The Catholic Hermit Comes Across St. Francis de Sales' Rule of Life!

As a young man, in early twenties, but after his law degree, St. Francis de Sales set down a Rule of Life*. He was assisted by priests Scupoli (author of The Spiritual Combat) and Possevino.

The umbrella of his rule of life included days carefully prepared by thought and prayer, daily Mass, weekly Communion (this more than the usual for that time period). He included in his Rule a "forward examination" because he was more interested in arming himself against possible dangers to come, and thus would be prepared in virtues.

He also includes what he calls "a sacred sleep" which resembles the contemplative "prayer of quiet." (This is a gentle focus on God made by an act of the will.) It is a spiritual rest for the mind, made during the working day. One considers the holy mysteries and the "foolishness of living one's life in worldly dissipation."

His rule focuses on spiritual optimism; rather than think so much of faults, the soul considers virtues. He wrote: "[virtue] makes the inner and outer man into somthing beautiful. It makes him wonderfully pleasing to God. It suits man extremely well, because it is man's proper state. How much consolation, delight, true pleasure it always brings him. Christian virtue sanctifies him, turns him into an angel, makes him a little god, takes him into heaven, even on earth." Thus, much of his rule of life concerns his relations with the world.

He wrote out maxims for conduct:

• I shall never despise anyone, nor altogether avoid him. the more so in that it would give the impression of being proud, haughty, severe, arrogant, critical, ambitious, dominating....
• I shall talk little, but well so that others may enjoy meeting me again rather than think how boring this would be....
• I must always use judgment and prudence, for every rule has its occasional exception, save only the foundation of all rules: nothing against God....
• So in life's intercourse I shall always be modest without insolence, free in manner without austerity, gentle without affectation, flexible without contrariness, unless reason require otherwise; welcoming without dissimulation, for men like to get to know those with whom they have to do business....
• Since we must often have relations with persons of different qualities, I must be ready to put before some of them only what is exquisite, before others only what is good, before others wtill only what is indifferent; but never what is evil before any.

• If I am obliged to be with the great, I shall remaincarefully on my guard--they are like fire, approachable but not too close....As between equals ease and respect are just as necessary. With those of lower station we may well be feer and show less respect, but with those of higher station and with our superiors it is much more important to be respectful than to be too free."

St. Francis de Sales expected in his rule, that he should as any honest man, be a saint who concentrates on the virtues in the society in which he is born.

Of course, St. Francis de Sales was no hermit. But writing maxims for one's guidance in living, and the emphasis on practicing virtues so as to combat what might be coming, as a means of preparation for the day, are interesting points to consider.

The book by Lorenzo Scupoli is on this Catholic hermit's bookshelf, and it might be the next one read after another one is finished. This book greatly informed the St. Francis de Sales' life.

The Catholic hermit does not plan to write out maxims, but there are certain little "rules within the rule" it allows itself, such as to read only books penned by proven (dead) saints and holy persons--with the Pope as sole living exception, and to not involve itself in groups or follow after this or that spiritual hiker, to not ask curiosity questions of others, and so forth.

An aspect of hermit life that is evolving, in the past few weeks, is an increasing contentment in silence, with no desire to even run errands and only infrequently, and to desire nothing. The nothing Catholic hermit is content to not have phone calls (even one a day), but if a call or two comes, it treats it as hospitality. There is no desire for any more books, or food other than essential, or visits. But should a visitor come, there is hospitality shown. And if a visit is mandatory to be made, such a an upcoming tax appointment, then it will be executed, for resposibilities must be dealt with. A kind of pilgrimage was planned several months ago, prior to the bestowal of this great peace; now the hermit has no desire to go. But it will, unless God prohibits by His intervention in some way. Even the need to visit the da is not a need or desire as it had been in the past, although visiting him brings good spiritual interchange.

In general, and surprisingly so, there has come a cessation of most desire, perhaps all desire, except the desire in this peace, to love God more, to love all of God's creation and all souls, and to pray with purity.

Do animals in the woods beyond the train tracks, experience this kind of blissful cessation of temporal desires in the thick of winter? Is this that the hermit is experiencing for the first time ever, a beautiful spiritual hibernation?

*[St. Francis de Sales' Rule of Life was found in de la Bedoyere's biography, Francois de Sales, pp. 34-36.]