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Sounds of Silence
The author was a cloistered contemplative monk for a total of twenty years in the most strict and austere Order of the Church, the Carthusian Order. He writes under the name Father Benedict out of continuing respect for Carthusian anonymity. In his first published book, he tells of his calling to the religious and monastic life, his training in a Spanish Carthusian monastery, and his being sent to the Carthusian monastery in Vermont soon after it opened. He was trained to live to the letter of the rule, and compares that training to what he actually lived as a fully trained monk. He was appointed to the offices of Novice Master and Vocation Director soon after his arrival in Vermont, and exercised several other positions of authority within the community. Unfortunate difficulties within that monastic community contributed to his eventual departure and ultimate severance of legal ties with the Carthusians. By a special determination of the pope, he was released from the obligations of his vows and the priesthood. Now married, he lives in Florida with his wife and Shih Tzu, Rudolph.
- GenresReligion
276 pages, Hardcover
First published September 26, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
February 12, 2015
This book was transformational for a couple of reasons.
The book by Andre Ravier on St. Bruno said that St. Bruno's first monastery founded was still the start of the only unreformed order, which he founded after leaving the world due to an exhausting battle with persecution (within the church) for Christ's sake. He was then asked to return as archbishop at request of the Pope (a former student) from the monastery. But he left after a year and started another monastery. This one tumbled to decline. What's most interesting is that the people who followed him to the first monastery also disbanded, but then reformed.
It seemed that his monastic success followed his worldy success. He won the first battle with persecution, and his first monastery was a success. Then he wanted to leave the world completely, and his monastic brethren wanted to leave the monastery. But he returned to the world at the Pope's request and his monastic brethren returned to the monastery. But he left the world despite the Pope's request later to found a new monastery and this one eventually failed. There's a choice between greater and lesser goods here.
This priest's vocation to the Carthusians ended in a nervous breakdown and leaving the order. However, his first priesthood with another American order before joining the Carthusians initially seemed promising, but he wanted to go to a higher level. He was a great success with the Carthusians initially in Spain until he was transferred to the new American monastery. His vocation was initially motivated by a deep depression caused by loss of fatherhood at a young age. Interestingly, St. Therse's of Liseux's father got similarily sick immediately at the same time that St. Therese entered the Carmelites (and St. Therese was cured from one as a child by Mary's protection) so we know that these sicknesses can be the will of God in the spirit of justice/love to each individual. It seems possible that this priest's vocation to the Carthusians probably failed because he didn't stick with his first priesthood - sort of similar to St. Bruno's second monastery, but he truly radiates the spirit and beauty of the order and ended up getting happily married (without children).
In addition, although Clarence Thomas said that he wanted to be a priest but left the seminary because the priests rejoiced when Martin Luther King died (although the pope at that time welcomed Martin Luther King warmly), this book is very refreshing because it has a Carthusian monk who was a priest when Martin Luther King died, and apparently the priests in his monastery seemed to treat his death similar to the death of John Kennedy (even though being in Spain - neither were incredibly pressing concerns). This was *heartwarming* to hear that - at the highest level - their actions were in accord with moral standards. My heart jumped for joy!
The book by Andre Ravier on St. Bruno said that St. Bruno's first monastery founded was still the start of the only unreformed order, which he founded after leaving the world due to an exhausting battle with persecution (within the church) for Christ's sake. He was then asked to return as archbishop at request of the Pope (a former student) from the monastery. But he left after a year and started another monastery. This one tumbled to decline. What's most interesting is that the people who followed him to the first monastery also disbanded, but then reformed.
It seemed that his monastic success followed his worldy success. He won the first battle with persecution, and his first monastery was a success. Then he wanted to leave the world completely, and his monastic brethren wanted to leave the monastery. But he returned to the world at the Pope's request and his monastic brethren returned to the monastery. But he left the world despite the Pope's request later to found a new monastery and this one eventually failed. There's a choice between greater and lesser goods here.
This priest's vocation to the Carthusians ended in a nervous breakdown and leaving the order. However, his first priesthood with another American order before joining the Carthusians initially seemed promising, but he wanted to go to a higher level. He was a great success with the Carthusians initially in Spain until he was transferred to the new American monastery. His vocation was initially motivated by a deep depression caused by loss of fatherhood at a young age. Interestingly, St. Therse's of Liseux's father got similarily sick immediately at the same time that St. Therese entered the Carmelites (and St. Therese was cured from one as a child by Mary's protection) so we know that these sicknesses can be the will of God in the spirit of justice/love to each individual. It seems possible that this priest's vocation to the Carthusians probably failed because he didn't stick with his first priesthood - sort of similar to St. Bruno's second monastery, but he truly radiates the spirit and beauty of the order and ended up getting happily married (without children).
In addition, although Clarence Thomas said that he wanted to be a priest but left the seminary because the priests rejoiced when Martin Luther King died (although the pope at that time welcomed Martin Luther King warmly), this book is very refreshing because it has a Carthusian monk who was a priest when Martin Luther King died, and apparently the priests in his monastery seemed to treat his death similar to the death of John Kennedy (even though being in Spain - neither were incredibly pressing concerns). This was *heartwarming* to hear that - at the highest level - their actions were in accord with moral standards. My heart jumped for joy!
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review