Carthusian Books
Views from the Outside and Inside
Carthusian life, as a more solitary monastic form, has a degree of “separation from the world.” Indeed, this has led to a certain mystique, since the life is less accessible to and more hidden from those on the outside.
There are some non-Carthusians who have written about what it is like, providing a glimpse into the life from an outsider's perspective. Three more and less well-known books are as follows:
Halfway To Heaven: The Hidden Life of the Carthusians by Robin Bruce Lockhart (1999).
An Infinity of Little Hours: Five Young Men and Their Trial of Faith in the Western World's Most Austere Monastic Order by Nancy Klein Maguire (2007).
Le paradis blanc by Pierre Van der Meer de Walcheren (1939).
(The last one is particularly fascinating, although not readily available outside of Europe, nor in English translation, as far as I know.)
Perhaps more revealing and, in certain respects, more truly reflective of the actual nature of Carthusian life, are books written by Carthusians themselves. After all, Carthusian monks know their life best and live it out daily. For a deeper perspective, these books written by modern Carthusians are worth reading.
La Grande Chartreuse par un chartreux.
(A French book, including pictures, about the Monastery of the Grande Chartreuse, written by an anonymous Carthusian monk, updated and published in numerous subsequent editions.).
The Carthusian Novice Conferences Series, published in English by Cistercian Publications. For example:
The Way of Silent Love
The Freedom of Obedience
Interior Prayer
These works were originally published in French and are in print by the Presses de la Renaissance, which include some other volumes that haven't been translated into English. Some of the titles include:
Le chemin du vrai bonheur
Vers la maturité spirituelle
Le discernement des esprits
One can see that those outside of Carthusian life are often focused on the outward form of the monastic life, while Carthusians themselves tend to be more focused on the inward, spiritual aspects.
If you've read any of these books, what are your impressions? What strikes you the most? What do you want to know more about? Please leave your comments below!
Out of curiosity about the Carthusians, I (a Catholic layman) picked up ‘First Initiation into Carthusian Life’. I was struck by exactly what you point out here: it goes surprisingly (to me) straight to the point on cultivating an interior life that can lead to contemplative prayer. Cells and ambulatories and antiphonals are covered but they aren’t what it’s all about.
Thanks for your posts. Looking forward to what else you have to share.
In reading An Infinity of Little Hours and watching Into Great Silence, I was struck by how external both were. One could almost forget that the monks are Catholic or that they have any interest in God. I exaggerate slightly here, and both book and movie are worthwhile and recommendable, but there is certainly something to be said about the outward focus of non Carthusians when portraying Carthusians. The mystique you mention certainly has something to do with it, at least from my non-Carthusian point of view. Perhaps there is also reticence or lack of interest in the constant spiritual work that’s being done. It seems easy to be seduced by, or at least interested in, the idea of a hermit monk, since the lifestyle is so foreign to most, but the spiritual side could be harder to relate to.
I read Little Hours partially because I was interested in the stories of those who did not end up staying with the Carthusians. I found it interesting that some would follow a path that, to a layperson, would seem to be evidence of a very deep dedication to God, but which ultimately proved to be self-exaltation and reason for them to leave the Carthusians. That is, they were more focused on becoming great than they were on God. I’m simplifying a bit here, but that was one takeaway I did not expect.