The Charterhouse of the Transfiguration is a Carthusian monastery that occupies a remote slope of Mt. Equinox, outside Arlington, Vermont. Built out of massive slender slabs of granite and poured reinforced concrete, the interior is reminiscent of a great cave or ancient chambered cairn. Each cell consists of three rooms in two stories. The ground floor has three doors, one for entry and exit, a smaller one through which the monk's solitary meal may be passed once a day, and one through which the monk can enter and exit his garden. To one side, a large open space holds firewood in eight foot lengths which the priest must cut, split, and dry for fuel. On the other side, fixed vertical windows bring in the ample sunlight from the garden. Stairs at the far end of the room lead to the upstairs Ave Maria Room, where each priest kneels and prays upon entering and exiting his bedroom or cubiculum. The latter is the only insulated and heated room in his dwelling. The centerpiece of the cubiculum is a large vertical window with movable shutter that towers above a simple folding table. His bed consists of simple wooden planks upon which is thrown a bag of straw. A small half bath provides cold running water. In the midst of this living area stands a Franklin stove for heating the room and water. In a corner is nestled another kneeler at which the priest is compelled to recite the offices of the day.

Life of the Carthusian Priest

A priest's day begins upon rising shortly before midnight, and, having prayed the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he will proceed down the chilly corridors to the community chapel for the offices of Matins and Lauds. On days in ordinary time, this will last for about an hour and a half to two hours. Afterwards, he returns to his cell, finishes with a private prayer, and sleeps until about 6:30 in the morning. At this time, he must again recite private prayers and return to the chapel for Mass. His meatless dinner is taken at about 11:30 AM. He concludes his day with the recitation of Vespers in common, and Compline privately. Bedtime is normally 8:00 PM. Once a week on Monday, the monks take an extended walk together called a spatiamentum. Those who have passed their novitiate are also able to attend a common meal on Sundays. During these two periods, monks are encouraged to talk to one another. Penance is undertaken by each of the monks according to their own constitution. It is not rare to find priests who willingly fast on bread and water at least twice a week. The medieval practice of wearing hair shirts (woven goat and horse hair placed directly against the skin) is a lesser known custom of the Carthusians. The Order boasts a very high failure rate among the ranks of would be monks. After five years of initiation, the community will take a simple vote on a candidate. It was just such a vote that expelled St. Sir Thomas More from the novitiate. (Carthusian Way of Life, 1987, The Charterhouse of the Transfiguration)