Carthusian Nun Vocation

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AveMaria

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Hello all!

I am wondering if any of you here are former Carthusians or lay experts and could give me advice regarding writing to and discerning with the various Carthusian monasteries of nuns. I have specifically had Relleines recommended to me.

Is there any way to ‘test’ a vocation before one invests the time and money to go to the Charterhouse? I have heard that some people go mad from the solitude very early. I would like to know whether I am capable of handling the austere life.

I thrive in solitude, but of course that is American solitude… Quite different, I am sure, from the Carthusian totality of aloneness.

Thank you! 🙂
Ave Maria
 
All religious orders will want to get to know you first before you become a nun. First visits for some days then weeks or months. This is over a good period of time. The order will get to know you and you them and make sure you are a good fit for them and they a good fit for you. Before becoming a fully professed nun you will be a postulant, novice and then professing temporal wowes for about three years before the final wowes. So that is at least 5-6 years and in total some orders it is longer.

There are medical exams, paperwork for all your sacraments, having no debts that need to be taken care for first. The order will let you know when everything needs to be done.

First is to have a chat with one of the nuns regarding your possible vocation.
 
@AveMaria
Hi Ave Maria, nice is know your discerning one of my friends joined the Carthusians in England .you can read about then online download the PDF file after reading them you can visit them later .Do pray about it ,when God"s love fills your heart each day you begin to experience it ,even at time you may reject the idea of a vocation ,He also will give you the Grace to accept every thing ,thought at the beginning, you feel like death,since we have to die to our self .Rely on Jesus ans Mother Mary to intercede for you .so don"t worry to much.You said you thrive in solitude, they are not always alone they pray together,read books once in month they go for a long walk,two by two. they do talk essentials.All the Best,God Bless!
please check this site The Carthusian Nuns
Chartreuse de la Transfiguration
Transfiguration Charterhouse
Carthusian Monastery
1084 Ave Maria Way
ARLINGTON, Vermont 05250
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

United States of AmericaAbroad
Tel. :802 362 25 5000 1 802 362 25 50
Fax. :802 362 35 8400 1 802 362 35 84

Email :
Website :http://transfiguration.chartreux.org/


John 15:16-17 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Romans 11:29 the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Colossians 3:1-3 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Revelation 3:5, 6 If you conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not blot your name out of the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels. 6 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

Jeremiah 1:1-8 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” 7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’;
for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.”

Jeremiah 12:5 If you have raced with foot-runners and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you fall down, how will you fare in the thickets of the Jordan?
 
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@AveMaria
Continuations to Ave Maria

Jeremiah 29:11-14 11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 12 Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 13 When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, 14 I will let you find me, says the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

Isaiah 41:8-16 8 But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”;10 do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Hebrews 12:1-12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hosea 2:14-16;18-20 Therefore, I will now allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.15 From there I will give her vineyards , and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she shall respond as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.16 On that day, says the LORD, you will call me, “My husband,” and no longer will you call me, “My Baal.” 19 And I will take you for my wife forever; I will take you for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. 20 I will take you for my wife in faithfulness; and you shall know the LORD.

Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. 25 What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?
 
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Thank you for the replies! I meant in my original question more, “How do I know I won’t go mad from the solitude?”

I’ve read An Infinity of Little Hours and seen Into Great Silence. Both make me think that I need to discern this vocation while at the same time making me realize that very few persevere in the intense solitude.

Thanks!
 
AveMaria said:
Is there any way to ‘test’ a vocation before one invests the time and money to go to the Charterhouse?
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Not really, they are going to want to see you before they accept you.

If its a real burden for you to make it to the Carthusian house, you can certainly visit others that are nearby you first, sign up for a retreat or something.
 
@AveMaria

Hi Ave Maria,You won"t go mad because ,you love Jesus so much! you keep talking to Him always ,share your thought ,words, actions, invite Him is all of them ,surely His will reply and speak to you from the depth"s of your heart ,you must desire holy things, intense desire to be a saint .as all the saints sat at the feet of Jesus, in deep contemplation.In the beginning it seems impossible and Madding,crazy as you feel now, but slowly begin to,experience the love of God, which will make you forget everything in this world, what Joy ,peace and love will fill your heart, you’ll receive a double share of it am sure,which cannot be compared to the worldly things, the measure you give, the same measure God will compensate everything, for you so don"t keep worry about in advance.though as you said very few persevere in the intense solitude.but look at the perfecter and pioneer Jesus, as everything is hidden in Jesus ,please don"t look at bad examples of others but look at Jesus and Mother Mary.Have you read the Book (Life of a Soul ) St Theresa of child Jesus life, When you love God will all you heart,and do His will,especially, do things (daily actives) for the Love of God, every thing becomes a prayer .it is what love you put into it which counts and not big the work is.’

Luke 10:39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing.Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

When ever you are confused about any thing remember these verses (John 6:63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless Which means your souls is more important than the body so the decision taken will be easy). The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.Matthew 6:33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Luke 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (End all your prayers in this verse for the will of God)

At time, the will of God is difficult to discern, you have to pray from the heart to heart with Jesus,and the intercession of Mother Mary.when you pray through her nothing goes wrong and the prayers are answered quickly for eg at the wedding of cana even though it was not yet the time of Jesus, but he did it .(Wisdom 8:1 She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,and she orders all things well.) You can always try other other congregations many saints prayed and failed many time going from one congregations to another, finally reached the place where God wanted them to be.

God Bless
 
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My priesthood has involved a significant component concerning Consecrated Life. In all my decades, I have worked with one Carthusian vocation – who did not persevere to perpetual vows.

There are, as you must know, only five houses of women Carthusians. It is the most austere and demanding of vocations in the Church. If you are American, it will mean moving to another country and adopting another language.

There is no way to test a vocation other than entering the house because whatever concepts and constructs you have in your mind are not going to really reflect the daily reality. And, just as important or really even more so, there is the discernment of the superior, her council, and the community about you. You could find it to be a perfect fit for you but if they make a negative discernment in your regard, it is that discernment which prevails.

I hope you have the benefit of an excellent spiritual director with a broad background in vocational discernment as well as a breadth of knowledge with a variety of communities and experiences of consecrated life, including newer expressions of consecrated life. This would be a great help to you.

PS I have never known of an issue of anyone going clinically mad. That is not how things happen. It is, however, a severe psychological stress – for a variety of reasons – above all for those who do not actually have the grace of this, the most rare and demanding of vocations. The Carthusians are an instance where few candidates actually do have that vocation.
 
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