was instantly recognisable. One of the houses had been reconstructed and apart from the modern inclusion of a shower, is exactly the same. I have also watched the film 'Into Great Silence' about the La Grande Chartreuse at Grenoble.

Father, thank you. I was a Carthusian postulant in Italy. I just wanted to say there are no Carthusian nuns in England. At present there are only four nuns' monasteries, 2 in France, 2 in Italy, and 1 in South Korea. There are two separate vocations in the monasteries...choir monks and nuns, and converse ones who do all the household work and farming and laundry etc. And take the meals to the choir monks and nuns, which they leave in the hatch (guichet). Apart from Matins and Lauds (night Office....3 hours on Feasts), and Vespers in Choir, all other Offices are prayed alone in cell, plus the Office of Our Lady. Have you read AN INFINITY OF LITTLE HOURS about 5 novices in Parkminster? Many try the life but few make it to the end! As an Order they do very much need our prayer. +

Fascinating. I went for a drive to Parkminster some time ago, and parked near the front entrance. As I was waiting, a number of monks exited the front door and headed off into the countryside for their Monday walk. I knew that happens every week, as the great film, Into Great Silence, showed some great scenes of monks at the Carthusian mother house, sliding down a snow covered hill. That lengthy film was a real eye opener and anyone wanting to know about Carthusian life, ought watch that beautiful film. It took the Director about 20 years I think to get permission to go inside and film their life, with so many wonderful personal stories from monks inside. Such a powerful film. And yes, knock or call and you can’t get in.....A firm no.

Would love to see someday a film about Parkminster as was done with the Grande Chartreuse in 'Into Great Silence'.

I highly recommend the Ancient Devotions to he Sacred Heart of Jesus by Carthusian Monks of the 14-17th centuries. There is a free online copy of the book, too. I bring it to my Adoration hour.

What an interesting talk - and yes I will pray for those who pray for us

Well said, even if we don't live like a monk, we have times of solitude and we can learn from others. I'm retired and have struggled with the isolation suddenly thrust upon me.

I feel called to the Carthusians. I fear for my family, but I feel I need to at least visit them to discern it all.

They may not have a brewery but they certainly have a distillery at La Grande Chartreuse, they make Chartreuse liqueur. I´m not personally religious but saw "Into Great Silence" and found it somehow profoundly moving.

Yes Reverend Father, prayers now!🙏🙏🙏🙏

Back in 1975 I went to Srebna Gora (Silver Mountain) Camaldolese Hermitage of the Monte Corona Observance , and I was told that there was a Recluse residing there that had not had any contact with society for over 30 years. And guess what he still had all his marbles.

That was great,Thankyou from Ireland Fr Steven,God bless our Global Catholic family.

Thank you. Very inspirational and informative 🙏🙏❤️

I love listening to and learning of orders within Christ' church. I find the Carthusian order very impressive, on the way they live for God.

America has an English Speaking Charterhouse in Mt. Equinox, Vermont. A Very Beautiful Place ! And Steven.....Chartruse.......!!!

I love this spirituality, I would like attended a retreat transfiguration abbey

Do you have to almost get a cold to tell God that you need Him, you love Him, you long for Him? But I still admire the carthusians.

Thank you, Father, for explaining your experience so wonderfully, and especially the "airlock" between the cell and the cloister! After watching, "Into Great Silence", I have wondered if the doors from the cloister just open into the cells directly, which would seem rather abrupt. Thank you for resolving this little mystery for me!

How reassuring that your first memory of Charterhouse is the same as mine!

Thank you! Considering to be one...but God's Will be done.

Very interesting and informative. Thank you.

La Cartuja nunca ha sido reformada, por que nunca ha sido deformada.

Thank you father.

Thank you

God Please guid and always protect the Carthusians monks and nuns

Good video Father thank u

After watching the film I must admit they are a fascinating order.There sleeping pattern seems brutal to me.

Into Great Silence film of life at Grand Chartreuse - no extraneous music, no narration, just 2hours 40 minutes of life there.

God bless carthusian, from an orthodox.

Was the heremitage of Annaya of Saint Charbel was just as austere? They must be some kind of super heroes of the ecclesiastical spiritual people the heremitage!

Saying No to silencing, by others. Self imposed silence is fine.

Is it true that they pray the divine office as well as the little office of the blessed Virgin Mary everyday?

Could you also make a video about cistercian and trappist community, please ? Best wishes from Cologne.

Not a brewery, but the Grande Chartreuse in France makes the Chartreuse liqueurs, which the monks and nuns only use for medicinal purposes themselves, but sell world wide.

Didn't Our Lord Jesus risk upsetting the authorities to heal immediately the sick and stop their sufferings even if He happened to meet them on the Sabbath?

Any recent word on the Newman House student who entered a Charterhouse?

Hello

Reverend Father, why do the Car this Ian think that God Allmighty wants them to suffer? Jesus healed the sick to stop their suffering and resurrected the dead to stop their relatives' suffering and turned the water into wine just to make people merrier and preached to give hope and merriment in the fact that observing the loving word of God and to love your neighbour which brings joy and not sorrow nor pain. Even the Apostles healed people and stopped their suffering! I cannot understand why they believe that God wants them to freeze (and get sick) or be undernourished etc.

Please all Carthusian Pray for us!!!!✝️✝️✝️✝️🕎🕎🕎💒💒💒💒

Did you know that St Bruno was also the name of a tobacco in 1960's/70's.

google THE BRIEF RULE OF SAINT ROMUALD.

You started talking about fake outer space and fake outer space travel and fake cartoon fantasy spaceball earth and planets?!?!?!?! 17:20 ?!?!?!?!

Do they not have a true toilet? The Bible says "thou shall be clean and that waste (number 2 and 1) must be away buried outside the camp not near where you live) in theory it should be a little room just a minute bath with toilet sink shower and bide' (bird's should have a shower attachment to be really hygienic) for easily washing bottoms after each use even for the sick old or kids who may not balance well over the bath! In Italian and Greece every toilet has all four, basin, toilet shower bath and bide, otherwise you spread serious disease Escherichia coli is a merciless killer!

You mentioned that it isn't a theme park to be visited for spiritual experiences and then you go on to describe in detail how you visted it like a theme park for spiritual experiences. This feels like the religious version of a middle class dinner party with slides where the host bores you with their boasting of exclusive holidays or forbidden entry. This video does exactly what you claim the Carthusians don't want. Titillation, curiosity and religious tourism.

Thank you Fr Stephen. I really enjoyed your video talk on the Carthusians. I visited Parkminster for a week, in cell, on vocational discernment about 15 years ago I think. I found it a little scary at first, like I was really isolated. I was a little nervous and over awed when I was there. I was extremely impressed by the monks. To me they were like saints. Many times since I think I should have gone for it. But I wimped out. Now I wish I had done because, I think their charism really resonates with me. When I visited I had fears that I think were somewhat misguided or unfounded. I had incredible moments of spiritual joy in that hermitage. Spontaneous. Never felt that anywhere else. I was never bored and felt that the cell became a holy place as I lived deeply in the moment.

In solitude you come face to face with yourself and it's never pleasant and often scary. In solitude you come face to face with God and that, too, can be unpleasant and scary. But when we die we will come face to face with who we are and who God is anyway. As Mother Teresa once said (when she was ill with a fever) "you can burn now or burn later"! Some of us chose to "die to the world" before our physical death and we need a tried and true Rule like the great founders of religious orders left us to follow. We need not be afraid!

I pray that God keeps them strong and with all they need fiscally and spiritually and that He takes them with Him to rejoice forever in his kingdom! Please all Carthusian Pray for us!

We all stand together for the need of grace.

In hospital very busy doctors nurses cleaners scurrying around, machines beeping (unpleasantly some time) people suffering! Not very peaceful, I pray for all sick and all hospital staff!!! God please help them in your mercy! ✝️✝️✝️🕎🕎🕎🙏🙏

I lived the life for nine months in Vermont, US; The Charterhouse of the Transfiguration. (and 18 months with the Cistercians in Spencer, Massachusetts. St. Josephs) And no, it's not a retreat house... ) And yes, we brothers got up at 12 am (the Father's got up at I believe 11:15-30pm) for Vigils. This lasted about an hour and a half... more on major feast days. Then back to sleep until six. You actually got more sleep with the Carthusians (about 8 hours total) than with the Cistercians (about 7:15 though it was uninterrupted). Personally, I found the Carthusian life much easier. I was naturally a Carthusian. Though I was a Cistercian by grace... which, though more trying is ultimately more fruitful. ) It's very nice and easy to sit in ones chair and read stories about monastic life... Like heroic tales of old... But a day to day grind is the reality... A face to face with your own inner self. No distractions. No escapes. It's a hard reality... day after day. There are high points, don't be despairing, but... erase any romantic notions about the life itself.

Talk to God Allmighty,Talk to Our Lord Jesus, talk to Holy Mary ask for permission to talk to them about everything!

Thank you father for this beautiful video

Lovely presentation. Thank you

Thank you Father love all your wisdom and insights of living with hermits 🙏🌸.

Thanks that was a very interesting look at this reclusive order.

Just reading off of their website???

Thank you for your voice of reason

We miss your videos Reverend Father!

❤❤❤❤❤

The holy scriptures stand above silence of GOD.

I think God would be happier if they had a proper bathroom and heating too. But this is my opinion! Why would He want to cause His temples suffer?

If u are more interested in this channel ‘salvation is from the Jews’ saints and spirituality episode 4. The host discerned there, really cool insights

So are you saying that St Bruno knew better than Christ ,what is defensive avoidance even anal retentive man made obstructing that which God might bring and what is a necessary emphasis on prayer,contemplatin and por meditation ,umm.