Any vocation in the Desert
Fathers spirituality of Saint Bruno is difficult. The IFSB/SBLC
is an initial inspired effort of dialog,
to give form, in an adaptation to the condition of laity
living in the open world, to the desert father spirit of
purification (metanoia)
and continuous union
with Godin solitude that
flows from Saint Bruno through his sons since the founding of the
Carthusian Order.
Rooted specifically in the Quies SBPCLC 5
steps commitment to the 11 guidelines, Quies SBPCLC membership
is but a complementary effort, a trial applied in fraternal
attention to the efforts of the IFSB/SBLC, to respond to this call of the Holy Spirit
into the charism of Saint Bruno.
Quies.org originates then as a collaborative
project, to engage and expand the vision as to how to live a
life dedicated to Saint Bruno's charism in the open world, by
particularly studying the difficulties in applying, living or even
understanding the 11 Guidelines, with interested and able
aspirants; together: "that, in its organization and practice,
the aspiring association truly reflect the spirit of Saint
Bruno, in an adaptation to the condition of laity living in the
open world" (Gd 11).
The
11 Guidelines were originally given to
the founding members of the IFSB in april
2003 by Reverend Father
Dom Marcellin Theeuwes,
at La Grande Chartreuse on their visit there, at the
Reverend Father's invitation. They were first offered, mainly it
seemed, to the IFSB/SBLC as suggestions for moderating their
on-line discussions. But in the Carthusian perspective of Quies
spirituality, we can discover in them the foundation and a core of
elements, for a rule of life and ensuing customs, akin to the
wisdom taught to a Carthusian novice, under which one could come
to live within the spirit of Saint Bruno, while living in the open
world. The 11 Guidelines appear thus, for us, a providential
synthesized statement, a gift from the Reverend Father in 2003, of
essential elements of a framework, within which we could develop
Saint Bruno's spirituality, for lay faithful contemplatives.
Without this original inspiration and the sustained ongoing
fidelity since 2003 of the IFSB/SBLC foundation, it would not have
been possible to form such a vision for the Quies.org project.
Quies.org further depends on the richness, evolution and
accumulation of the ongoing exchanges, life and participation of
the IFSB/SBLC community. We ask Saint
Bruno and Our
Lady of Good Counsel to guide our efforts.
In the communion of the Church, Quies and the IFSB/SBLC's related
ways, are thus bound, we feel, by Divine Providence, to mutually
support each other, that we might witness the life of Christ more
fully into the world, in the spirit of Saint Bruno. Customs
Quies remains the thread of all carthusian life, so
practicing/perfecting/adapting personal customs conducive to Quies
is our lifelong purification journey; as well as it is in a
Charterhouse, and always perfectible by the Holy Spirit. To help
log, identify and experience customs, under which one could come
to live more fully within the spirit of Saint Bruno, while living
in the open world; our page Horarium
soberly initiates this process: to list, experience and document
discretely a framework of the customs for a future canonical lay
association or a virtual monastic community of external spiritual
donates, that would obtain official support from the Carthusian
Order. We are thus proposed to participate by
experimenting/transmitting our
trials and customs, through the forums and
discussion groups or one-on-one
exchanges, in view of completing this essential joint
process, to help us together, serve: Quies.