NINTH CENTENARY OF DEATH OF ST. BRUNO, FOUNDER OF CARTHUSIANS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 15, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was the text of a Message from John Paul II to Fr. Marcellin D. Theewes, prior of the Great Charter House and minister general of the Carthusian Order, and to all of the members of the Carthusian family, on the occasion of the ninth centenary of the death of their founder, St. Bruno.

In the Message, written in French and dated May 14, John Paul II recalled that "the vocation to prayer and to contemplation, which characterizes the Carthusian life, demonstrates in particular that Christ alone can bring the fullness of meaning and joy to human aspirations."

After emphasizing "the sanctity and simplicity" of the life of the members of the Carthusian family, the Pope writes: "The search for God in contemplation cannot be separated from love for brethren, love which makes us recognize the face of Christ in the poorest among men. The contemplation of Christ, lived in fraternal charity, remains the surest way to reach a complete fullness of life."

"In these celebratory days of the order," the Pope continues, "I pray ardently to the Lord that He would cause to resound in the heart of numerous youth the call to leave everything to follow the poor Christ, in the exacting but exceedingly freeing path of the Carthusian life."

John Paul II writes in conclusion, referring in a particular way to those responsible for the formation of aspirants to the Carthusian monastic life: "In fact, our contemporary culture, characterized by a strong hedonism, by the desire for possession and an erroneous conception of freedom, does not facilitate the expression of generosity of the youth that wish to consecrate their life to Christ, following His footsteps on the path of oblational love, of concrete and generous service."

MESS;ANNIVERSARY CARTHUSIAN ORDER;...;THEEWES;VIS;20010515;Word: 310;