Contemplative Orders/Monasteries

[3Sanctus]

Wasn't sure where to put this, but since I'm a man I figured this would work.

I'm in the process of discerning my vocation within the Church and believe I'm called to the contemplative life.  The problem is it seems there aren't any contemplative orders that are traditional othen than the Carthusians (I may or may not be called to that order, but I don't think I could hack it in one of their monasteries without at least spending a few months at a less hardcore monastery first).

I've heard of Clear Creek - a Benedictine community in the Great Plains someplace - but apparently they have a rather active apostolate, while I'm looking for something more along the lines of the Trappists.  I think I may be called to live in a community that would allow for the majority of the day to be spent in a more silent and prayerful state whether that be during work, leisure, what have you.  While, like I've stated above, I've considered the Carthusians, that seems to be the only option of this sort.

Any help would be greatly appreciated - including prayers that God would push my butt in the right direction.

Stephen

[WhollyRoaminCatholic]

I get mailers from these guys in Wyoming:  http://www.carmelitemonks.org

The Clear Creek Benedictines are in Tulsa:  http://clearcreekmonks.org/

[Stephanos]

I second Wyoming.

They have coffee.

[3Sanctus]

The Carmelites in Wyoming look like they may be right up my alley!  I'm especially pleased with the opportunity (but not requirement, apparently) to take up the eremitic lifestyle, should God call for that in the life of one of their monks.

Thanks so much for the help, I'm going to read the Carmelite monastery's website and will probably get in touch with them before long.

Pax Christi Vobiscum.
Stephen

[Caesar]

The traditional Carmelite monks in Wyoming are an excellent order. They follow the traditional Carmelite rule which dates from the mediaeval period, and they use the Rite of the Holy Sepulchre.

[Tiny]

I'm in the process of discerning my vocation within the Church and believe I'm called to the contemplative life.  The problem is it seems there aren't any contemplative orders that are traditional othen than the Carthusians (I may or may not be called to that order, but I don't think I could hack it in one of their monasteries without at least spending a few months at a less hardcore monastery first).

Can someone confirm that Carthusians have not reformed their Rite or their Rule?

[3Sanctus]

I know the Carthusians still use all Latin - at least when praying together, the individual monks are able ot use the vernacular for the hours they pray in private and for the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, should they so choose.  I also recall seeing a picture of a Carthusian choir monk (they're the only order I know of that kept the distinction between lay brothers and choir monks after Vatican II) saying Mass facing an altar that was against a wall - and they still have both their conventual Mass and the individual Mass said by each choir monk in solitude from my understanding.

In fact, within a year or two of being in one of their monasteries - I forget which - they require postulants/novices to know Latin (at least well enough to pray the Horarium, I presume).

However, keep in mind they never used the Tridentine Mass, but have always used the Carthusian Rite, which came from the Grenoble Rite, and predates the Council of Trent.  As far as I'm aware their rite has never changed since they established it - and definitely not since Trent.

Pax
Stephen

[RickMK]

You should check also out Clear Creek, which is in northeastern Oklahoma near the border of Arkansas, not in the Great Plains.

They do not have an active apostolate at all; they do not leave the monastery. They adhere strictly to the Rule of St. Benedict.

They use the Tridentine Mass, though their daily community high Mass has some modifications (approved by Rome). And they still use the Solesme method of Gregorian Chant.

They do distinguish between brothers and choir monks: brothers spend more time at work while the choir monks (the ordained priests) attend all the minor hours.

They are still a priory under the abbot of Fontgombault in France, but they are very close to becoming an independent abbey.

I was considering a vocation there back in 2001; that didn't work out, but I've been traveling there two or three times a year just about every year since then, usually for about a week at a time. It is a wonderful place to visit.

[viking]

Are you willing to move abroad? To France? If you want to become a cloistered Monk I don't think location would be of much importance.

[WhollyRoaminCatholic]

The American Carthusians live in this concrete box in Vermont:  http://transfiguration.chartreux.org/

From the FAQs on their website:

- Tridentine mass or the Ordinary form of the Roman Liturgy? Do we celebrate the tridentine mass or the Ordinary form of the Roman Liturgy? The answer is that we have our own Carthusian rite. From the very beginning of the Order, the Carthusian rite was evolved from the Lyon rite of the 11th century, through the Grenoble rite. - Do we chant and do we use Latin? Yes we use Latin and we sing the Carthusian Chant which is a form of Gregorian chant.