Porter’s Lodge
The Porter’s Lodge fulfills the very important role as the gateway to the monastery. As a cloistered monastery, the monks are almost never seen. The Porter’s Lodge is where any interaction between a monk and the outside world occurs. There are a few key elements of the Porter’s Lodge that enable it to carry out its purpose.
The Turn
The Turn (or turnstile), an ancient Carmelite custom, is a rotating cupboard which allows items to be passed in and out of the monastery without anyone ever seeing a monk.
The Parlors
The Parlors, or speakrooms, are the place where the monks meet with their families. The monks and visitors are separated by a double grill, a clear indication that the monk is set apart, cloistered, so that he may more resolutely focus on God alone.
The Entry Doors
The main entry doors of the monastery are always kept shut and locked. They are only opened when a young man, seeking to give his life to God as a monk, knocks on these doors seeking to be admitted to Carmel.