When Silence Speaks: The Spiritual Way of the Carthusian Order

by Tim Peeters

True solitude is a rare experience in today’s busy world. For many people it has negative connotations, but for the Carthusian monks it is a blessing. They have given up everything in order to share in the desert experience of Jesus and to continue the ancient traditions of the Desert Fathers, who searched for God in the realms of silence. When Silence Speaks uncovers the deep spiritual foundations on which this remarkable and mysterious order of hermits has built for more than nine centuries: solitude and silence, separation and simplicity, contemplation and prayer, asceticism and perseverance. It includes an anthology of the original spiritual literature of the Carthusian tradition, the testimonies of monks who still follow the Carthusian way today, and a selection of photographs that provide a rare window into their world away from the world. ‘To understand what is almost incomprehensible,’ writes author Tim Peeters, ‘we will take a walk with Saint Bruno and the Carthusian monks. We will climb into the high mountains of the Chartreuse massif near Grenoble [in France] where the origins of the order are situated. We will watch over the walls of the monasteries and enter into the cells and the hearts of the monks. And we hope you will taste something of the ultimate goal of this solitary and silent life: God, who speaks when the Carthusian listens and keeps quiet.’ The original Dutch version of this book received the award for Religious Book of the Year in Belgium. It has also been published in French and Italian.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theology, Spirituality, Prayer, Catholic

211 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 21, 2015

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

What little Catholic girl has not imagined life as a (contemplative) nun? Or a working sister? If her early experience was good, these musings might have been fairly serious as mine were. Fortunately, I never had any really bad encounters with sisters/nuns. By my day, the tail end of schools staffed by mostly women religious, the scales had begun to tip in the opposite direction, at least for the older students. Brave and ornery kids were more likely to be aggressors, the professed women on the defensive. I still remember one incident the 8th grade boys perpetrated on our unpopular homeroom sister with shame. Why was I ashamed? Because I laughed at first at the prank; then I saw her cry.

Far away in some idyllic convent, I imagined a peaceful setting where happy nuns prayed all day for the world and never knew conflict. Ha!

Mr. Peters, frank and fascinating work on the Carthusians* sets all my illusions to right. Of course, he is writing for the most part about men's monasteries, but for the most part, the same is true for the women. There is no such thing as 'escape' from anything, least of all conflict; rather an entrance into monastic/eremitic life is the beginning of the deepest battle of all, that of the individual mind/heart/soul to/for/with/in God. Yes, contending with God is beyond imagining because we are trying, with His help to tame ourselves and we discover someone every bit as unruly as my former classmates and there is no graduating from the 'self' in this life.

This is a beautiful book, as are such honest exhortations to pursue the difficult path: "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few."

Peters' audience is anyone interested in the Carthusian life, regardless of ability to join and there is plenty to glean for secular or religious.

Having entertained a fondness for the documentary, Into the Great Silence, as a mini-contemplative journey in itself, this book supplements and fills in the details which the film cannot explain.

Superb! Most highly recommended! I hope to return to this book in the not-so-distant future as I know I did not begin to plumb its depths.


*Carthusians are an order of monks founded by St. Bruno of Cologne in 1084 in the valley of Chartreuse, north of Grenoble, France. The Carthusians, who played an important role in the monastic-reform movement of the 11th and 12th centuries, combine the solitary life of hermits with a common life within the walls of a monastery.

Updated December 31, 2023, for administrative errors.

[FrSJC · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really beautiful and well written insight into the private world of the Carthusian order. Clearly explained with really good quotations and interview with former Carthusians as well as current priors. A very special book.

[David's · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent insight

I would recommend this to all those finding their Christian spirituality, and those reflecting on what really matters. A valuable introduction for the scholar of Christian monasticism. Easy to read and much to reflect upon.

[Mick Maurer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent work on solitude, and how the Carthusian Order developed.