Hermit Reviews Rule of Life: Mary Instructs

Just as the Catechism clearly elucidates the requirements for the consecrated and professed Catholic hermit, the rule of life defines for the individual hermit the daily focus.

Every so often, the nothing Catholic hermit does well to review these fundamentals.

The Rule of Life adopted by the nothing evolved through prayer as well as the first three s' being introduced to the hermit by its spiritual father. Before too long, the fullness of nine s' presented themselves, in this order:

silence, solitude, slowness, suffering, selflessness, simplicity, stability, stillness, serenity

The nothing's rule of life constructs like a climbing rope rather than rungs of a ladder. One can slide up and slip a bit now and then, and the s' are not necessarily learned to completion in any one sequence but rather--yes!--are more like the strings of a harp! Better simile! So, the nothing learns one to a degree, and then the Holy Spirit swoops it to another, or back or this and that, or maybe one to a higher degree, and so forth.

Suffering might seem most continuous and obvious, but truly, the others ought develop to that condition, as well. Physical suffering of this nothing is the most tangible and temporal of the s'.

The Rule of Life also includes a private vow of consecration which was received by the priest spiritual director and has been renewed yearly and received by a priest. Perhaps this year the vow will be received by the Bishop. That remains to be discussed. But it would not be received in the context of the optional Canon Law 603. (Not, that is, unless the Bishop would insist; but from interior insights, the Lord desires the nothing to remain quite hidden and nothing.)

Then, the nothing also is to live out the Scriptures with emphasis on St. John's Gospel and the Epistle to the Hebrews.

It is a simple vow, inspired by the Holy Spirit for a simple nothing Catholic hermit who is yet far too complex. The complexity hinders the growth, the living out of the Rule. So we keep trying. And in this attempt to grow in the hermit vocation, the nothing comprehends that the Blessed Virgin Mary is herself its teacher in the nine s'. They are so her.

Each "s" is a petal of Rosa Mystica's bloom! Each encounter of each day can be met by pondering how the Virgin Mary would act, respond, ponder, pray, speak (and more often not speak). Who more powerful than the Blessed Mother to demonstrate silence, solitude, slowness, suffering, selflessness, simplicity, stability, stillness and serenity?

Take the sacristy task, as an example, and some flack going on from women extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist. The rushing after Mass to wash and dry four chalices (already purified by a priest but needing to be washed and dried) creates quite a site for three who cram up to the small, double sink. Or, the jostling for whichever position seems most favored when distributing the Precious Blood during Communion. Then there is the growing resentment and tensions toward the sacristan who on rare occasion has needed to remind them to not take on also the altar servers' tasks--but to do each his own small duty and no others.

How would Mary react in this silliness, yes, but also a typicality of our humankind? She would probably react in silence and solitude, stepping back to remain on the peripheral, recollected interiorly, with an understanding, inward smile. She would model slowness by not being caught up in the others' rush and demonstrate selflessness in allowing those with the greatest need for something to "do", to wash and dry the four, small chalices. She would suffer the ridiculous aspects of those who resent the sacristan, or are envious, or whatever is the problem. In simplicity, the tasks prior to Mass, silently performed, would find completion as a prayer of praise to her Son. And, in simplicity, when the occasion arises, she would speak a few simple but direct words, with stability of intention, to clarify what is expected of this volunteer or that, to maintain order in the sacristy and peace. After all, the Tabernacle is just a few feet from the rush at the sink--just on the other side of a wall! Never are the faithful as close to the Tabernacle as when in the sacristy, so the reverence must be instilled.

And that brings stillness into the sacristy--as Mary would remain still in purpose and interior disposition, no matter the rushing, chatting, resenting, positioning--or the comraderie and enthusiasm! In any negative or positive behaviors of others, Mary would evoke the image of stillness. And would she retreat from possible chaos? Perhaps. The nothing must ponder this, for stability is a key aspect of Mother Mary, the spouse of the Holy Spirit and Mother of Christ.

In all circumstances, however, the Blessed Virgin Mary illuminates any scene by her serenity.

Another example to work through is that increased back pain. How would Mary live out the nine s' on a day (or night) in which physical pain escalates? Well, she would be silent about it, for silence helps one manage pain. Yet, if she had an encounter with someone who did not understand the silence, she would in simplicity explain with few words, that pain is being dealt with in silence. (Sometimes selflessness requires a brief explanation so that others do not assume the sufferer is aloof or angry!) She would deal with the suffering in interior solitude, with God alone, even if surrounded by others exteriorly.

Slowness is needed to help the back have rest. The suffering speaks for itself, as Mary would offer it in union with her Son for the selfless love of souls. Tasks would bespeak of simplicity, as physical pain cannot tolerate complex activity. Stability in tone of voice, words spoken, and thoughts and emotions--Mary would utilize self-control in modulating all aspects of body and mind; pain can easily try to disrupt equanimity, especially when it escalates and the sufferer is weary. In stillness the soul is possessed, and serenity overflows the chalice of pain, Mary-like.

The nothing will work on this especially today, when the body is pained and the little job of sacristan comes in a few short hours.

Where the nothing has fallen quite short is in tolerance of others, tolerance of situations, and in slowing down from overtaxing the body, and in not reading John and Hebrews! Today, a couple of verses or even phrases from these will commence, once more, that fulfillment of the Rule. And, in planting some ground cover and some flowering annuals, the nothing is reminded to fear God and delight in His commands (overview) and to just adore him (motto and mission).

Yes, that is another issue that the nothing must ponder as to how the Virgin Mary would think and act: the Mary Garden's plant acquisitions. The nothing has invested in some lovely specimen trees and shrubs. How is the adopted Rule of Life effectuated by these beauties--and justified (if at all) by the expense?

While the expenditure is beautifying the earth and glorifying God, it also provides income for the nursery owner and his employees. However, this weekend at each Mass a missionary priest from India speaks on the poverty and needs in his diocese, in work among the poorest of poor.

Surely Mary would make sure she could provide alms of equal amount to what is perhaps frivolous in the unique trees, shrubs and perennials, at least over a period of time.

A nothing Catholic hermit (as well as any hermit) must recognize that Mary lived a rather hermitess life after John built her the little stone house outside of Ephesus. She lived there until her dormition and assumption, following Jesus' ascension into Heaven. (This we know from private revelations of saints as well as from Tradition, although it is said she also traveled twice or so to Jerusalem when John came to take her and bring her back to her small house where it is reported she lived with a maidservant. What perfect instruction in a rule of life--perhaps the very nine s'--did that maidservant receive under the tutelage of Mary!)