This blog post is for but one reader who is not really interested in my thoughts but rather in trying to provide fodder for a blogger who seems to focus on a canon law quite a bit, but enjoys writing blog posts based on contradicting and in the past as well, mis-manipulating my writing. It provides the blog writer means to debate that which was misrepresented by her friend who asks questions of the blogger as if an accidental reader sincerely wondering.
(This is a technique used in print or online columns to increase one's readership, as well as that of trying to instigate a debate. Nothing excites the human psyche than does love or battle, even as basic as setting up one writer as a foil to the other. Decades ago when I had first teaching assignment in a racially charged high school population, nothing drew teen girls and boys alike than a "fight!")
None of my readers will care about this situation; they know what my hermit path is and why. For the person who edited and thus somewhat altered what I wrote, I'm inserting the entirety regarding the guidelines and mentorship we hermits gain from early Christian hermits.
This is in contrast to being hermit per a canon law which provides more structure as well as approval by a bishop, and (perhaps preferred by some) a sense of security within a more temporal system. This type of hermit life, approved by a titled person (bishop) in the Catholic hierarchy of today, may be the saddle some need, feel they need, or feel is required to be a hermit. Whereas, the first hermits and those of the "desert" of early centuries and those of us on this path do not have these particular needs. God provides all within this ancient hermit path.
They knew and know they need His Real Presence, and were/are led and guided by the Trinity, the Living Word, and looked after by their guardian angels. This way of centuries-old hermit vocation is God's choosing and calling for me. I am His consecrated hermit striving to live by the Law of God, His Law of Love, and not a hermit type by a bishop's approval, canon law, or anything of the like. A caveat: This ancient hermit path is mortifying, humbling, unseen, unknown, humanly lonely, no human to hold one's hand nor to pay any heed; this hermit way also is filled with trial and error in temporal as well as spiritual matters. One must live by faith, hope, and love of God and figure out how to love as God loves us and others.
For those who feel more secure with or simply prefer CL603 and bishop approval, a title, a special garment to distinguish, or whatever else--I am not against. It behooves us to know ourselves and discern what God wills and chooses for us. Rather, I am simply for the hermit way that was established way back, even prior to John the Baptist in the Old Testament prophets. This hermit vocation and life that God chose for me and of which I knew of no other until a brief interlude of confusion when a person who is on the CL603 path got involved. God intervened in what became confusing, with a "no, not that way" and messages delivered via various locutions, dreams, visions, and temporal situations until I knew with certainty God did not will other than His way for me.
I am, thankfully and by the grace and guidance of His Real Presence (the Holy Trinity), having much spiritual growth based upon the life unfolding, suffering, persecution, and much learning on-going of His Living Word--prayer, and praise included! (Truth and humor in the suffering as an added gauge of spiritual growth: climbing the stairway to heaven and union with God!). Others in the CL603 path likewise may have much spiritual growth, I assume and would think. Go with God and be at peace with the choice He makes and of which you have agreed! Live the Christian life and whatever vocation! Live it in His Real Presence, God Alone!
Located the selection I'd written, now selectively edited by the other blogger or perhaps this person's girlfriend. I view the occasion as another opportunity to set forth the entirety of what I wrote on that topic, to share yet again my thoughts, and especially to remind that we ought not fixate over a temporal canon law, humanly written not that long ago. CL603 is not required by God nor the Catholic Church. It is an option for those either called or thinking they might be and need the security of the latter--or just want the human approval by a bishop and renown of others. The other option is old as ancient hills: simply following God into "the desert" of whatever that may be and mean in our times, and let Him guide, form, communicate with, love, lead, and instruct more directly. It's a matter of choice.
God chose for me His way of yore, crafted by Him in the present moment, so to speak. Others choose the recent CL603 path; but as we progress in grace and Spirit, one writes less (or strives to) about the path but rather more on what one is learning and loving of God: His Living Word, His Real Presence, prayer, praise, handling temptations, suffering, the daily challenges in the spiritual ascent, and particularly how God works all things toward good if the hermit (or any of us) loves Him and keeps faith and hope in Him.
My statement without being edited by another blogger's subject/content assistant:
"The fruit in past hermits gives us guidelines by noticing their lives lived--not any canon law for there were none, not any years of repetitive obsessing over who is and who is not a hermit based on some created church law centuries after Jesus instituted His church, never Himself speaking of laws positively except the Law of God which is the Law of Love. All other church laws [in His time]Jesus pointed out as hypocrisies and missing the point of God Himself; thus Jesus' teachings and purpose to live on this earth to help us see more clearly as live our lives more dearly in His Real Presence, as His children, in imitation of Christ's life and love."
Afterthought: Jesus said He came not to do away with those laws but to fulfill the "law"--then states yet again God's Law of Love, the greatest commandment: Love God above all else and others as God loves." Loving others as God loves includes ourselves, for God loves us very much, our souls. I don't think He loves our behaviors much of the time, and to not quote someone accurately, fully. That's not professional even if but a writer. He also said in a type of consequential warning: "in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines, human precepts (ref, Mk 7:1-13).
God bless His Real Presence in all of us; Love in His Love, a Conscrated Catholic Christian Mystic Hermit
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