A Hermit's Rule Given by His Angel

The nothing Catholic hermit was cleaning out some boxes, getting the library room in order at Agnus Dei, and found some notes taken a few years back. They had to do with angels. But one involved an angel giving a rule of life to a hermit.

The hermit was called to the desert, had been a monk, but discerned the hermit vocation a long time. On the way to the desert he was tormented that he'd imposed his own will. Jesus allowed his angel to appear to him and give the discerning hermit his rule of life. It was something like this:

1. Be perfect. [Each day start anew to serve God will all the heart, mind and strength.]
2. Walk humbly before the Lord. [Walk in His presence.]
3. Work with joy. [If done in a spirit of love, joy will be the fruit of love; and, sadness which comes from God is really joy and is pleasing to God.]
4. Watch over your heart carefully. [Purify your intentions to glorify God, and to love/serve your neighbor is the quickest path to God; keep vigilance over memory and thoughts.]
5. Live without complaint. [No disciple is without a cross received from God; accept and acknowledge and bear willingly your cross. Patience and love are so linked in the soul that neither can leave without taking the other with it; patience comes from suffering.]
6. Persevere in the good. [In little things be stewards of the task given to us; carry through to the end in love; cooperate with the grace of God. (eg. "Pick up a pin and save a soul.")]
7. I [the angel] will not abandon you until I've brought your soul into the presence of the Most High God. [Our angel is always with us.]

This Rule of Life had come from a taped talk by Fr. William Wagner of the Order of the Holy Cross, OA (Opus Sanctorum Angelorum). It is a simple yet profound and all-encompassing rule. If Jesus had the angel of this man relay this rule to him, then it demonstrates the type of rule He approves.

On another sheet of paper, the nothing found advice for discerning a vocation.

First, we are to pray to heed the call of Jesus. Through moral certitude, people discern the will of God for their vocation in life.

Qualifications for a vocation:
health - physical, mental, emotional stability
head - docility, ability to learn, teachable
heart - moral rectitude, a good person, prove they're in earnest about life with God within them
home - atmosphere of faith and prayer
humor - God-given ability to laugh at ourselves; it is the great cushion of life

There must be desire for the life. If you don't have the disire, you don't have the vocation. The question may be asked: Where would I find the most peace or deep joy in my life?

There must be acceptance by the community and/or the Bishop. [This acceptance can be informal in case of the Bishop, or it can be formal through canonical approval. But eventually, a religious vocation ought to be submitted to, known by, and accepted by one's Bishop.] It is suggested that if the above points are met, any bishop or community would welcome the person with open arms.

In any religious vocation, one must: love the Church, be prepared to suffer, and do everything for God (do not become bitter).

Also, in every vocation there is a price; pay it. When there are things to be done, do them. Give it your all.

These notes may have been taken from a program on EWTN several years ago.