food for faith: into great silence

In 2005 a significant film was first screened. The DVD cover for Into Great Silence describes the process leading up to the making of the film, and the purpose:

"Nestled deep in the postcard-perfect French Alps, the Grande Chartreuse is considered one of the world's most ascetic monasteries. In 1984, German filmmaker Philip Gröning wrote to the Carthusian order for permission to make a documentary about them. They said they would get back to him. Sixteen years later, they were ready. Gröning, sans crew or artificial lighting, lived in the monks' quarters for six months—filming their daily prayers, tasks, rituals and rare outdoor excursions. This transcendent, closely observed film seeks to embody a monastery, rather than simply depict one—it has no score, no voiceover and no archival footage. What remains is stunningly elemental: time, space and light. One of the most mesmerizing and poetic chronicles of spirituality ever created, INTO GREAT SILENCE dissolves the border between screen and audience with a total immersion into the hush of monastic life. More meditation than documentary, it's a rare, transformative theatrical experience for all".

Here is the trailer for the film:
(NB - double-click on each image below will lead you directly to that segment on youtube where you can enlarge to full screen)

Below, in seven segments, is the film. I suggest that you take even just the first one, or the others spread over a few days, as an experience of prayer. Sit somewhere where you can relax and be still and silent. You might light a candle and dim the lights. Take a moment to be aware of the loving presence of God with you. Open your mind and heart to God. Relax. God will not miss an opportunity to speak powerfully to you in the stillness and silence of this beautiful experience of monastic life.

These monks are not living a 'more ideal' form of Catholic life; they are simply living what they are called to live in the same way that I am living as a priest, and many readers of this blog are married, or single or consecrated sisters or brothers.

There are a couple of quotations from scripture that appear several times in German. You don't need to know the details of when and which, but here are the translations:

The LORD said,

“Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD,

for the LORD is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart

and shattered the rocks before the LORD,

but the LORD was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake,

but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

After the earthquake came a fire,

but the LORD was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

When Elijah heard it,