Carthusians
Founded
- 1084 by Saint Bruno at La Grande Chartreuse, near Grenoble, France
- approved in 1176
- constitutions corrected and published in 1581
- confirmed by Pope Innocent XI in 1688
Article
Desirous of a more complete solitude than his chancellorship in the Diocese of Rheims, France afforded, Saint Bruno with seven companions had retired to the Alps of Dauphine in 1084. Called to Rome in 1088 as adviser to Pope Blessed Urban II, his former pupil at Rheims, he obtained permission in 1090, to leave the papal court and retire to his retreat, but this time in Calabria. This foundation differed from that of Grenoble in that it resembled the Camaldolese, an order uniting the eremitical and cenobitic modes of monasticism. It lasted till 1191, being then absorbed into the Cistercian Order. That of Grenoble has survived to the present day.
While resembling in some points of rule the Benedictine Order, the Carthusians are distinct in their constitutions and manner of life. They observe an almost perpetual silence and complete abstinence from meat, with a fast once a week on bread and water. Chanting the Divine Office, mental prayer, and manual labor occupy a large part of the day, and studies are not neglected, the Order being traditionally distinguished for the richness of their libraries, maintaining also a modern printing-press at Tournay, Belgium. The rite peculiar to the Carthusian liturgy recalls the usage of the early Church. The Prior of La Grande Chartreuse is always the superior-general. A general chapter meets annually; the first was held in 1152, and its powers were confirmed by Pope Alexander IV in 1258. There are houses in Spain, Italy, England, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Profiled Carthusians
- Blessed Airaldus of Maurienne
- Blessed Arnold of Geertruidenberg
- Blessed Beatrice d’Ornacieux
- Blessed Boniface of Canterbury
- Blessed Claude Beguignot
- Blessed Hanz Wagner
- Blessed Humbert III of Savoy
- Blessed Humphrey Middlemore
- Blessed James Walworth
- Blessed John Davy
- Blessed John Rochester
- Blessed John the Spaniard
- Blessed Lanunio
- Blessed Lazare Tiersot
- Blessed Nicholas Albergati
- Blessed Pietro Petroni
- Blessed Richard Bere
- Blessed Robert Salt
- Blessed Rosalina of Villeneuve
- Blessed Sebastian Newdigate
- Blessed Thomas Green
- Blessed Thomas Johnson
- Blessed Thomas Redyng
- Blessed Thomas Scryven
- Blessed Umberto di Miribel
- Blessed Walter Pierson
- Blessed William Exmew
- Blessed William Greenwood
- Blessed William Horne
- Blessed William of Fenoli
- Saint Anthelm of Belley
- Saint Augustine Webster
- Saint Bruno
- Saint Hugh of Grenoble
- Saint Hugh of Lincoln
- Saint John Houghton
- Saint Odo of Novara
- Saint Robert Lawrence
- Saint Stephen du Bourg
MLA Citation
- “Carthusians“. CatholicSaints.Info. 24 January 2020. Web. 29 April 2024. <>