Joyful, Solus Deus, Christian, Catholic, Mystic Hermit: Correspondence to a Fellow Hermit

Note:  The canonical hermit who has done much to perpetuate various precedents created by said person, has written a lengthy and seemingly sound refutation of my comments and questions below.  What this person writes in disagreeing what I have set forth, and now has added on years that have grown exponentially to what was this person's previous length of time as a hermit, is not scripturally based nor accurate other than is from the person's legalistic view of the Body of Christ and Christ as Head, of which Jesus decried such aspects that the high priests, scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees of His time on earth had so created a contorted legalistic form of religion and spiritual life in the Jewish faith and lived out in the temples as well as were imposed on the Jewish people.  This manner of humankind creating what they wish and adding on to what humankind creates in legalisms yet in our times or in recent times, is what most hermits such as St. Bruno, gave pause and ponder, and thus left the temporal world including ithe temporal system and structure, and left for the farthest reaches  of the Alps in which to draw nigh on to Christ and to worship and pray, to be Christian in the freedom of silence of solitude, praise of God, and intimacy with Christ that yet lifted up and strengthened the entire Body of Christ.  Bruno had lived enough of the very aspects of this person who persists in making up what is not in many aspects in fact.  I have provided the person with more platform than is warranted or healthy for the misinformation that comes forth, so will leave off the topic of which I do believe, however, that there will be increasing "hermits" of the canon law provision, simply due to the public promotion and position, prestige of sorts, and aspect of thinking "legal" and "approved" is preferred to following in the footsteps, heart, mind, and spirit of Christ's teachings and life as He exemplified on earth and as it is in His Real Presence here and in Heaven.

God's blessings:

I've been wondering how you are, if you are holding up by the power of God to the physical challenges you were having at one time or perhaps yet are, causing you to move to another location now some time ago for personal and needful reasons.  I'm a Catholic hermit, consecrated but of the traditional, historic mode, privately professed as had been customary for centuries, as also some of the prophets lived--John the Baptist, as well.  I've always appreciated and been refreshed by your writing about how to become a hermit (religious type).  You write reasonably and openly, with wisdom and intelligence.  I've found the trend to instead by going toward more structural, temporalized hermit vocation in the Catholic church vis a vis the  CL603 diocese hermit platform.  Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your just and modest expression of the vocation, thoughtful and set forth with reason and respect for all those who share the Catholic faith and also have been called by God to the hermit vocation. 

I have been, since vows professed nearly 23 years ago in private ceremony, and remain anonymous including hidden as far as blending in dependent upon environment in which I live or go out for errands. No prefix nor suffix to my name by choice of the same hiddenness and never felt need to stand out or be distinguished as with the low income and disabled with pain, facing increasing suffering so less manual labor. I may be facing losing the financial base I was utilizing--that of a modest inheritance invested in a house to renovate and eventually, hopefully selling for a profit to help pay for (likely) end of life health care needed.  I may not be able to complete the renovation, but will see what God has in Mind this coming year--if I recover enough from the latest major surgery.

I've never quite fathomed why bishops and/or those who wanted to be known as hermits, or given diocese hermit, bishop approval--was the canon law developed, and by what concern to do so.  Or did some hermits approach, even one or two, desiring the Church to create such a church law, because they wanted a place within the other designations of religious orders and clergy, virgins and widows?  Or were bishops concerned that the few hermits that ever exist, relative to Catholic lay members, were going to somehow have unmitigated and unapproved power, or were promoting themselves for monetary or theological gain?  

I thought perhaps you may know why they finalized the canon law (603) in 1983 to create a "diocese hermit" of which the bishop approves, and the vows are made publicly, of which now it seems precedents followed to include a public Mass, reception, publication announcement in diocese and other media, and sometimes hermit utilized in parish life and employment therein, or as hospital chaplains, paid spiritual directors or counselors, parish administrators or diocese employment.  However, typically hermits always have been and some few remain, solitary and more strictly separated from the world;  seekers of God alone and the spiritual life, existing to praise and pray and do penance, to live in silence of solitude and be hidden from the mainstream of the world.  And definitely were or are not known, not interacting in parishes nor belonging to any particular diocese--yet were and are approved and consecrated by and in God while very much remaining definitively Catholic (members of the Body of Christ and members of the Catholic Church).  

You seem a rather rare glimpse of a diocese hermit who has not succumbed or perhaps not gone along with the precedents being set by some hermits, particularly in the US, who are promoting, formulating, the erstwhile "traditional, historic" hermit vocation in this other manner.  It also seems from current research and events that bishops are assuming and inculcating the precedents, although have been simply made up by more visible diocese hermits who have by essence of being more public have established themselves or by supporters, as authorities.  The bishops seem not to question nor realize these protocols are simply being made up, whether or not the practices follow or adhere with what is stated in The Catechism of the Catholic Church.  These may include precedents and practices regarding solitude, per say, or "hidden from the eyes of men", or living a "stricter separation from the world"--of which stricter has grown a loose definition and as if no "waistline needed."  

Also, I have noticed that there is a precedent that has become as if "law", that the Catholic hermits who are of the ancient or traditional, historic mode (as has been the way of hermit profession and avowal, of being formed by God and those whom God has placed for a time period to guide the hermit, mentor the hermit)--that these hermits are somehow not to be referred to nor of themselves be "Catholic hermits".  This is a relatively new development, not that a Catholic hermit needs to be known as belonging to his or her Church despite Catholicism being the basis of a hermit's practice of worship, theology, faith, and tradition. 

Amidst these ongoing observations and in some regard concerns, I hope you might personally offer some insights as to the what and especially why, and how it was the diocese hermit and canon law 603 came to be accepted as essentially "promote and official, even "legal" format of hermit vocation in recent times. Also, do you anticipate the traditional, historic, perhaps what has been the only form or type of hermit existence prior to 1983 to thereby be replaced at least as no longer technically legally and in practice and essence inviable, in the eyes of the Church clergy and members?   [I believe there was a movement in France in early 20th c.of something of the sort but my memory rusty on what I've read of this, now a century past].  

Regardless, the creation of yet another canon law, and this for hermits of all vocations, seems to create what could become or has already made lasting ruts and signage as a replacement form of the centuries-old, tried and true hermit vocational pathway, going back prior to time of Our Lord hermit vocation. Already I am aware of aberrations from what is set forth and gleaned from more ancient hermit lives and writings, the requisites that earmark a hermit's life from perpetuity and history, and the ways and means of that lifestyle. 

Thanks in advance and regardless, if you can illuminate and share your thoughts or knowledge on these questions and concerns I have for the rather divisive situation of hermit vocational options, the one being subjugated in many circumstances and locales, already.  While the variant precedents and actual life style shifts taking place perhaps by bishops and diocese hermits maybe not in agreement or knowledgeable of the traditional and historic ways and wherefores of hermit lives--will not affect my own vocation.  What has been written in The Catechism has been been gleaned from historic hermit and theologic writings and lifestyles; my own and other tradtional hermits live vocations anonymously, formed, and corrected by for most part the Holy Spirit as enactor, and our guardian angels as messenger, the Holy Spirit as guide and overseer, and of Jesus the Word  and Son of God Our Father.  

But I do sense and have cited instances noticed, of the division that is being created, plus some detraction even if subtle or recently reworded. Eventhough you state correctly that the centuries-and-into-antiquity style of hermit vocation should not be demeaned, the traditional historic way of hermit life is in effect being negated or presented/treated as illegal by virtue of having the relative recent, diocese hermit path "legalized" by a canon law with procedural structure created by humankind, albeit clerics, but perhaps some who wanted this structure and stature developed, lobbied for and assisted in the creation of the canon law.  

So again, to re-cap; my sincere appreciation if you can shed light at least on the reason why a canon law to legalize and make public, organized, and structured a diocese hermit vocation--was determined necessary to begin with, or who promoted the diocese hermit or "by law" type of public profession into the hands of a bishop over private profession in and consecration by God?  

It's always fairly obvious when someone has a mental illness or is a demoniac, even back in the Old Testament times or during life of Christ, compared to a quiet, unassuming person who if takes seriously being "hidden" from the eyes of humankind, lives in solitude, blends in, is in stricter separation from the world--with stricter being an on-going progression but not playing games with the meaning of the word. And of discerning and noting the spiritual life and prayer, praise and penance being the way of life, along with living the Gospel that of a healthy and viable hermit as opposed to an imbalanced and mentally ill person, or even one who simply does not have the vocation, at least not yet, and is in it for the uniqueness or some form of self-gain.  (Hopefully, Christians would offer care and mercy  to such persons, or grasping if one even knew of the "hermit" if in a phase of spiritual or temporal trial that time would prove the vocation one way or another.)  

Otherwise in reality, if there were such a "hermit" observable as a hermit, saying he or she is a hermit, who is exhibiting traits and behaviors of a genuinely emotionally, mentally, or pathologically ill person, no one would take such a one seriously as a hermit. In other words, how would anyone even be known as a hermit if truly living in accord with the standards or requisites of hermit life and vocation from the period of the Essenes and even further back in history and forward through the Christian era to the requisites and standard basics being summarized and set forth in The Catechism of the Catholic Church?  

And, will there will be a time or has it arrived, when the historic, traditional form of hermit is no longer attempted due to the current promoting by the Church bishops as well as the growing incidence of diocese hermits, the created canon law  603 also promoted by dioceses and being accepted as the legal way to become a "Catholic" hermit?  While the traditional, historic, and not long ago only path or way of the hermit vocation--will it fall out of custom and become past history as it is not encouraged nor espoused by the clergy?  Nor is the historic traditional hermit vocation promoted by diocese hermits by virtue they chose the publicly professed and bishop-approved path, and being public and following precedents set, are visible as hermits in dress, name and titles, having been announced in dioceses and often nationally or in national publications of countries.  Additionally the Church membership at large is unaware of the hidden, silent, solitary privately professed hermit pathway and hermits themselves due to their remaining hidden and anonymous unlike the advertised diocese hermits whose often new names with religious titles are interviewed and presented in publications, as well as announced and spoken of by bishops and priests as Catholic hermits of "the Catholic hermit vocation"?

I wrote this to the hermit who I have admired for several years, when I discovered what had been written that was the most fair and decently accommodating of the hermit vocation in which otherwise, previously have been the only types of hermits, religious, at least, since any records or knowledge remains of those of which I am a remaining morsel among the others out there, living solus Deus, God alone, and striving in the basic summations of what is a consecrated Catholic hermit to live and be, now gathered and available to refer to in The Catechism of the Catholic Church.  Beyond that, there are the writings by and of the ancient hermits up through the 21 centuries, and the Scriptures, Old Testament and John the Baptist in the New Testament, as excellent guides with their lives and trials, and their guidance, from which to learn, be inspired, and encouraged.

I went through and edited (cleaned and made more clear) my thoughts and request for feedback from this diocese hermit, and I have personally noted that the hermit did update the earlier writing on hermits, and has been influenced some by the increasing trend of Diocese hermits and bishops predominating the hermit vocational scene in the temporal aspects of the Catholic Church at least for now.  Who knows how this will evolve and to what end--except for God Who often lets humankind devise their own hands-on desires to make and create more system, structure, and legalities?  However I did appreciate shortly after sending my essay letter to thus level-headed and spiritually mature CL603 hermit who is admirably living her hermit life admirably in keeping with the basics and what remains summed in The Catehcism, coming across the writings of St Ignatius of Antioch way back circa some years prior to his death around the year 110.  A bishop and martyr of the very early church, likely alive and part of the word "Catholic" being used interchanged with Church and thus Catholic Church came into the vernacular, this letter to the Magnesians, Chapter 6, 7, implores them to not tolerate division and warns of the dangers of divisiveness in the Church among Her Body, and in general.  Enjoy what gifts us some worthwhile consideration even in our personal lives!

Do all then, imitating the same divine conduct, pay respect to one another, and let no one look upon his neighbor after the flesh, but continually love each other in Jesus Christ. Let nothing exist among you that may divide you; but be united with your bishop, and those that preside over you, as a type and evidence of your immortality. As therefore the Lord did nothing without the Father, being united to Him, neither by Himself nor by the apostles, so neither do anything without the bishop and presbyters. Neither endeavor that anything appear reasonable and proper to yourselves apart; but being come together into the same place, let there be one prayer, one supplication, one mind, one hope, in love and in joy undefiled. There is one Jesus Christ, than whom nothing is more excellent. Therefore run together as into one temple of God, as to one altar, as to one Jesus Christ, who came forth from one Father, and is with and has gone to one.

Catholic Christian Hermit Mystic: An Echo from 9th Century Book of Hours of Sinai

When I read this Midnight Canon, 4th Ode, SC 486 from a 9th century Book of Hours of Sinai, the sentiments matched mine.  As if an echo from 12 centuries ago, each thought, each word, each plea and admission, are mine.  

I desire God's precepts and forgiveness.  I plead for mercy and reach out to Christ's extended, Divine Hand.  Lift me up, O Lord!  Life me from the intensity of physical suffering; lift me out of the darkness of drowning without dying.  You gift me with the desire to love and serve You,  My God, and I have no one and nothing to embrace or delight in but His Real Presence and the assurance of His Saving Grace for my soul.

 

Book of hours of Sinai (9th century)

Midnight Canon , 4th Ode, SC 486

I have sinned, I have failed you, O compassionate one. I have sunk in the abyss of despair; but show me in the midst of my night, as you did for the disciples journeying on the sea, O Word, and give me your divine serenity! My soul in each moment is in your hands, O my God and my help. You who sound the depths of my heart, you who know my thoughts, you know the waves, the storm, the furor of my thoughts; but I have seen you, even now, on the agitated sea of my heart. Behold, I have desired your precepts, in your righteousness make me live. Forgive, O Creator, be indulgent--you who formed me; have mercy because I am on the sea of this life. Extend your divine hand, like Peter, and lift me up. Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!

Christian Catholic Mystic Hermit: Today's Psalm Ever Purposeful

 

I found the Psalm of today's liturgy to be quite meaningful, in vast and purposeful ways.

From Psalm 119 the following lines remind me that those with propensity to deceive themselves and thus attempt to deceive others, will eventually find their falsehoods gurgling to the surface. While truth always ends up being shown to such persons at final judgment, it behooves each of us to consider, absorb, and live the advice and wisdom of these lines from the following Psalm.

Though princes meet and talk against me,

Your servant mediates on your statutes.

Yes, Your decrees are my delight;

they are my counselors.

I declared my ways, and You answered me;

teach me Your statues.

Make me understand the way of Your precepts,

and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.

Remove from me the way of falsehood,

and favor me with Your law.

The way of truth I have chosen;

I have set your ordinances before me.

--Psalm 119: 23-24, 26-27, 29-30

Years ago in my vocation as a consecrated Catholic hermit, I prayed about the rule of life that God desires of me.   I knew immediately when reading a biography of a hermit of the Middle Ages, a holy, blessed man named Richard, that what he had determined to be the "perfect rule of life" is indeed what the Holy Spirit was showing me to be the perfect rule of life for my own hermit life and my life as a Christian religious solitary:  The Gospel Rule.

All the more, the above Psalm inspires in me today and now tonight, again, the favor of His Law:  God's Law of Love.  I have chosen the way of truth, in that Jesus repeats and exhibits and instills in us to live in truth, beauty, and goodness.  I have prayed to learn the meditations of Jesus' Heart, and to make them the meditations of Christ within me.

I'm so ever grateful for His Real Presence always through, with, and in me, each step of the way of life in the Triune God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  

Let us love God above all things, and let us love others as God loves.  God bless His Real Presence in us, and love in His Love.  Amen.

Psalms 119(118),23-24.26-27.29-30.

Psalms 119(118),23-24.26-27.29-30.

Though princes meet and talk against me,
your servant meditates on your statutes.
Yes, your decrees are my delight;
they are my counselors.

I declared my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your statutes.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.

Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.

Christian Cathoilc Mystic Hermit: Living the Hermit Vocation Authentically in His Real Presence

 Just want to check in and say all is going well with this consecrated Catholic hermit--Christian foremost, Catholic and mystic living the hermit vocation as set forth by His Real Presence and in the ancient, traditional, hermit Christian tradition of centuries of men and women hermits in the Church.  I include in my inspirations of the Christian Catholic hermit vocation the prophet hermits and, of course, John the Baptist, and the hermits following of both Eastern and Western hermit traditions following the Great Schism circa 11th c.

However, my main point is that of living a life devoted to His Real Presence:  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  To have and hold the faith within of being in His Real Presence and His Real Presence being within us, all the time and in all places and dimensions of space and time known and unknown to the human being.   To live and love in His Living Word as the on-going challenge, and to follow Christ in today's world, temporally and mystically, and doing so until we are called out of this life and into eternal life, with our no longer being personages on this earth.  

The implications of such a life as a hermit in today's society and in today's Church bring with it challenges to adapt logically, spiritually, practicably, and humanly with enduring mercy, faith...and very much so, living in and with God's Law of Love.

I no longer think about the hermit vocation as such, and not as anything set forth recently in hierarchical or temporal organizational terms.  I do not engage in other than the living of His Living Word and pondering the wonders therein, as far as anything temporal or tactical in what some may find worthwhile conversation of "hermit vocation".  The Lord has brought me beyond the ensnaring nets of the temporal in those controversies, and I realize the space of mind and thought wasted in the past, with so much benefit in grasping the holy ones who lived lives as religious solitaries yet among their fellow humans, but with a God alone reality that transcends the muck of temporal degradation of mind, heart, and soul.  All for God, omnia pro Deo, allows me to listen and obey as best a human can and may, the calling and teaching of His Real Presence, to allow oneself in faith to obey and be directed by God Himself, is the challenge and beauty of my life of increasing suffering.

Understanding with greater awareness that my sufferings and the sufferings of Holy Mother Church are made one and were made one years ago and forever in my life on earth, has brought meaning and love in the sufferings, despite the sufferings diminishing and demeaning my mortal body and ego.  This diminishment and demeaning of my body and my very "self" in temporal existence has been beautiful and positive; I know God has me in His Real Presence fully and forevermore.

What is difficult is in the faith required, but then to grasp that all the faith necessary is given by the Holy Trinity, His Real Presence.

So awaken, rise physically or only mentally and always spiritually each morning, and live out each day in His Real Presence, enjoying the pups Mercy and Love, enjoying whatever my body and mind and emotions are able to enjoy, and let the soul grow in whatever ways His Real Presence desires!  Today I pray to plant a tree or transplant some Echinacea flower starts to create a row of blooms along the driveway of Solus Deus Hermitage.  Or, to shovel sand off the truck bed and into some trash containers for use when my helper Sean returns on Monday to help dig out and level the small courtyard area outside the hermitage entrance.  

Whatever today of physical efforts, I know that His Real Presence is forming my mind, heart, and spirit in His likeness and image.  Only "myself" when the pain becomes too temporal, gets in the way of all the graces that His Real Presence is constantly bequeathing upon me.  

Thus, perhaps, my dear readers, you can understand why the temporal, hierarchical, humankind laws and applications created have little to do with the progression occurring within and without this body, mind, heart, and soul who is existing as a child of His Real Presence, a consecrated hermit in His Holy Church Eternal, more mystical than temporal, and more so "of the ages."  God has me directly now because I finally accept His will in this regard, and let go, simply let go of other.  Simply keep going in faith, in love, following His Real Presence where I know not, but He does.

Love in His Love, and God bless His Real Presence in us!

Christian Mystic Hermit of God and His Church: Is the Temporal or Is God Guiding?

 I've struggled tremendously with physical pain for some time, increased amount of suffering to the point of not sure I will endure.  Only God knows how we will persevere and when we will no longer need to physically struggle with suffering.  Only God knows how to guide us, yet so many seem devoid of truth and trust.

I admit it is not easy.  Not easy to suffer physical pain or any other form of pain--but trusting in God and accepting His guidance and direction and especially His truth--we will proceed bit by bit and step by step and moment by moment.

Thus I am rather amazed (and needing humor in our lives, it could be amusing if not so sad) when people seem to not know within such aspects of vocational callings by God, by His Real Presence, by the Holy Trinity. Such is the case with those who think they are called by God to be hermits, or those who think they'd like to be hermits, or those who are called by God as hermits knowing that the hermit vocation is but a vehicle in this temporal life and not an end in itself, not even a means to an end.  The hermit life and vocation is but a way of life to which God calls some in order to be His in more quiet, solitude, dependency, and hiddenness by God's will and for God's purposes.

His will and purposes also include what will be best in our temporal lives. I have often marveled that long before being called into the Catholic Church and with no notion of hermit life or any vocation as such, God sent my late grandmother to tell me, to show me, that I was going to live a hermit life without using the word "hermit" but demonstrating within the vision and speaking of the type of life I would live in the temporal world, yet of the spiritual life.  I was shown in part the means by which I would gradually learn to grow in this way of life and when, at the right timing, a greater transition to known hermit life would begin.

Truth is so crucial in our temporal and spiritual lifes.  And progression is key in our temporal and spiritual lives.  Spiritual progression is primary, of course, and the temporal is increasingly the less.  However, I am stunned that people who say they are called by God to be hermits, and who call themselves hermits and those who are in recent times even approved by a diocese bishop to be hermits, seem to have no inner nor spiritual sense of how to write a rule of life or what might be the content of a rule of life.  When the reality is that a rule of life per any type of temporalized guidelines of what is to be in it or that one must have something labeled a "rule of life"--not at all required for those God calls as hermits and to hermit vocation or life to be lived while progressing in the spiritual life yet while in body and living in this temporal world.

The point is, if one is truly called by God to this life of silence, solitude, hiddenness, prayer and deep closeness to His Real Presence yet while functioning as a human being yet foremost spiritual in this temporal world, God Himself through various, holy means and holy personages, particularly the Holy Spirit--utilizing spiritual and temporal modalities--will guide and teach the hermit (in Christianity usually Catholic) all that is necessary.  And that may include an inner nudge or outer suggestion to ponder the way forward for the person's body, mind, heart, and soul in this vocation lived while on earth--much as a garment is worn to protect body and make comfortable the progress throughout life, or a pathway is blazed by which the body, mind, heart, and soul makes holy progress in love of God above all else and love of others as God loves, toward union with His Real Presence, the Holy Trinity.

I never had any need to ask any human nor to read any advisement of what ought or must be included in what has been termed over temporal time, in temporal language and thought, a "rule of life."  However, I fell into thinking temporally--but after the fact of God's having given me a few words upon which to base my temporal and spiritual progression through my life when the life as hermit was made manifest in a certain phase, and became more focused, when my youngest was heading off to college.  Just three words were spoken to me by a priest who was inspired of these words by the Holy Spirit, and then six others came to me from the Holy Spirit--nine words that were and are to guide me in my temporal and spiritual progress, of which the temporal-spiirtual modality in this temporal existence as a spiritual being, is as a hermit.

Then I had others suggest after the fact, this notion, temporal as it is and not terrible, of course, but can be good as the point is to provide focus by the Holy Spirit, of which God wills and desires for all peoples in all earthly vocations.   Call it a Rule of Life, a Life Plan, a Set of Goals, a Purpose for Life--the point is all humans would do well to pray for guidance from God as to what He wills of us in our lives temporally and spiritually, what purpose He desires for us and for which He created us, and by what means God might show, give, direct and guide us in living out His will spiritually, while in the temporal.

The purity and beauty and truth in what God gave me from way back, even before I ever knew of hermit vocations or rules of life or the seemingless endless rules and laws and protocols in Catholicism, seemed more inclined to the nine words I was given by the Holy Spirit (three being simply mentioned by a holy priest the day after my consecration as a Catholic Hermit and having given my vows to God and Holy Church to live this vocation the rest of my temporal life, yet in spiritual obedience to His Real Presence and His Church in whatever way the Holy Trinity--His Real Presence--might desire and ask of me.

But then came the temporal Catholic inculcations, perhaps more like intrusions or protocols, made up by humans, and with increasing additions in the past 15 years as to this-and-that of how to do this, what to wear, what initials behind a name chosen not of birth, and also how to write a rule of life, and who are real hermits and who are frauds, mostly generated when one does the research, coming from mainly from the writings of one person.  And I am sorry that at one point I also wrote about writing a rule of life, and at one point someone asked me to write my rule of life and send it--when it is God who gave me the rule of life in 9 words, and He did not label it as a rule of life but more as what to ponder and help to guide and form and encourage this solitary, hidden, anonymous but to God, way of life richly spiritual and silent, growing in communion with His Real Presence and learning to love as He loves--yet by His protection from temporal intrusions that God knew way before I possibly could fathom, would try to hinder my union with Him, my soul's progression, and my ability to purely love others as God loves.

Trust in God!  His Real Presence will suggest to anyone--hermit or married or single or whatever He has chosen as the pathway through the temporal life within which lies our soul's spiritual growth and progress to God--any words or images or Scriptures or whatever will be the form by which we can always return our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls to be replenished and renewed in the purpose and journey of our spirit, yet while in this temporal life.

Be still and know that God will inform us of whatever we need. He is ours to have, to hold, to keep.  Better to not look to humans for guidance when we can have His Real Presence in Holy Perfection of His omniscience, omnipotence, and omni-presence!

The Lord has been cleansing me of much of the temporal supposed "helps" that instead were human kind's snares and shackles, created by humans with good intentions, and I'd for awhile hopped on the assembly line of dishing out this and that advice or tried on the protocols and shackles as such, ut only found myself as if thick viscous gel forming between my soul and the Holy Trinity's purity and beauty, truth and goodness.

Please, if you think you are being called to hermit or solitary life in Christianity or otherwise, be assured that God will provide all you need, and in His Real Presence you will find full assurance that you are indeed called to whatever vocation it is.  And if you are finding yourself more focused on the vocational trappings and rules and regulations and protocols which are merely machinations of humans, well-intentioned, I'm sure even if frosted with temporal need-for-external-control and hubris--then ask God in the stillness of your mind, heart, and soul, what is His truth, what is His will for you, and if hermit vocation is His choice and means of temporal passage for you.  

God will answer you.  He will give you all you need to be assured and to go forth in whatever vocation.  God will give you your purpose and whatever manner of helps you may need to formulate a map that is His, for now and every step forward.   Ask God, not people, not me, no others.  Trust in His Real Presence to provide all in your temporal-spiritual vocations.  

Of all vocations from all times past up to recently, hermit path of temporal existence and spiritual progression was the purest, simplest, most solitary and hidden, privately prayerful and humblest of all vocations.  I learned for myself, that God wills me to keep to the way of the ancient purity.  Consider the nine words the Holy Spirit gave me, to remain freed from snares that complicate or effectually ignore God's Knowledge, Wisdom and Strength, and to not focus on the vocation itself, but on His Real Presence and His Law of Love, His Living Word!

A good question for any of us when contemplating or already in any of several life vocations:  Is the temporal--or is God guiding you?  I'm serious on this point.  We may so want to have some person tell us what to do or if we are really called to this or that vocation or not, or how to do this or that which in the truth of matters, have been made up by humans anyway--but ask God, and then wait for His answer in whatever ways He chooses.  If the answer or way consists of anything other than truth, beauty, goodness, simplicity, hiddenness, silence, solitude, humility and His Way and Word, step clear and seek His Real Presence yet again.  He will answer in all that is holy and supernal, not of humankind.

I lost a chunk of temporal life being confused by humans, including Church humans who though sincere, were steeped in more of humankind than of His Real Presence or who did not grasp such as the hermit vocation but were busy making it into that which it never was nor actually ever will be--one of prestige or note, of visibility, of numerous human interactions under the guise of being socially healthy, and will be void of many protocols, rules, rituals, and laws also created by humankind.  For role models, try John the Baptist in the desert before God had him fulfill his purpose as precursor of Christ, having come out from the desert to Baptize and make way for the Lord, introduce Christ the Messiah come to earth.  Or consider Paul of the Desert or Mary of Egypt. Yes, you are right. You will find little of them in those years, for they were hidden from the eyes of mankind, in the silence of solitude, in prayer and penance for their and the souls of the world, and praising of God.  They were subsumed in His Living Word.

No, I'm not there yet.  I got myself ensnared with some manual labor trying to keep my painful body forced up and going, trying to renovate in order to sell and have income for end of life care--rather than in trusting His Real Presence to take care of all my needs, including helping me live without health help or homeless if it comes to that.  I got side-tracked by those who increasingly created temporal aspects to hermit vocation, and by those who focus on those aspects, or who judge who is and who is not, or try to prove some need of temporal approval when God suffices in all things of heaven and of earth.  

At least I've had the turn around, the wake up, and am on His way, His guidance and truth and His loving mercy sheltering me in place while I return to the few words the Holy Spirit gave me long ago, and the foretelling of my hermit vocation over 36 years ago--of my awareness, and farther back in my subconscious of which I sublimated.  

God knows whatever of our minds, and hearts and souls, by whatever family upbringings and our gradual progression in His Real Presence is leading us.  God allows us time and means to explore, but He always answers our calls for help and guidance, answers our questions, and draws us forth and onward in our temporal and spiritual lives.  Trust Him, not humans, not those who feel they are substitutes.  God will guide, lead, direct; God will answer you.  Have faith.

This truth is in all our life vocations and paths:  to, through, with and in His Real Presence--even if we are unsure of our vocations int his temporal life.  Trust in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  Keep asking, and be open to the answers according to His choosing, will and timing.  While I became drawn off by temporal and humans for what seems a long period of earth time, trust in God to bring us back to Him and His Way forward.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Love in His Love!

Silence, Solitude, Slowness, Suffering, Selflessness, Simplicity, Stillness, Stability, Serenity

Christian Identity

 I put "Christian" in front of Catholic Hermit because a follower of Christ (imperfect, human), that is my true identity, the foremost identity of what and who I am, who I aspire to love and follow and be united with forever.  But I have come to sense that I am less in the temporal world increasingly, the more hindered the body is, and my existence is mostly observing the world through my laptop, such as in some films that I try to select for good prayer purposes, as most films present slices of lives and the world, with some people better than others and some worse than others.

I'm finding that discipline is crucial for a successful temporal life.  I have never been high in discipline.  Especially now, for the suffering hinders me from even doing the usual daily tasks.  It takes energy to brush the teeth, to get up, to want much to eat other than ice cream has been a daily mainstay, of all things. I never really liked ice cream in my adult life--but between a molar with crown that the dentist cannot find anything wrong, but it flares up easily with pain, so chewing I avoid, and the pain craves sugar for dopamine increase despite pain pump and can augment with oral meds--at least I found vanilla ice cream that has twice the protein of the usual varieties. (Costco brand, it is.)  I'm not hungry, regardless, for I need little eat, and I lack a kitchen; but I find a refrigerator is all I need and if I want to cook something, which I do not, I have a tiny little portable oven that currently is on the floor in the bedroom hallway, as planks are piled in the dining room, where it used to be.  No space or counters anywhere accessible.  

If I really needed anything in particular, I'd need to sell the place "as is" and go--where?  That is a good question, and there is no sensible or financially prudent answer, so as long as I'm fine and can grange-eat which I have done for the past 10 years or more, for most part, and the last 8 years eaten laying down in bed or on sleeping bag on floor before my back surgery.  It works for me.  washing out a bowl or saucer and spoon or fork of which I rarely need other than a spoon and that only for ice cream currently, life is very simple.  It simply takes too much energy to do much that is not going to provide more body movement, and so I try to get up once a day to do a small tray of drywall mud on the seams.  It is very slow process, but it is what forces me to get up at all, and today there was sharp pain in my lumbar.  Otherwise, I get up for appts. of which I have none for ten days, which has become unusual to not have them more often. Since part of my struggle in being up is my knee pain, I might have to see about going back to the surgeon's PA and ask her to drain it again, and perhaps another steroid or might be some other treatment, for the pain doctor also is referring me to a neurologist to do a needle into the neck itself and release steroids; he had injected steroid into pressure points near the neck, but it takes a neurologist to safely guide a needle actually into the cervical spaces.  And one can only have so much steroid or it is no effective, or too much can cause negative reactions.  So we'll see, but my being in bed nearly all the time also has to do with the knee pain.  It all gets too much, and thus my mind cannot push through it as it used to be able to do somewhat better.  I am more dead than alive, at least when it comes to the world.

I'm praying for discipline. Please, Jesus, help me have more discipline.  Perhaps my lack has to do with the pain, but even my writing is not disciplined nor has it been for some time, or seems to me.  I write about pain, and that is pointless, really.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Christian, I am and will be all my earthly days!  Temporal Catholic, no, that has not been, but no one will be temporal Catholic or temporal Calvinist or temporal Baptist when we are no longer in this temporal world.  And, truly, we are all Christians, so that is why I decided it was time to identify as "Christian" foremost.  That indeed opens up possibilities should I encounter people who might want to discuss Christ, more than if I identify as more specific.  The Lord has brought me into Catholicism these past 26 years, and I have learned and grown in all types of ways with much benefit of mind, heart, and soul. I learned a lot about the temporal aspects, but it is the spiritual that is the pith and point.  I've grown to want to hear Jesus and His Living Word preached if anything is to be preached in the online Masses I listen to, or other talks by various Christians. Thus far, Rev. Billy Graham's "classics" on Youtube never disappointment when one wants Jesus and His Living Word--and Jesus' Real Presence is in His Living Word in addition to the Eucharist.  I have considered lately the type and archetype of God having had Ezekiel "eat" the scroll, the Living Word.  And then Jesus fed the disciples and others, bread and wine as His Real Body and Blood.  I'm finding the reality of His Real Presence as Eucharist and Living Word to be enlivening both temporally and spiritually, and mostly spiritually, mystically--truth!

Again, God Bless His Real Presence in us!

Catholic Christian Hermit: LIfe-changing words from Origen

 I found these words to be inspirational plus practically helpful in making changes in my own life.  Perhaps they will be profoundly changing for others, as well.  I realize to no let my own attitudes enslave me, nor the attitudes, moods of others or to let situations enslave me, as well.  Jesus is my Master; I must follow Him as best I can, and not droop with whatever is going on around me.

Origen (c.185-253)

priest and theologian

Homilies on Exodus, no. 12, 4

"If you remain in my word (…) the truth will set you free"

“The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor 3:17) (…) But how can we find this freedom who are slaves of this world, slaves of money, slaves of fleshly desires? It is true that I strive to amend and judge myself; I condemn my faults. And on their part, let those who hear me examine the thoughts of their own hearts. But let me mention that, insofar as I am bound by one of these attachments, I have not been converted to the Lord nor attained true freedom, since such matters and preoccupations still have power to hold me (…). As we know, it is written that: “A person is a slave of whatever overcomes him” (2 Pt 2:19). Now, even if I am not overcome by love of money, even if I am not bound by concern for possessions and riches, yet I am hungry for acclaim and anxious for human glory when I take account of the regard shown me by others and of what they say about me, when I worry about what someone thinks of me, about someone else's estimation, when I am afraid to displease one and want to please another. So long as I have these preoccupations, I am their slave. Yet I should like to make an effort to set myself free from them and try to break free from the yoke of this shameful slavery and attain the liberty Saint Paul tells us about: “You were called for freedom; do not become slaves to human beings” (Gal 5:13; 1 Cor 7:23). But who will gain this freedom for me? Who will deliver me from this shameful slavery if not he who said: “If the Son sets you free, then you are free indeed” (…) So let us faithfully serve and “love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our strength” (Mk 12:30), so that we may merit to receive the gift of freedom from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Catholic Hermit Mystic Christian: More Thoughts on Mystics and the Mystical Element

 I thought to send this to Dr. McGinn, but I realized he does not need to receive the thoughts of someone such as myself.  He is a scholar, busy, in retirement yet besieged by correspondence, I'm sure.  He is the world leading expert on mysticism and mystics of the Western Christianity; I am but a pained and worn out mystic who views from this personal perspective and experience, and not really from the intellectual so much.  But I've decided to share my thoughts here, instead.  (And at some point I might switch over to my other blog site that is more particular to mystics and mysticism.  This blog for me is the more familiar, though, and it contains more of the thoughts along the spiritual progression.}

Here's what I did not send, but will keep here.  Perhaps some of the thoughts can be helpful to someone else.  I have no idea on that, of course.

___________________________

(Dear B.,)

I have so been enlightened by your recent lectures posted on YouTube.  Today I shared with a longtime friend and clinical psychologist about the three elements but mostly commented on the mystical element needing to be in balance, and that it seems everyone is born with a "spark" of mystical, and some perhaps have a more pronounced purpose, but many likely let the "institutional" and the "intellectual" keep the spark contained; it does not become inflamed nor on fire--such as Jesus said how He wished the world--and I think in some respects each of us all--were already burning.  I encouraged the psychologist to broaden the three elements or concepts to whatever breadth, and have fun playing with it.  He said he has patients who are so very out of balance; and I said see if somehow these elements, particularly the mystical (love, divinity, spiritual--in his work he has to use variety of terms that otherwise reflect or are God--and see how it goes.

I want to also say that when one of the panel members in one video asked about mystics and mental illness, I had to consider that when I read St. Teresa's writings as well as letters, that never did the thought that she could have mental or psychological issues, for as a mystic, all that is endured including strange collapses and exhaustions, and whatever else that other "normal" people might think are psychotic episodes or mental illness--are simply the path or the way of the mystic.  Often God will forewarn, even, with a clue or mystical message in a locution or dream or nudging the mystic in something he or she is reading, or through His Living Word.  

So I chuckled a little, although I think mystics themselves have a concern at least when they are at a point in which others or some incident causes them to realize they are on a bit of a little different modality.  I know the first person I turned to after a friend said something to me years ago, was to hie thee to a therapist!  But after much questioning and also having known me from around the area somewhat--he quickly said no, you are not crazy, but you do have unusual spiritual gifts.  However, I have had a handful of people contact me as I remain anonymous but write, and want advice and want to have some type of validation perhaps, and I have hurt some feelings by suggesting they get themselves checked out by a professional.  That is especially the case if they start exhibiting what are signals to me, such as not being grounded, or over-zeal for mystical phenomenon.  But I also realized that this was not my purpose, to field people wanting to know IF they are mystics in the sense of all that to me seems non-essential.  The mystical phenomenon, if we are sparks of mystical, are the nearly invisible little tidbits of burnt that flecks off a sparkler.  But it does seem even with the "mystical element"--people immediately or soon think: phenomenon.  Or so it seems.

All the mystics I've gotten to know through books of their own writings or more depth biographies by those who knew them well, have spells and illnesses and whatever all else that others who do not have pronounced mystical sparks or otherwise other aspects of their purposes or missions in life are more heavy into institutional and/or intellectual, can kind of lose some of the spark, or hinder it, or maybe, I'm not sure, but it struck me, for what others might wonder if it is mental illness or is this person really a mystic, or is this another goofball or mystic wannabe or hysteric--a mystic can tell for the mystic has had such experiences and even wondered, "Am I losing my mind?" but all the while God is assuring in other ways, no, this is part of the suffering, this is part of the journey of a such a soul.

However, I can assure you that the parish secretary surely thinks I'm a nut-case, and there were some Catholic women in my home town who played Canasta or such, and discussed that I am crazy, so one woman decided to come and see for herself and actually questioned.  I gave her much credit! She ended up saying that the others said I was crazy, but that she said, "Well, maybe she thinks WE are the crazy ones!"  I assured her that I tend not to think in those terms.  Hadn't thought of it. but she could decide, but if she decides I'm not crazy, I doubt she'd easily change others' minds.  A Protestant friend reported that she overheard some younger Catholic women at the library discussing my mental soundness, and she said she defended me and thought how horrible they are to say such things!   I found humor in it, although I was a bit concerned that the Protestant was not impressed with the Catholics prior to the incident, so not sure how she felt after.  

But this is part of the life of a mystic, and that of being shunned or whatever else.  The hard parts are the trials that the Lord allows--the sufferings, the odd illnesses, the unexpected and unfortunate events one after another, the mystic's own concerns about what is going on, what is God doing and also where is He?  The sense of yearning is so great, yearning for Christ, and the sense of abandonment can be so great, and the demonic assaults, and the experiences that are indeed odd like being taken somewhere in spirit for an assignment.  Regardless, what struck me most is that a mystic would never have it come to mind that such as Teresa or any of the mystics had issues with mental illness or psychological problems, for they are part of the mystic's existence. 

Some may call the following "depression":  mystical bereavement or mystical exhaustion or mystical yearning or the darkest of nights of the soul or the divine silence in which God does not communicate and one never knows if ever will again.  If one calls what mystics deal with in that regard, if it is called depression, it is spiritual and "situational" with a mystic.  Or so it seems from my standpoint.  I had my spiritual da to go to when I questioned if this was insanity or not--but can also call my clinical psychologist friend; and I think a mystic with any sense of decency to God, the Church, family, others and self would do likewise.  Time and again, the psychologist says there are not any clinical diagnoses that could be made.   Even wanting to DIE--is it suicidal ideologies in a mystic?  Or is it desiring so much to be out of this body and begging Jesus to come get me.  However, if you say you'd like to die to someone without grasping the mystic mindset, there is trouble to be had.

But, just my take on some of it, from this perspective.  This morning I awoke to being reminded of being told early on:  "By the power of this locution, your sufferings and the sufferings of Holy Mother Church shall be made ONE!"   And then another time about 10 years later, St. Michael in a situation pronounced strongly:  "Love to suffer, and suffer to LOVE!"  It all can sound crazy and delusional, or too much fixation on suffering.  Some must have more purpose and are to have the mystical spark inflamed and to grow, and the institutional and the intellectual sublimated, so the mystical can be set free to burn brightly.  

And this is another thought that is a reality:  not all mystics leave something visible or tangible as a result of their time on earth, nor are the bulk known.  I will pass on with my main function to the Church being suffering and persevering in the suffering, and much of the suffering in some ways is as a result of the institution and the intellectual element, as well, in thinking and perceiving not mystically.  Can anyone be a mystic?  i think it depends on God's will and purpose for each soul as to the size of the flame or fire.  I do think each soul has the Divine spark of the mystical element, if we want to term it that.  But some do much good such as a life of scholarly study of mystics and mysticism to leave volumes of invaluable thought and research.  Yet, to encourage the mystical element, the institutional and the intellectual elements must be held back some, or in another thought, to have these elements be mystically imbued, yes!  

Yet I rather think the mystical element is far broader than these persons whose mystical spark seems stronger at birth or into childhood or beyond, or gets enlivened through much of the world being restricted to them, through some awareness that occurs that shocks or shakes the persons to conversions and deeper conversions.  The flame can be enlivened by what is fed to its fire, and more institutional and more intellectual seems counterintuitive and counterproductive for building the mystical element even in the institution and in the intellect, as the mystical element is imbued by the Mystical Element, and that is God and Love, most simply put.  Love God and Love (God Is) above all else.

God bless the Mystical Element in us!

Catholic Christian Mystic Hermit: More Thoughts on Three Elements of Religion in Reality

 

The sufferings of this life become steep and stiff.

The yearning for Jesus continues, and so it goes.  Lent gets long.

I listened a bit more to Bernard in another lecture.  He has a slightly broadened view in some aspects, yet regarding the mystical element, he considers it in more a narrow view that surprised me.  I realize that to study something is to kind of be looking from the outside in rather than being what one studies.  

A simplistic metaphor I wrote to him is the institution and intellectual and mystical elements and a stove with oven, installation and instruction manuals and cookbooks, but without the source of gas or heat, there is no amazing outcome, no mysterious outcome that is helpful or nourishing.  We take the source, the mystical element for granted.  I suppose in some ways, God is the source, the Holy Spirit the fire, Jesus also the Love.

Love to suffer, and suffer to Love.  My sufferings are inextricably linked to the sufferings of Holy Mother Church.  That is my connection and I suppose place or purpose in the Church. Suffering is mystical, also.  Suffering is part of the mystical element, but the Trinity is the Source of the Mystical and is in my more broadened view is the Mystical Element.  God's Love Is.

Dr. McGinn is an amazing and profound intellect which is a major contribution and is his place, and he's done much in studying western Christian mysticism and in writing the volumes following and describing mysticism.  I think it will be very difficult for the Church as institution and intellect, those parts, to give more berth (and even birth) to more of the Mystical Element and the mystical element, both.  But God will handle it.  And in our own little ways, such as our love of Christ and the suffering that links us, we can let go more the institutional and the intellectual.  Balance the three elements of religion or also allow more of the mystical element to be given more berth in our minds, hearts, and souls.

The prayers even if lots of words put together, talk about loving God.  The hymns are similar expressions.  It's desire for God and desire for His love, and desire to try to love God with our inabilities to seem to love that much.  It is painful.

I know that when he answered someone's question regarding mental illness vs. mysticism or mystics, the answer gave away that it was someone looking from outside in, who had not the mystical element, at least not pronounced--within, but more the intellectual. However, that is that person's purpose and mission, and what a major and excellent and helpful purpose and mission!  I am enthralled by his mind and discipline both!  And, he has great compassion and understanding.

Even those with pronounced mysticism from birth onward at times wonder about their states of mind. After all, we are dealing with the numinous and as if in more touch with the other than this world.  We do not belong to this world; that is a major suffering in itself, for there is little understanding.

I was so excited about the mystical element of religion and how it seemed to be a puzzle piece for which I'd been seeking a long time--and explains to me so well why the institutional and intellectual element does not understand nor accept me.  God gave me Fr. F., my spiritual da for 24 years--our paths crossing and of all places in my hometown where I'd returned after 17 years away and he'd come there just the year after I did!  Four years later we met, and he understood and somehow never doubted me, although he said what I do not like to hear:  that I am very different, that he'd never met anyone like me.

But when Bernard mentioned in his answer segment of a lecture, that Teresa of Avila had her "problems" as the question was of mystics with mental illness, and that they were troubling but eventually they got worked out--well, I was upset by that.  I suppose I was upset because I realized then that he was not one of us on the interior, that is, despite great knowledge and a life of studying mystics and mysticism.

For a mystic who gets to know Teresa of Avila through her letters and writings and autobiography and those who knew her personally and left information--we mystics would not think at all that she was troubled with mental problems even for awhile, other than the sufferings that mark mystics and are our lot in life--sufferings of which the worst are the yearning for the Lord and also of not being accepted and understood, of recognizing that there are not many of us around, and it is going to be a lonely and misunderstood journey.

Bernard suggested in effect that the actual ones always leave something for the Church. So we are back to the intellectual and the institutional aspect, and that meant left writings or active works that benefitted, such as Teresa reformed the Carmelites plus had wondrous writings, and so on with others who stand out and are canonized or would be except for such as Meister Eckhart--was misunderstood in a way that was going to mark him as perhaps too controversial. But he left great writings and so forth and was a Dominican and indeed had a place in the institutional and the intellectual elements of the Church, plus he was known as a mystic.

But others of us--and I'm recognizing this as part of what I'm to suffer and do suffer and will--have in effect no place in the institution and thus not also in the intellectual elements for we are unknowns, and our writings such as mind are personal and am not a religious order nor clergy nor able to be active in parishes, either.  Nor am I acceptable to parishes, and I grasp why now--the predominance of my purpose and mission is the mystical element.  

And with the mystical element considering Christ as Mystical Element--is the suffering that binds us to the Church even if the institution and the intellectual elements do not want us nor understand us. And for us it is even worse, those who try to discount our existences further with judgments of being "off" or having some type of mental illness.  Well, the stresses of what a mystic bears within and the suffering some of us bear physically as well--it can seem to take us to the brink of sanity.

And how we perceive the world in which we are plopped, and especially the frustration with the Church's institutional and intellectual weightedness, and even such as the mystical ecstasies the Lord gave for any and every mass--instead of a a sign, the people could not cope nor understand, and priests could not either--and the institutional and intellectual elements took over and shoved out the mystical.  The protocol is to not talk about such things, to not give credence, to not share or educate others, to not accept.  

I myself have been harsh with a handful of people who have contacted me over the years, or gravitated to me, wanting to connect as they felt they were mystics.  And at times it seemed to me, once I got into some interchange with them or if in person observed, there are some signals that help discern if the person is grounded. But I realize it is treacherous ground, that, and I am sorry for cutting short some interchanges, but really, I needed to be more in person to ascertain, and above and beyond that, what difference what I think or thought?  But someone in each, there was not a groundedness, not the effect of a balance of intellectual and also the institutional.

I would be at that parish for mass and be a member if I could, and in a heartbeat.  But I do not belong there nor am understood nor accepted, and likely I've been deemed as Bernard mentioned of his assessments of even Teresa of Avila, to have mental difficulties that she was able to overcome!  Yes, there he lost me in that I knew it was an outside in intellectual assessment, and the situation of mystics always leaving something for the Church, for the institution and intellectual elements--well, the problem with that is that there are many mystics of which we will never know.  For as the Lord was reminding me this morning, some are building up the mystical element and the gift to the church is being one with Holy Mother Church by their suffering.  And that their work is to learn to love to suffer and to suffer to love.

And a great portion of that suffering is inflicted by the very Church and its institutional and intellectual persons and such, who even can intellectualize about mysticism and mystics, and see that they should be not mistreated, and think that somehow people can become mystics--but not if the mystical element remains as it is, squelched for most part except after the fact of some more visible mystic who does great actions that benefit the Church in visible ways.  And people must let go of so much weight of the institutional and intellectual elements and open to the mystical element which means the Mystical Element.

However, Dr. Bernard McGinn and other scholars with great hearts and souls are making headway in discussing these matters and sharing more about the mystics, mysticism, and I pray even more about the mystical element as the Mystical Element.  

Yes, it was painful last night when my exuberance was met by the elder friend with that I was wearing out my brilliant mind by thinking!  I had been emailing the wondrous insights that had broken through as this missing puzzle piece that explains why I am not likely ever to fit in, and that my purpose is more hidden in suffering, my sufferings declared by God early on to be made one with the sufferings of Holy Mother Church--and that means even more suffering of the mystical element type and within, and the suffering of much rejection and misjudgment.

And it is rather painful to know and to have been told from on high, that one does not belong to that world--that world of temporal existence with all its good along with the bad. Yet, the Lord brings people into my life who enjoy me--such as Craig who is my go-to mentor and inspiration and instructor on matters construction.  I called, and he happened to answer out of all the ones working there at the building supply company, and his voice is so upbeat and happy to hear from me, and he instructed right away on the depth of the header beam I will need to have for the 12' stretch of windows that will be in the kitchen.

I am setting forth the little remodeling here (nothing compared to before yet harder and slower due to my pain and body being worse) as doing it for the Holy Family. This place is to be done as well as humanly possible for it is being fixed up for the Holy Family (and whomever they choose to live in it after I am gone from this place).  Craig has found nothing but delight and fun in me, even when I've been down with suffering; he has a spirit within that is close with the Mystical Element.  Same with several other encounters here, such as Randy and such a fun time with Heather in doors and windows, but the physical therapist is lovely but grew very frustrated with me, and I don't blame her for I grasp from her standpoint.

But mercy, if Bernard considered that Teresa of Avila struggled with some mental illness or problems like that--he did not grasp the inner workings in actuality of the mystical element as well as how the Mystical Element operates within such persons who have more pronounced mission and purpose, who are born with that spark, if you will, in more percent than perhaps others. Or, at least the Lord allows circumstances to get souls back to the mystical element and the Godhead as Mystical Element.  I do think we all are called to be seeking and noticing and building up the mystical element of religion and detaching from so much of the institutional and intellectual elements--and the latter does not mean to go stupid and deny our minds from learning. But it is a different type of learning--that which will help us survive the temporal but yet enhances our building up of the mystical element, and of seeking and finding and reverencing the Mystical Element in all of this earthly existence.  We are to enliven the sparks that are sputtering, and to cause ours to inflame, and that by more Jesus, more Holy Spirit, more God the Father--more Mystical Element.  And not by outer efforts or seeming goofy or wanting or thinking about some little phenomenon or feeling.

The mystical element of religion is not much at all about mystical phenomenon.  Those are the quickly-gone little tidbits from when a spark sparks.

Well, I think the other person I emailed kind of gets it. I know if my spiritual da were here on earth, he'd be so excited along with me!  He always loved and welcomed when I'd rush to see him or write a long letter with some big puzzle piece found, and he'd consider it and smile and then a grin, and say, "This is so!  This is truth!"

I will say that it seems that is why I'm running into new age Catholics--those who get caught up in new age even in parishes, and even such as the late Thomas Keating and Basil Pennington and the like, who developed techniques (based on some Buddhist techniques) to try to enhance feeling and spiritual experience through repetitions meant to empty the mind.  They wanted the mystical element; it is just that they turned to more new age techniques to try to achieve feelings and phenomenon or mystical experience.  Somehow, it just does not work that way, even if that seems a door opening for it.

I'll pray on what might help more, but it seems that love is the main key. Love of the Mystical Element--or also known as His Real Presence, and that really is the Three in One, the Holy Trinity.  And to recognize that His Real Presence is in His Living Word, and He is in the consecrated Host, but also in the spiritual communions many of us receive now due to COVID restrictions for gathering.  And Covid might be God's way of trying to bring about a better balancing of the three elements of religion. Or people will continue to drop away or within the Church bring in new age techniques and ideologies, for they are seeking without realizing it--the lacking of mystical element, and the over weightedness of institution and intellect.

I do want to apologize for the couple of people who had asked to email and wanted my take on their mysticism or wanted to be mystic friends, and I was harsh, and some aspects seemed unsettling, or something. And then there was the young man who wanted to email as he was thinking of the hermit vocation. And I discovered he is quite young and fairly new to Catholicism, and I am sure I was blunt and harsh. Plus I got on a tangent about CL603 and the emphasis on that by some who are only building up more institutional element by doing so, and also intellectual tossed in.  My basic message, though, was to wait until he's 50 years old, another 25 years perhaps.

God bless the Mystical Element, His Real Presence, in us, accessible by clearing away that which hinders, but found in love and suffering.  The mystical phenomenon--that is not the Mystical Element nor the mystical element but just the quickly gone and often not seen tidbits flying off from the sparks.  That's not mysticism nor do such things mean one is a mystic.  It is the Love and the suffering, the Love....

Catholic Christian Hermit: Perceiving, Living, the Mystical Element of Religion

I shared what I've been grasping with a couple Catholics. One grasps it and asked if the Mass, particularly the second part, mystical?  Well, the first part--the Living Word is most definitely due to it being Christ's Word, alive and with us in Mass and anywhere we want as we can hold His Word in our inner beings.  Plus, the consecration is as that is His Body and Blood--do this in remembrance of me.  Besides, mystically, we are in Christ or can be, and He in us, all the time, not only with the consecrated Host; but with us abiding, always.  We remain in His Love when we believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and will to follow Him and strive to live His teachings.

The other Catholic I shared what to me is a crucial and immense puzzle piece of understanding and for spiritual progression, emailed back that my "brilliant [her attempt at compliment, kindly] mind is being worn out by thinking, thinking, thinking."  Well, the thinking is from a tremendous insight and answer to prayer, and it is truth, and it is leading me to more Jesus and His Living Word, abiding in Christ, and recognizing the mystical element of religion and reinforcing it not only in an institutional or intellectual element, but out on errand to get the stronger, more absorbable type of Sudafed, and in the added suffering I am having with pain plus sinus crud that is now 10-days hanging on.

Just an image of Jesus crucified is a major mystical element.  But so are what I'm perceiving in people in general when I'm out on the errands which were two today.  The thoughts are fruitful ones, and God is providing lots of examples in other than church institutions and intellect, but in the secular realm, as well, as to what occurs in any part of life or this world when the mystical element is out of balance or not ever mentioned or noticed, or thought about.  That is God as the Mystical Element present in and about us, and in others, as well, in the surroundings such as the beauty of all His Creation.

So while I flunked and was dismissed from knee PT today, and I've flunked as a parishioner, I'm having much success with becoming more aware of the mystical element of religion (and beyond, but religion can be in some ways viewed as integral and significant modality in life itself.

God bless His Re

al Presence, the Mystical Element, in us! 

Catholic, Christian, Trying to Be Joyful Hermit: What St. John of the Cross Says About Praying

I find this following excerpt most fascinating, what John of the Cross wrote regarding praying. I notice he does not advocate becoming attached to the various devotions and ceremonies and modes of prayers other than what Christ Himself taught us, and also how He prayed.

"Regarding other ceremonies in vocal prayers and other devotions, one should not become attached to any ceremonies or modes of prayer other than those Christ taught us.  When His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray [Lk 11:1], Christ obviously, as one Who knew so well His Father's will, would have told them all that was necessary in order to obtain an answer from the Eternal Father; and in fact, He only taught them those seven petitions of the Our Father, which include all our spiritual and temporal necessities, and He did not teach numerous other kinds of prayers and ceremonies.  At another time, rather, He told them that in praying they should not desire much speaking because our heavenly Father clearly knows our needs. 

"He only charged us with great insistence to persevere in prayer--that is, in the Our Father--teaching in another place that one should pray and never cease [Lk. 18-1].  He did not teach us a quantity of petitions but that these seven be repeated often and with fervor and care.  For in these as I say. are embodied everything that is God's will and all that is fitting for us. Accordingly, when His Majesty had recourse three times to the Eternal Father, all three times He prayed with the same petition of the Our Father, as the evangelists recount:  'Father if it cannot be but that I drink this chalice, may your will be done.' [Mt. 26-42]

"And He taught us only two ceremonies for use in our prayers.  Our prayer should be made either in the concealment of our secret chamber [Mt 6:6] where without noise and without telling anyone we can pray with a more perfect and pure heart (...).  Or, if not in one's chamber, in the solitary wilderness, and at the best and most quiet time of the night, as He did. [Lk. 6:12]"

-- Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591), The Ascent of Mount Carmel Bk. III, ch 44 (trans. Kieran Kavanaugh and Ottilio Rodriguez)

I see no repetitive novenas does the saint mention, nor as he puts it, no ceremonies of praying, or as I notice, no chaplets and so forth, nor repetition of lengthy prayers written to this or that saint.  This is a back-to-basics of Jesus' prayer and praying, and how Jesus taught us.  I'd do well to jot down the seven petitions within the Lord's Prayer (the Our Father as it is also called).  

In my great physical pain fatigue and my exhaustion from the over-weighted and imbalance of the institution and intellectual elements of religion [see previous blogs], this from John of the Cross popped up yesterday as the excerpt given that comes with the daily Mass readings from an online site that makes it simple for me.  I need simple and basic, and Jesus and more Jesus, and the mystical element to thrive and balance out the other two elements into a healthy whole.  Perhaps my very life is that third element offered in a token of trying to add a miniscule percent to the third, the mystical, of three elements of religion.  

Utterances from such as admittance of my lacking, my nothingness, seem at times what I can offer as prayer, and then praises such as "Thank You for the sunshine!"-- or "Thank You for the bed and pain medication!" seem banal, but they are real and honest, and come from my heart for I am so grateful for all including the little tats of temporal helps.