Halfway To Heaven
The Hidden Life of the Carthusians
Halfway To Heaven
The Hidden Life of the Carthusians
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Paperback / softback
£15.99
Publisher: Liturgical Press
ISBN: 9780879077860
Number of Pages: 196
Published: 01/11/1999
Width: 14 cm
Height: 21.6 cm
Founded 900 years ago by St Bruno, the Carthusians are the most completely enclosed religious order in the Catholic Church. Living alone and in silence in almost perpetual prayer, the monks are the spiritual heirs to the early Christians, the Desert Fathers. As the only order 'never to have been reformed because never deformed', the Carthusians have been described as 'the most precious jewel in the Church's crown'.
There is a Carthusian motto: To make saints not to publicize them'. Indeed because they shut themselves away from the world and shun all publicity, little is know about these monks, even among other religious orders. In this updated edition of a classic book, which includes new material, Robin Bruce Lockhart remedies the gap in our knowledge - without destroying the mystery of the order.
Halfway to Heaven is still the most comprehensive book ever written about the Carthusians. It is also an awesome source of inspiration in the art of contemplation and prayer.
There is a Carthusian motto: To make saints not to publicize them'. Indeed because they shut themselves away from the world and shun all publicity, little is know about these monks, even among other religious orders. In this updated edition of a classic book, which includes new material, Robin Bruce Lockhart remedies the gap in our knowledge - without destroying the mystery of the order.
Halfway to Heaven is still the most comprehensive book ever written about the Carthusians. It is also an awesome source of inspiration in the art of contemplation and prayer.
Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Author's Note to the New Edition xi
Introduction xiii
PART ONE
I Patres Nostri 3
II The Call of the Desert 12
III The Recluse in Europe 21
IV John Cassian, Tower of David 24
PART TWO
V St Bruno, Founder of the Carthusians 31
VI From St Bruno to the Reformation 37
VII From the Reformation to the Twentieth Century 47
VIII Life in a Charterhouse: The Fathers 55
IX Life in a Charterhouse: The Brothers 62
X The Carthusian Nuns 67
XI Who Joins the Carthusians and How 74
XII La Grande Chartreuse 84
XIII Offspring of La Grande Chartreuse 91
XIV A Charterhouse in the New World 105
XV The Carthusian Order: Organisation and Management 110
XVI Carthusian Spirituality: A Summary 120
PART THREE
XVII Contemplation for All 131
XVIII Wisdom Beyond Understanding 142
APPENDICES
1 Pope John Paul II's Message to the Carthusians on their 900th Anniversary 153
2 Timetable of a Day in the Life of a Carthusian Father 158
3 The Charterhouses in 1999 160
4 Bibliography and Further Reading 162
Index 166
List of Illustrations ix
Author's Note to the New Edition xi
Introduction xiii
PART ONE
I Patres Nostri 3
II The Call of the Desert 12
III The Recluse in Europe 21
IV John Cassian, Tower of David 24
PART TWO
V St Bruno, Founder of the Carthusians 31
VI From St Bruno to the Reformation 37
VII From the Reformation to the Twentieth Century 47
VIII Life in a Charterhouse: The Fathers 55
IX Life in a Charterhouse: The Brothers 62
X The Carthusian Nuns 67
XI Who Joins the Carthusians and How 74
XII La Grande Chartreuse 84
XIII Offspring of La Grande Chartreuse 91
XIV A Charterhouse in the New World 105
XV The Carthusian Order: Organisation and Management 110
XVI Carthusian Spirituality: A Summary 120
PART THREE
XVII Contemplation for All 131
XVIII Wisdom Beyond Understanding 142
APPENDICES
1 Pope John Paul II's Message to the Carthusians on their 900th Anniversary 153
2 Timetable of a Day in the Life of a Carthusian Father 158
3 The Charterhouses in 1999 160
4 Bibliography and Further Reading 162
Index 166
Exhales a sweet serenity reminding us of the complex atrributes and simple rewards of silence and solitude.The New York Times The author has been given an unprecedented aceess to archives and books unknown to the outside world. Mr Bruce Lockhart's splendid book will hopefully bring this knowledge to a wide public. . . Halfway to Heaven is a sublime and gripping read.Catholic Herald
