Counter-Reformation necessity or excess?

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As I was sorting my things, I came across an old issue of Catholic Family News from 2006, which had a profile on the Transalpine Redemptorists (who were restored to full communion with the Pope after the issuance of Summorum Pontificum and are now called the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer). John Vennari interviewed Fr. Michael Mary, founder and superior of the Transalpine Redemptorists. I found this part of the interview rather striking:

JV: Please tell us about the Redemptorist charism in general, the work of your group in particular.

FMM: The Redemptorist charism has come down to us from St. Alphonsus as being "Carthusian at Home and Apostle Abroad". This means that as the Carthusian hermit loves solitude so the Redemptorist when he is at home loves the solitude of his cell and spends his time in prayer and spiritual exercises. This is the interior vocation of the Redemptorist. In the Redemptorist monastic life there is an emphasis on Mental Prayer. It is a "desert monastery" compared to the "chanting monastery" of orders like the Benedictines. We do not have daily sung Mass and we are forbidden by the Rule from chanting the Divine Office. This is because the emphasis is on the solitude of the cell and mental prayer. In this way St. Alphonsus founded a monastic life that his contemporaries described as being like the monastic life of the first monks in Egypt. But having said that, there is also the other wing of the Redemptorist. He is to be an "Apostle Abroad" so this aspect of the missionary is also found inside the monastery in the close knit community life which the Redemptorist leads at home. There are recreation days every Thursday when there is talking at table and two one-hour recreations every day after dinner and supper.

As missionaries, the Redemptorist is particularly called to preach the "Eternal Truths," Death, Judgment, Hell and Eternity in the Parish Mission apostolate. We have preached Missions in several countries including the United States. They have been very fruitful. At the moment we are preparing to found a second monastery in South Africa. This is taking place this month. Two Priests and two Brothers are being sent. However, our main focus will be monastic formation for some years to come, which means that our future apostolic action will come from our South African house and Papa Stronsay will form postulants and novices.

[I think the plans for a house South Africa fell through, and instead they founded one in New Zealand.]
The complete interview.

I have no reason to think that their spirituality is that different from that of the Redemptorists.
It reminded me of the Jesuits; I am not sure if singing in choir is prohibited to Jesuits, or if they are only not required to attend the common praying of hours. The Jesuits were released from this obligation so that they could be free to do their apostolic works. In contrast, it seems that the Redemptorists are enabled to pursue solitary contemplative union with God. This development, as exemplified by the Redemptorists, seems to be very different from the liturgical emphases given by the Western and Eastern monastic traditions--daily sung liturgy, praying of the office in common, and so on. there is no longer the "balance" between common liturgical prayer and private prayer that one sees in monasteries. Was this difference in priority due primarily to contemporary currents in spirituality? I think it is accurate to say that Counter-Reformation/Post-Tridentine spirituality (with roots in devotio moderna?) focus on meditation, spiritual exercises, and private prayer. How much time can be spent on private prayer by beginners?

Before the development of monasticism there were hermits who did not live in community or with other hermits. But they were rare? Would it be proper to characterize the spirituality of the early Church as liturgical? In defense of modern spirituality, one might argue that there are a plurality of Catholic Christian spiritualities, all inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that no one way is correct for everyone, even the praying of the liturgy in community is not necessary for growth in the spiritual life. But is liturgical spirituality an ideal recommended to all, or for only some?

Currently the Transalpine Redemptorists have their seminarians study at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary.

Related:
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Redemptorists of North America

Begun on May 22.