Catholic Hermit: Prayers for Church, Country, World, Souls

In this time of many tragedies and trials besetting the world, a Catholic hermit's life of prayer and praise in the silence of solitude, comes to the fore, once again.

While trying to do the manual labor here on the old hermitage, I pray with the heart more than words.  The Holy Spirit streams prayer intentions through the mind like a river current flowing without ceasing.

Amidst the prayers with the manual labor, is the action of physical work.  This old, nothing, consecrated, Catholic hermit is going to attempt laying carpet.  It is not easy even if not a complicated job.  There are crucial aspects to which to heed, and internet has been most helpful in research on such tips that will make the difference between success and failure.

This morning I will travel to civilization, out into the temporal world, and the carpet warehouse will allow me to cut the carpet on their vast, concrete floor space.  I have the rooms drawn out to scale on graph paper, as the measurements are critical.

I awoke in the night and prayed for Divine Mercy.  An adult daughter and grandson are flying in for a long weekend, to offer much-needed and appreciated help.

It all seems rather silly, the concern of trying to lay carpet, having never done it before.  But finances what they are, we will find out in a couple days if this was a prudent decision to be the carpet installer.

I've noticed how long it takes to do finishing work, and that is so in the spiritual life.  The fine tuning which includes uncovering some major aspects yet to be worked out in our souls, can take much longer than the initial soul-gutting.

A phone call from a spiritual friend with some unfortunate news of some situations going on in her diocese--and it saddens me to think the parishioners are victims of yet another weak priest. I reminded her of St. Teresa of Avila's view of not utilizing the direction or confessional of a bad priest.  Teresa had had so many negative experiences that she culled two or three of the holiest priests (including John of the Cross) to be the confessors and directors of the sisters in her convents.  She did not want them to go through what she had experienced.

Sometimes it is startling to come to the reality of the saints' lives which comes through digging deeper into their writings, their letters, and more obscure writings about the saints' lives and experiences.  I find it most helpful in traversing the narrow path in our own times.

Now, must be off to tend to the temporal tasks, errands, and carpet-cutting.

God bless His Real Presence in us!