Yesterday, I paid a flying visit to Parkminster to return some of their books. Brother Patrick, the librarian (and cook), had very kindly loaned me the entire extent of their Chesterton books, some twenty or so volumes. I had been planning a life of that exotic giant of Twentieth century letters; but, on delving once again into his corpus, I judged that his style and subject matter has passed its sell by date. So I am now engaged in a follow up title to Sounding the Silence which has gone so well: I have had contacts from readers in Brazil, South Africa and America as well as many warm reports from the UK. I am also working on a modern translation of the Ladder of Monks, with my commentary offering it to modern readers. Written by Guigo II, ninth Prior of La Grande Chartreuse, this hugely influential text is a treatise on prayer addressed to Bovo, the Prior of Witham, the first English Charterhouse founded by Hugh of Lincoln.
My repeated contention is that prayer and God’s friendship was never intended to be the exclusive privilege of monks and nuns - and they would be the first to readily agree!
I spent time with Dom Cyril, the Master of Novices, who tells me that his days are busy with no less than twelve novices. A carpenter has been brought in to refurbish the last two remaining cells in the cloister. And then Parkminster will have a full house for the first time in living memory.
Having savoured the peace of the charterhouse, I pottered home happy - clutching a jar of Brother Richard’s medlar jam!
