Interesting appointment with a priest of many years who has been a spiritual director in the past of a religious order of sisters, asked to be so by someone we all would recognize immediately. That being part of this priest's background, himself well-known, I discussed with him my consecrated hermit vocation, private profession and private vows with my late spiritual father witnessed and received in a beautiful, private ceremony at the altar of a convent chapel.
I was asking advice of this priest for my spiritual life in general, and I gave an overview of that life and of my hermit vocation. I brought up the private vows and profession as opposed to the CL603 profession, and he immediately commented that the latter not necessary--and why would I have a few months ago even been concerned with involving myself in that regard?
So I explained having inquired and introducing myself in writing with a bishop of diocese in which I had come, and desired to do whatever form the bishop preferred, but had written why I was privately professed and had been for these past nearly 20 years. And while I now had reason to perhaps question the answer I received back which was via a lay chancellor, it was that the bishop desired public profession, CL603.
The priest with whom I was asking advice on my spiritual life again interjected that one does not need that in the hermit vocation--just live the life quietly and privately. He also agreed with what I had come to realize that habits or any distinctive clothing does not keep the hermit hidden but rather the hermit stands out--as I put it, "like a sore thumb." The priest agreed.
I explained further the outcome of the inquiry, and that was the Lord let me know it was not His will for me, as He had twice previously over the years done so. And in looking back in my inquiry and then with the Bishop's response after I explained more to him in a preceding correspondence, it unfolded as was best--of which the priest with vast international experience again agreed and emphasized that it is best to live the hermit vocation without notice, simply and privately, quietly and in solitude.
He at first did not grasp why there had been any question in the first place, but I explained more the situation and of what may have been miscommunication via the chancellor as I had not received correspondence from the Bishop but rather through an email in the chancellor's words, and later it seemed as if the Bishop thought that I preferred or was asking to be canonically approved, when in fact I had written giving my reasons for not, including that in the past a bishop and a vicar general-chancellor had each told me that being canonically approved is not necessary or desired by that bishop.
While I was willing to go through the process, it became increasingly obvious that God did not will it especially when a third party was to spiritually discern me. That was not going to be prudent nor wise to divulge my spiritual life in these circumstances. The Bishop then wrote, when I was advised by a priest who knew me for many years advised me to let the Bishop know my reasons why best to not be discerned by other than a cleric. The Bishop did send correspondence then, directing me to live my vocation as God had obviously chosen, and that the CL603 was not validation of the vocation.
Since then, I have been relieved for it is confirmation from God through the Holy Spirit, that there have been three times that bishops have told me to continue living the hermit vocation with private profession and vows--living the life hidden and in silence of solitude as obviously called to live it. The emphasis on hermit vocation has fallen to the background which is where it belongs; and the spiritual life of prayer (and in my case much suffering offered as prayer) and praise of God, and of progressing in the spiritual life and love of His Real Presence--the Holy Trinity--and trying to settle back into spiritual reading and daily Mass (cannot physically attend due to COVID and pain, but watch EWTN Mass via laptop) has helped me adapt to a spiritual experience culminating on Pentecost.
Of that passing through into another phase of spiritual life, there are aspects within my memory that are needing to be removed, or perhaps better for me to leave them and let them flow back into the temporal past, freeing me to fully adapt to this phase and sphere of sorts, where I have been brought, in order to then more fully exist and remain in His Love and seek abiding, dwelling, in the Trinity.
The priest with whom I had gone to get his advice--I was not expecting his response to and insistence of private profession and vows and living of the hermit vocation in that manner. But it was an affirmation a fourth time, and a blessing to know that God's will, in my case and situation, is satisfied regarding private v. public profession as a consecrated Catholic hermit. I do not think I will have to move to another area, although we never know, do we? But I felt it important to share yet again what I have been told and advised on the matter of the hermit vocation prior to and up to July 2020.
I am not suggesting anything regarding those who choose to seek CL603 status as hermits or to be diocese hermits and wish them well and good progress in their spiritual lives. But I am yet again expressing that per my inquiring three times of bishops, and various priests along the way including now this one with international renown and vast experience in the spiritual life--one can yet be a Catholic hermit by private profession of the evangelical counsels with private vows. It will not be CL603, obviously, but it also will be ensured in hiddenness, privacy, passing unnoticed, and thus not distracted.
Living out what the canon law states which is repeated and further embellished in The Catechism of the Catholic Church §920 and §921--can be fulfilled by private profession as well and perhaps even more quietly and effectively in the utter humility of nothingness other than one's life devoted to the praise of God and praying for the salvation of the world in the silence of solitude...and all else so beautifully stated by the Church in the above sections.
I have had increasing peace and spiritual growth with progress that had been lacking with the distractions of writing in defense of privately professed Catholic hermits--yes, very much consecrated by and to Christ Himself. I'm sure that publicly professed hermits are consecrated to Christ, also. They are simply two paths yet remaining and valid in hermit vocation and life; and for me, the private path is what God desires of me--always has and I am fairly certain, always will. The greatest gift out of the recent inquiry and thankfully the way it turned out is of the entering into a new phase spiritually since the "vocation" is not the subject nor distraction, but rather all pray, praise, and loving purpose in seeking and abiding in and loving God's All from my nothingness.
God Bless His Real Presence in us!
Please pray for me, and I promise prayers for those who stop by this blog and read this addendum. There has been no more that I have needed to write on hermit life, thus I have not.
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