Carthusians - the silent life

Fr Vincenzo leaves tomorrow for Musky (Egypt). He's been so busy making his visiting rounds he hasn't time to write you a note as he promised. But I'm going to chase him for it - and the photos as well. Anyway it was good he was here for the past 2 weeks. We had several opportunities to chat and share ideas. Now that he's leaving, I'll probably lock myself in my room and not come out till I finish my research. Sounds like a Carthusian monk - which is my new interest right now.

Haven't heard of the Carthusians? They're hermit monks who live in their own cells (actually a 2 storey building with a garden) and come out only to pray 3 times a day. Other times for prayer, meals etc.. is done inside their own cells. And they speak only a couple of hours a week when they go out for a walk on Fridays. Other than that they're silent for the rest of their lives. You should see the following clips on the Carthusians on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc_mb7wu_a0&feature=PlayList&p=A689DE210BCA0169&index=0 This is only part 1. There 4 parts in all. Also you can visit their website (the Italian carthusians that is) at http://www.certosini.org/ then click "immagini" for photos of life inside the Charterhouse.

The mother house is the Great Chartreuse (that's where you get the name Carthusian and Charterhouse) in France and there's a clip on them as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgNj2Sf_mgo This one's on a clip on a blind monk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG662-kKnnc&feature=related belonging to the Great Chartreuse. You can actually buy the DVD which is beautifully shot - all in silence.

This is totally another world! Far out! Wanna join? They also have a female branch of the Order.