Adorned Like A Bride For Her Husband… The Cartuja Monastery Of Granada
By JAMES MONTI When we think of the Carthusian Order, the imagery that comes most readily to mind is that of a life of profound and utter austerity — a demanding life of self-denial lived in stark surroundings and in much silence. Yet within the Carthusian tradition, there developed over the centuries a recognition of the value of beautiful sacred art as a gateway to contemplation. The Carthusians have understood that embracing a life of personal poverty for the sake of the Kingdom of God does not mean impoverishing the House of God, and that even within the austere setting of a monk’s personal cell, beautiful religious images could have a very powerful role to play in raising the eyes…Continue Reading