Catholic Hermit: A Listening to a Seeker's Story

Just beginning this post but will not finish at this time.  Need more reflection and absorption, but this morning I was included in a three-way phone call of which a man shared his story of a healing he received--or, in other words, he had a divine intervention of some sort that allows him to be free of pain, to transcend pain to a point of normal existence.

His path has been of shamanism, and he is a healer.  I listened.  I was not really prepared for so much mental, however.  His voice was intense, confident, excited with quite much information, which is understood with the circumstances of his life story.

However, my path is not that.  It all seemed hard and laborious, although I'm sure for him it was not or is not, but it is intentional.  Yes, he said intentional, and he is able to cross dimensions by intention.  It also has to do with great love, and a bliss he experienced, a divine transcendence and gift, obviously, but again, it is not my path.

My path embraces suffering.  I have been told that I will find God in my pain.  I have been told to be an immolation.  I have been told love to suffer, and suffer to love.  It is that love and suffering are united in a mystical sense, powerful is love and powerful is suffering--holy suffering, holy love.  Through love, I have been told, I will transcend pain--not have it go away, per se.  I think the man and I probably would agree on that point.

But my mission is not as a healer, not to go into people's minds and help them re-arrange, nor to help them not feel pain.  The man meditates, he said, and I am sure he does and is adept.  His meditation is on his breath.  That helped him get to the other side of pain, and I'm not into judging but simply must rely upon the years of suffering and the locutions and visions from angels, saints, apostles, and the Trinity along the way.

None of the visions and locutions have differed.  For my time on earth, I will know earthly pain, and the suffering is difficult, yes, and so painful at times, but it is love, it is a powerful prayer, it unites me with Jesus Christ.  I do not mind if I progress "slowly" or am not able to be intentional in utilizing whatever of a gift.  I let go, or try to, and let God unfold it.  I realize I am rather lazy, perhaps, in this regard.  I am not even into what people call "centering prayer."  I was deeply informed by St. Catherine of Siena appearing and telling me, as I was striving so hard to progress, to do just the right forms and actions in prayer and whatever all else to progress in holiness, that "It is not a formula."

So I trust in that locution and seeing her face, smiling gently at me while I was trying so very hard to do all just so and just right.  I relaxed, and even now in all this physical suffering and somewhat in realizing and accepting that suffering is an integral part of my purpose on earth and that suffering in itself is forming me, helping me progress spiritually of its own intensity and power, that I don't have a desire to do this or that exercise or technique.

I just wait, rest, let go, distract when I need to even in temporal distractions.  I trust God to know and understand, and to carry me through to correct me when I need correcting, and to utilize me in suffering or in whatever other ways--writing or praying (of which in reality and essence, the two are one as prayer, really, after a certain point of the soul's desiring and love of God binds in whatever degree.

I'll post this much.  I'm not sure I have more to write, other than I accept that I may be quite lazy and not right in my not caring that much to do breathing exercises or whatever other, or even to be rid of the pain more than what the pain meds do in taking the edge off.  I'm content!  I'm secure enough, evidently, by the grace of God, that this is where and what He wills of me, in the present moment and while I am on earth in a body.

Also, though, the man's reminder of other dimensions and mention of judging is very good in its explanation--or again, reminder--that when we move across the lines of the temporal to other dimensions, not judging others becomes more possible.  We are more apt to judge others when in 3rd dimension, what we know more as the basic aspects of temporal.   The man mentioned how judging others hinders us; yes, it does.  I am reminded that we people have different experiences and view matters of the temporal (and that includes the spiritual-temporal realms) differently simply because we are in different "places" of thought and understanding, or levels, or as St. Teresa calls them "mansions" or Scripture says "rooms".

Thus, those even in the Church who are more temporally located, so to speak, have a tough time accepting those who are maybe more fluid, even if not intentionally so.  That is a big take-away from listening to the man's story and of his amazing healing of transcending physical pain.  Of course, this is for now, and he is aware of the present moment very much.  God has him helping people with healing, and many people God desires to be healed enough to be at work, to provide for their families, and so forth.

Dr. H. (who facilitated the phone conference call) wants to talk further with me in a couple days, to unwind thoughts on the man's miraculous gift given of ability to transcend what was serious, debilitating pain, to return to fully physical capacity, and to continue his work with helping people with pain of various types.  (He is trained in a field that coincides with healing profession, alternative to traditional medical means, but valid; I don't want to cause any temptation to judge, for I do not; I simply know this is not for me--at least not unless the Lord would let me know conclusively, decisively, which would mean going against various visions, locutions, temporal circumstances--of which that can be, of course, for God is all, the source of all being, of all energy, of all knowledge and power.

This afternoon, I hired a Lyft driver/car to take me to an appointment with the osteoporosis doctor.  I'd already postponed going for six weeks; being driven anywhere in a car, particularly the low-to-ground economy cars, is a "given" for raising the physical pain.  However, the driver--a fluke, for sure--was one who had a year ago taken me to the airport, and he had shared with me his life of prayer, in fact of keeping a notebook of prayer needs of people to whom he gave lifts.  It is all private an anonymous, of course, and he asks permission if and when he senses or learns that the rider is open to having him pray; no privacy is breached, no last names, etc.

By the time I got to the medical center, the pain in my spine was horrific.  In fact, I could not think clearly enough to find the office; ended up on a wrong floor but was kindly directed to correct location.  That is what pain does to the mind--for I've been there enough to ordinarily know my way.  Yes, it would be quite something to transcend the pain to a level of being fully functional, as if no pain at all, no surgery, no cross to bear.  However, my confidence in God's will is such that I'm content to wait, to be receptive, but also, to be grateful--an aspect the man in the morning phone conversation emphasized has become his life--one of gratitude and of love.

I did my usual--offered the escalated physical pain to the Lord to use however He desires.  Then I prayed for stamina, and waited to be called so that I could lay down on the exam table....  After the brief appointment which truly was unnecessary but evidently part of the protocol of keeping in touch with patients following the Prolia injection I received in early July to treat osteoporosis, I called for another Lyft ride--prepared for whatever pain from having to sit down low in another economy car.  (And I do not blame the Lyft drivers for having economy cars; I would, also, if I that was a source of my income and I had no problem sitting and driving in that type of car.

To my amazement, the Lyft app on my phone said to look for "Edward in a 2019 Dodge Ram truck."  I was jubilant; this was a first for me, to have a pick up truck with its superbly built seats, the outstanding shocks that keeps the ride smoother than any vehicle I've ever ridden in, and easy for a back patient to get up into, sitting high off the road--and a NEW truck, at that!  I tell you, I declared it a miracle when "Edward" arrived.  The excitement within my mind, heart, and soul could not be contained, and Edward and I had a marvelous conversation all the way through traffic-time-of-day making the return trip to my hermitage all the longer.

But I felt as wonderful as possible and even better than I had prior to entering his lovely truck!  I love the spontaneity of God, of how He provides as He wills, when He wills, and I did not have to do a thing of any enforced meditating or type of technique to try to intentionally cause something to happen.  I think it is the loving spontaneity of the Holy Spirit that excites me more than just about anything I can think of right now.  God reminds me that He is in charge, He is all, and I am nothing--but a most beloved nothing, at that.

Of course I'll ask the Lord yet again if He has in mind for me removal of my physical pain, or if He wants me to take up breathing exercises which are used in Eastern meditation techniques, now increasingly westernized, and I am sure are healthy for the lungs and oxygenating the body, or whatever He wants of me if I am somehow missing His will, or His will has altered for me from what He's said, shown, allowed and not allowed thus far, in these past 35 years of much suffering.

My instincts, what comes to me and did after the phone conversation, are bits of Scripture.  My yoke is easy, my burden is light.  Remain in My love.  Here I am, Lord, I have come to do Thy will.  My heart seems full; I am content with my mission being that of suffering--reparative, vicarious, unitive, loving suffering.  But if the Lord desires otherwise of me, I am waiting and willing--to be or do whatever He wills.  Somehow, though--and it does not seem like lack of faith but more deep faith and trust--I will be very surprised if the Lord changes my status.

I had early this morning--prior to the man's fascinating and honestly marvelous, joyous life story of his mission as a healer and his own healing and being able to transcend physical pain--agreed to stop reaching into situations and of people who cannot seem to resist judging me.  If the Lord wants otherwise, He will let me know.  But the peace of the Holy Spirit is hard if not impossible to imitate, at least not over a period of time.  Thankfully, I can in my hermit vocation become more hidden as far as my vocation, and to manifest to everyone, thereby, in whatever way the Lord desires, the interior aspects of the mystery of the Church:  personal intimacy with Christ.

In fact, with both Lyft drivers, I was doing that--manifesting in my listening and sharing.  Perhaps also somewhat, mostly in listening but in the couple or so questions I asked in the 3-way phone conversation this morning. I manifested interior aspects of the conjoined reality of love and suffering; I revealed in subtle ways, I hope in God, my personal intimacy with Christ.

We shall wait and see, won't we?  Isn't waiting a most valuable aspect of this journey through, with, and in His Real Presence, the Most Holy Trinity?  We desire, we ask, we pray, we listen, we wait, we offer, we strive.  We learn, if not the perfect will of God, and we adjust and adapt.  We desire, we ask, we pray, we listen, we wait, we offer, we strive, again.  And paramount, we love God above all things and love others as He loves.

God bless His Real Presence in us!

Hermit Reflects on Letter to the Hebrews

The Book of Hebrews

Reflections written as tribute to a consistently scepter-holding priest ~ by this joyful hermit....

Christmas 2015

Chapter 1

After Jesus’ earthly sin bearing, dying death, He exists as all-sustaining Word as one with God.  In these days, our present moments now, God is speaking to us.  He speaks through Jesus, the Word, the Living Word.  God created the universe and all aspects of existence through Jesus Whom He calls His Son and Heir of all fathomable and unfathomable things. 

The Living Word, the Word made flesh—Jesus—sustains all by His Word.  This is love of God in Himself and God Is Love.  The Word who sustains all, accomplished purification from sins by the Word-made-flesh bearing all sin and being crucified with all sin expiated, once, for all.

After Jesus’ earthly sin bearing, dying death, He exists as all-sustaining Word as One with Love Is God. The Word is filled with and reflecting His Glory: light reflecting refulgent light reflecting refulgent light infinitely, forever and ever. He is in His Glory, the Word inheriting a name that is perfection, more excellent than beings of light named angels.

Higher than the angels, God placed the Word and called Him “Son.”  He asked all the angels to worship Him.  He gave the angels their purpose: be winds and fiery flames of ministry.  Of His Son, the Living Word, God gave Him the scepter of righteousness in God’s Kingdom, for the Son loves justice and hates wickedness.  God anointed His Son with oil of joy above all lesser joys.

All that God creates—of heaven and earth—are perishable.  People, things, earth, wind, rain, fire—all age in time, dissipate, depart.  God takes all tangible creation and changes all tangible creation, no matter what it is, who it is, where it is.  But God-Is-Love and His Living Word never change and exist forever.

All things temporal change.  Bodies, circumstances, places, thoughts, emotions, attitudes, actions change.  Even vocations change.  And souls change.  Yet of all things and aspects in time and temporal  that change, only living souls and angels created by God exist eternally.  They exist and continue to be influenced, reformed, commissioned by the Living Word-God-Love—infinitely, in God, without end.

Do the souls that sin has deadened, exist infinitely dead? It seems so, for even a soul that is deadened with sin exists dead, is nothing.

God speaks to souls in these days, now, and anoints souls with oil of joy.  He calls them Sons, and gives them scepters of righteousness in His kingdom on earth—that kingdom of proclaiming God’s righteousness, of loving justice, of hating evil.  They are a little lower than the angels, these anointed souls, made to be ministers of the Living Word’s Words.  

These Sons are to think, speak, live Truth, Beauty, Goodness; the Way and the Life; to be a reflection of the refulgence of Light; to accept the scepter of righteousness and stand in life on earth to the right of the Word at the right of God in heaven.

These earthly Sons who are anointed with all celebrated joy of oil of gladness who accept the righteous scepter and who live and think and speak and do as the Living Word, exist in God.  Their souls change as does reflected light, increasing intensity, reflecting and refracting, metamorphosing truth and goodness and love, beautifully, sincerely, as generous as is justice pure and love perfect. Their souls exist infinitely as light and love, worshiping as voice of God speaking to us through His Son, as His Living Word.

These are the earthly priests of God, created a little less than the angels—yet whom He calls as ministers of reflections of the refulgence of His glory.  They are His Sons, and of them God is father, and they are called sons.  Their earthly presence will perish, but if their souls (as all souls) carry to the earthly end the scepter of righteousness in His truth, beauty, goodness, light, and love—they will remain, and they will be the same in God, the lights of many souls fed by these priests redounding in the splendor of His mighty word, vivified in the refulgence of His glory, forever and ever.

For those anointed with the joyful oil of gladness, yet weaken in hatred of evil, who lose grip on the scepter of righteousness, who trade justice for temporal prestige, power, position—what is their fate as earthly priests of God?  When the bodies decay and the soul yet exists, is the existence death, that of nothingness?  Do souls that are deadened by sins on earth, exist as dead nothings infinitely, or is there merely nothing, and thus no existence, ever more?

We wonder that surely the angels and all ministering spirits sent to serve, are to do and have done so “for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation.”  And surely, those of earth who ask for and accept in joyful celebrations the anointing of the oil of gladness, will be as ministering spirits even if for a portion of their time that has end, lesser beings than the angels but with souls.  Even if they have not grown old with the scepter of righteousness yet clasped in their hands, surely there will be some light remaining to carry their souls into infinite momentum, of inherited salvation, some taste of His portion and cup.

And for all souls wearing the garments of genders on this earth, may we all be open to whatever anointing of oil of gladness that has been given us, that we strive to hold with these ministering priests of earth, the scepter of righteousness. May we help them hold onto love of justice and hatred of evil, as all our souls are vulnerable to weakness.  When it is time for each of our bodies to perish, may our souls be sifted and become magnifying light, changed and luminous, all existing infinitely together, light within Light.

God gift eternal love.

Catholic Hermit Reminded of the Same Ultimate of God

It is in thinking of God, of sensing God, of loving God, of being in God--of God above all things of earth that is the ultimate adjuration that Jesus reminds us.  It is this same, ultimate reminder that we have from the prophets of the Old Testament and of God Himself.  

It is this ultimate, oft-repeated lesson in the Word of God, of the Living Word--Jesus--and of all the apostles, then of the saints and mystics through out the centuries.  It is this same enjoinment that will always be given us no matter the format, for those who dare listen, embrace, and attempt to live it.

Love God above all else.

A friend balks when reading some of the writings of Pseudo-Macarius and other great mystic saints who not only lived on this earth but lived in heaven while on earth and who live on in their writings and spirits among us.  How is it that we should "despise the world"?  I point out that often enough the wise ones with lived experience in such matters mean not to despise God in His creation, but to love God in His All, more and fully.  

Thus, the soul is in love with His Real Presence.  Love of the world pales, dwindles, begins to disappear like sight fades in the presence of all-consuming Light.

Love God above all else.  Let love of God and His love of us rule all our thinking, saying, doing, being.  To love, to learn to love, to love God and others is the meaning of all of life.  

This Love is not to be found in laws, not even ecclesial laws, no matter how helpful they may be in guiding and setting parameters.  They also can distract and prevent an entering into God Is Love if a person does not move beyond the laws into the greatest commandment, the highest law:  Love!  Love God and love others above all else!

Those who grasp a bit of this have grasped much.  Those who cannot yet grasp, will do so, if not soon, then later, and surely eventually.

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

Catholic Hermit, Question of Evil

Received an email pertinent to another Catholic hermit who evidently continues to disparage and discredit "yours truly" here.  The person wrote that this other hermit who writes such things was "sheer evil."

Now, it seems a bit severe, but one does wonder if there is that much hate, envy, and on-going rancor towards this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit here who is striving to simply live its vocation and chronicle the spiritual progression--very much including the unknowns and the failings and sometimes successes.  Is there is so much hate and resentment in a person who happens to also be a "canonically approved" variety of consecrated Catholic hermit, and then is that person technically or spiritually an authentic hermit in the consecrated life of the Catholic Church, regardless of public profession?

Is that person's bishop truly supervising that hermit of whom he is to be directing her daily life according to his approval of her plan of life?  Does he even know what she writes, or of her obsession and need to disparage another Catholic hermit (this one here, in fact!)?

But, the response given to the person emailing, is that it does not matter.  Better to be wrongly judged by someone out there in the blogosphere, than to try to figure out or even consider if a hermit is credible, authentic, or valid if going through the Catholic canonical hermit motions but is missing in some basics of Christianity and Christian behavior.

Let the Lord judge that hermit and this hermit, here.  In fact, there is some news regarding this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit attempting to receive Holy Communion.  It contacted the deputy who moved his family so that he could have them attending a licit Mass, elsewhere.  For over a year, before selling their home and moving, they had been driving a long distance to return to the parish where there was a healthy priest and a valid Mass.  His priest had told him to not go to the parish--the one this hermit has tried to attend with rather disastrous results (see previous blogs but not really necessary to drag through the ordeal).

So the deputy was willing to bring this hermit the Eucharist and would speak with his priest; and the hermit was to contact the priest, also, for that priest is well aware of the sorrowful situation in this nearby parish.  However, when the hermit spoke with the lovely secretary who passed on the request to the healthy and capable priest, the answer came back in the negative.  Due to canonical laws, the priest had told her, he could not allow the deputy to bring the hermit communion.

Of course, the hermit had explained its spiritual father forbade it to return to the closer parish, given the sorrowful situation of the priest and Mass there.  And the hermit is too ill with chronic pain to drive the distance to physically attend Mass at the healthy priest's parish.  But that priest feels strongly of the rule that a person must attend Mass at the parish nearest.  Of course, the hermit knew immediately there is an inconsistency but did not mention it.  Why bother?  It would only embarrass the priest, for he allowed the deputy and family to come to Mass in his parish for over a year while they lived closer to the unhealthy priest's parish than does this hermit!  And it was that healthy, solid priest who told the deputy and his family to not go to the closer parish.

Ah, what do we do with our temporal Catholic world?  We have to keep a strong sense of humor as well as offer prayers and sacrifices for all the shenanigans that go on.  We humans--in holy orders, in consecrated life of the Church, in matrimony or single life, Christian or not--are quite something else in our sheer goofiness!  It is difficult at times to know, literally, which end is up....

Another bit of news helped this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit, here in its unsalable hermitage.  The deputy shared that he had been to the bishop twice with concrete listing of documented ills and wrongs in this nearby parish and issues with the dear, struggling priest.  Nothing was going to be done.  Word from within the diocese is that this struggling priest was a disaster at two previous parishes, so he was sent to this parish where the Mass attendance is rather sketchy, and the people not actually desiring a proactive priest, on fire for the spiritual life.  They had run out a very holy priest who had been there a year; part of their issue was that priest tried to develop Adoration as well as other spiritually enlivening programs and opportunities.  Too holy!

So, that is how it is for now, and this hermit is accepting all as from the Hands of God.  The spiritual father happened to call--a rare event as he mostly writes--while the hermit was awaiting word back from the request that it receive Communion, brought by the deputy.  The spiritual father had good news: he had returned to more spiritual reading, himself, and was focusing on the Four Last Things.  So, too, his spiritual child, this hermit, has returned to more spiritual reading, continuing on with the sermons of Pseudo-Macarius, Scripture, and once can locate the iPad charge cord, will continue reading the biography of St. Gemma Galgani.

It is rather a sad state of affairs that the healthy priest's adherence to canonical laws, as his secretary put it, will keep the hermit from Holy Communion once a week. (The hermit's pain level alone would be enough to dispense it of sitting through Mass, although the hermit tries never to allow the pain to totally debilitate it when it came to Mass attendance.)  However, the irony of the situation must cause this hermit to praise God rather than to succumb to despair.  The devil was indeed working on the despairing aspect, for certain.  Just too many consolations came; and the hermit needs to cling to those and to keep its eyes on Jesus.

The sinus infection is starting to make improvement.  The hermit switched to a stronger antibiotic.  There has been much prayer and penance--many offerings made on behalf of the priest that is being denied help from the diocese even though they know he has troubles.  How cruel is that?  And the parishioners who remain in the parish, thankfully content enough, are missing out on much, but the Lord will take care of them, for sure.  God bless them for those who pick up the work pieces and keep the place running.  

This hermit will be obedient to its spiritual father and not return, not attempt to talk with or help the priest other than in prayer and penances offered, and will not contact the diocese.  The spiritual father was right:  They know the problems and are choosing to ignore them.  So much like a lot of organizations in the secular world, is that attitude and non-action!  In school administration it was called "the dance of the lemons" when a bad administrator or teacher would be moved from place to place until finally a spot was found where they could languish and the people (usually poor or less educated) would accept the low quality, and the school would sink lower yet.

So there is much for this rather saddened nothing consecrated Catholic hermit to pray about--and praise God about. At least there are answers, even if in the negative.  Don't go to that parish to Mass; not going to be allowed Communion from a valid parish Mass.  And, in the concrete answers even if neither would be what the hermit would hope and dream for in and for the good of the Church--the hermit can take heart and joy in the fact that they are answers.  The net was cast a couple of times in different directions, and the net came up with those answers.

A despairing thought came this morning:  Will this hermit ever get this hermitage in salable condition and be able to depart this desert, this place of true and solid exile?  Ever?  Well, the hermit knows not.  All it can do is get its pained body up and dressed and try to keep painting on the outside of the house.

Fr. Vincent has called from Nigeria to hear what is going on, but the call got lost somewhere between this desert and his desert in Nigeria.

So, we carry forth.  This nothing consecrated Catholic hermit will continue to pray and pray and offer sacrifices and praise for all these situations and persons involved, and for the temporal Catholic world (what one hermit priest calls the secular church) and for the mystical Catholic world, and for all Christian Churches and all Christians everywhere.  This hermit is going to try all the harder to live its vocation not only as a consecrated Catholic hermit, but as a Christian hermit--and a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ!  

Am looking at HIM.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  God save us all and protect us, and may His truth and light be shining through any rubble we get ourselves into.  Yes, little children, let us love one another.  Remember that God Is Love!

Catholic Hermit Shares Some Lights from Pseudo-Macarius and -Dionysius

In preface, an explanation of the construct of Pseudo-Macarius' intent of the word perfect Christian:

Macarius is not using the world perfect Christian to mean that such have become confirmed in grace and no longer need to be attentive to the sinful roots within them.  It means that such have advanced through long years of asceticism and inner attentiveness to the evil within and live more habitually in the contemplative union with the indwelling Trinity, a state that is always in process of greater growth, that encourages a hunger all the more to enter into the spiritual combat and never yield to sloth."

Now, to share what resonates with this Catholic hermit of Macarius' spiritual insights, gifted soul that he was circa 5th century and throughout the centuries vis a vis his homilies.

"Perfect Christians, who are considered worthy to reach a degree of perfection and to come close to the King, are continually dedicated to the cross of Christ.  Just like the anointing in the times of the prophets was considered absolutely a most precious thing, since kings and prophets were anointed, so also now spiritual persons, who are anointed with a heavenly anointing, become Christians by grace, so that they too become kings and prophets of heavenly mysteries.  Indeed, these are the sons and lords and gods, bound and held captive, plunged deeply, crucified and consecrated.  

"For the anointing with oil, a thing which came from a material plant, a visible tree, had so great a power that those who were anointed obtained a dignity beyond questioning (for ti was decreed that they were thus made kings).  Davide was anointed and immediately was exposed to persecutions and afflictions, and after the seventh year was he made king.

"How much more do all who have been anointed in mind and the interior man with the sanctifying and joy-giving, heavenly and spiritual 'oil of gladness' (Heb 1:9), receive the sign of that kingdom of imperishable and eternal power, namely 'the pledge of the Spirit.' (2 Cor 5:5), the Holy Spirit and the Paraclete?  Understand by the Paraclete, the one who consoles and pours out joy upon all who are heavily burdened."

Turning to the writings of Dionysius, this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit can grasp why the writings of this holy and sanctified man, also circa 5th c., influenced St. John of the Cross.  Dionysius was inspired to introduce the three ways of the spiritual life.  While his triad is termed the purification, the illumination, and the perfected, John of the Cross did not verge far in labeling the three ways of spiritual progression the purgative, the intuitive, and the unitive.

But Dionysius writes extensively of hierarchies, taking us from the temporal and tangible profoundly into the spiritual and mystical.  He casts out into the deep; he climbs the stairway to heaven and takes the reader with him, if they so wish to stretch their hearts and minds to what he is trying to impart.  

One wonders if Macarius and Dionysius had access to one or the others writings in their time period on earth.  For Dionysius writes of the threefold division of every hierarchy of God's creation:  inanimate, plants, animals, humans, celestial, and the sacred Godhead.  He explains further.

"...in our sacred tradition every hierarchy is divided in three.  There are the most reverend sacraments.  There are those, inspired by God, who understand and purvey them.  And there are those who are sacredly initiated into these.

"Now the most holy hierarchy among the beings of heaven possesses the native sacramental power of a most completely immaterial conception of God and of things divine.  It is their lot to be as like God and as imitative of God as is possible. These first beings around God lead others and with their light guide them toward this sacred perfection.  To the sacred orders farther down the scale they generously bestow, in proportion to their capacity, the knowledge of the workings of God, knowledge forever made available as a gift to themselves by that divinity which is absolute perfection and which is the source of wisdom for the divinely intelligent beings.  The ranks coming in succession to these premier beings are sacredly lifted up by their mediation to enlightenment in the sacred workings of the divinity. They form the orders of initiates and they are named as such.

"In succession to this heavenly and transcendent hierarchy the divinity extends its most sacred gifts into our domain and, in the words of Scripture, it deals with us as though we were 'babes.'  It bestowed on us in the hierarchy of the Law.  It veiled truth with obscure imagery. It employed the palest copies of originals.  It resorted to dense enigmas and to symbolism whose meaning is discerned with the maximum difficulty.  To avoid harm it granted only as much light as suited the weak eyes looking up to it. In this hierarchy of the Law the 'sacrament' consisted of an uplifting to worship in spirit...."

Dionysius continues on, explaining each level of spirit, of souls, and of their work and efforts in the divine power of the process of lifting up to God, of initiating the initiates with what they can understand, and then the next level of souls illuminating them (as they were illuminated and lifted up, as well, by God's grace and light), and then the sacred souls strive to perfect the illuminated, drawing them up likewise to sanctification, to become sacred, to union with the Divine.

This is enough to ponder, here.  Let our hearts and minds and souls consider these insights, and be open to whatever understanding and light the Holy Spirit wishes to impart in us.  At least let us realize that we are called to rise beyond the point of initiation, beyond the level of purification, and onto being illuminated, and then pray for the grace and sheer love and desire of God to be drawn up into that amount of perfection of which Macarius also writes and explains, so that His Real Presence, the Trinity, will make His abode in us, filling us with His will and divinity.

This may be too sublime for us to continue to attempt verbal description.  So this nothing Catholic hermit will cease attempting to express what these bright light souls of earlier centuries--enlightened and perfected Christians--can teach us of what the Holy Spirit has taught them of the loving and divine ascent...through Him, with Him, in Him forever.

Catholic Hermit's Personal Suffering

[The following is long and disjointed.  Quite boring to any reader and unnecessary, it is cathartic for the hermit in reflection upon its personal suffering, upon yet another day of pain siege, among many such pain sieges in the course of the last 31 years--ever since the life-altering, crucifying car accident and all that flowed from that Golgotha.  In fact, the accident occurred at the top of a hill in Pacific Palisades, CA--at the pinnacle of the nothing's marriage, career, health, and temporal whatever else.]

Yesterday, when in such bodily pain as well as the mind-and-heart pain that physical pain seems to enervate, the soul itself offered prayers and supplications with silent cries and inner tears.  (And it would have been all right to do so with loud cries and tangible tears, too!)  The point is, there was a sorrow within this hermit, hard to describe.

This morning, some of the reasons for the prayers and supplications, the silent cries and inner tears.  It has to do with some personal realities as well as acceptance of seeming irreverence and the matters in this life, that one cannot change.  Only God can effect the conversions; only God can correct the inconsistencies--even those which infiltrate His Church.

This nothing-consecrated-Catholic-hermit is yet again trying to accept the reality of its life of suffering.  The physical pain is intractable and severe.  Intense pain sieges occur more frequently and are exacerbated by activities and noise, conversation or being around people, driving, doing errands, being in traffic, sitting (especially on soft, padded chairs or pews), reclining on soft mattresses of sofas, doing too much manual labor or being in bed too much, as well.  

Standing on concrete floors, or standing in one place such as when cooking or even trying to sew--standing in one spot with sewing machine set up high atop books stacked on counter or ironing board to best height--causes increased pain and can be certain herald of pain siege the next day. Even the tones and calibers of some voices cause increased pain, or the sensed essences of some persons' souls can directly affect the pain level, up or down.

Years ago, the orthopedic surgeon ordered a test to determine the degree of pain this body could detect and handle.  The body was wired to some calibrated machine.  The technician would turn up the power in increments; this then not-hermit-and-not-Catholic-but-devout-Christian was to say if it could feel and could handle the electric pain stimulus and to what degree.

The technician kept asking:  Do you feel that?  Is it too much to bear?  The response was, "Yes, can feel it; yes, can bear it." Finally, after seemingly a long time of increasing electrical volts, the technician exclaimed, "This is too much!  I cannot continue!  We are at "45", and grown mean are screaming at 15!  You have an incredible ability to bear so much pain, but I cannot in good conscience take it any higher!"

After that, the orthopedic surgeon had an entirely different attitude toward his patient.  With tears in his eyes, he apologized for having questioned if the pain was "psychological".  He was so sorry, but this body and this life would not be able to return to its career and not likely any other, for the pain level was too great even though the patient was doing all it could to distract itself.  A second opinion with a noted surgeon at Scripps-LaJolla, concluded the same. That specialist shook his head and intoned seriously, sadly,  "I'm sorry.  You will have to learn to live a life you never dreamed you'd ever have to live."

Aside from this aside, yesterday's pain level and total depletion of energy brought back these memories. Sometimes memories are a good thing, such as these.  It helped the hermit to once more accept that God knows all that is best for us and has His reasons for allowing certain life alterations and experiences. 

Another aspect of the suffering is the guilt.  There is guilt and emotional pain for how the suffering affected the three beloved and beautiful children the hermit was blessed to rear in this life.  At one juncture point, in the recovery room after back surgery, the hermit died.  It went on to an anteroom of eternity, in which it encountered Love:  God, the Source of All Beingness and Energy, the Three-in-One.   The hermit was all set to go on into such purity of joy and love beyond all telling.  But just then, God showed in a thought-flash, the images of the innocent little children being with their other parent who had left; God showed the person's terrible temper and then suggested fulfilling a mission, for later on.  Oh.  Then God asked if wanted to go on or be sent back.  

God Is Love, and the hermit could not say which for its heart was torn in so wanting to continue on into eternity, free of pain and with love-defying-description.  The most it could thought-flash in answer to God was:  Whatever You will, O Lord.  Immediately the soul was returned to its body, watching from above as it re-entered the hospital, then the recovery room, seeing the surgeon berating the anesthesiologist for bungling a resuscitation attempt.  It saw the nurses hovering over its unmoving, non-breathing body--one with hand held slightly above the body's nose and mouth, trying to detect any breath. 

Then the hermit "saw" and "sensed" it re-entering its own body and immediacy of tangible, horrific pain.  Unbeknown in that moment of time, this soul was wedded for life to this tangible pain.  There is more to this lengthy and meandering tale, including a rushed second surgery to ascertain and correct what caused the cardiac arrest and death--and the medical staffs' wonderment at the miraculous return to life. All that is another story, not for now.

The guilt, though, that the hermit feels is that the life it had to live of substantial, constant, bodily pain, made life erratic and altered for the children.  While those years with the children are the prized and beloved of its entire life, the hermit tried so hard to provide, sacrifice, and make what was horribly sad and depleted from active, financially stable, two-parent home to a financially strapped, disabled, one-parent home--and that one parent erratic in learning pain management, and losing its career, its insurance, its ability to live a "normal" life.

The hermit tried so hard to provide and to uplift creatively, so that the innocent children would not be deprived to a pathetic degree, of opportunities and of sheer delight and fun.  Why should their lives be altered and hindered?  

The pain sieges were far more frequent then.  The rawness of pain was new; the body, mind, heart, and spirit were unaccustomed to such constant crucifixion.  But the guilt--or whatever it is--comes in when it realizes now, that the added activity, conversation, cooking, driving, disciplining, attempting to maintain a house, to explore other means of increasing the drastically lowered income post-divorce and career--caused increased pain and more pain sieges, more days in bed, and the tears and agony involved, as well as being given injections of pain medication that would sedate their parent for two-to-three days.  

Sometimes their parent would be in bed for a week or more; sometimes kind people from their Protestant Church would take the children for those days, splitting them up but providing more rest for the parent and a diversion from an agonized and bed-ridden parent.  Life was lived with others having to fill in for all kinds of activities, responsibilities, and financial assistance.  

Anyway, as the children grew, went off to college, and then out into their successful adult lives, the now-Catholic-hermit was able to physically endure more--due to the silence, solitude, and lessened activity and responsibilities due to being physically alone.  And that, of course, is rather a sad thought and reality.  It makes the hermit weep to think that what it loved most in this world, were hindered in many ways due to this parent rearing them, not the other who ended in life being financially successful and quite "normal" as far as a creature adept in the temporal world.  

But as for this parent, with the deep, spiritual reality of how great and real God Is, Who revealed Himself to this soul and this soul met Face to Face in that death experience--the parent became very religious, very spiritual, very dedicated to the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The motto-purpose for its life and in rearing the children manifested:  To Glorify God.

Yet now, the parent has obeyed His Real Presence not just in entering the Catholic Church nearly 21 years ago, but also in answering God's call to the hermit vocation--a call that was expressed some nine years prior to the Catholic conversion call.  And there are times in which it still feels guilty, somehow, that the adult children do not understand, or perhaps feel they are not loved, nor grasp the pain situation, nor the interior, supernatural realities.  Two have abandoned Christianity and God altogether.  The third is Christian but not at all impressed with the Catholic Church--and that due to the various persecutions of the parent that were rather public and obvious when they occurred.  

That this mistreatment of some Catholics by Catholics is sadly typical of the life of a Catholic mystic, it is not something the adult children accept.  It is hard for the hermit to willingly and graciously accept, at times.  Why does it have to be this way?  Ah, to learn obedience through what is suffered, to pick up the cross daily and follow Jesus Christ. And mystics are not exclusive to the Catholic Church, although they seem more prevalent, or at least written and studied.  Still, this is His Church, the one He instituted, even though He has allowed reforms along the way--caused both by abuses of some in the Church hierarchy and the power-lust struggles of some political leaders. 

Regardless the many aspects of individual and family suffering, no matter the misunderstanding of the suffering and of how hard the parent tried to do all to provide a beautiful childhood and instill the Christian tenets and ideals, to live by example--imperfect but sincere--a Christ-loved life, it now does not seem enough.  But it is not over yet--not until we each meet our earthly end and come to the eternal judgment of His Real Presence.  

And, if the adult children were close and cohesive, and living the Christian lives of which they were taught and lived as children, and all of one faith--perhaps the hermit would be drawn out from its vocational calling as a consecrated Catholic hermit.  The temptation would be great to do so. The Lord has told it in the witnessed presence of Dr. H., that if the physical pain were eased, this soul would be back out into the world--and the Lord did not will that.  It is so true!  Any dollop of doting love and affection, of being wanted and needed, can quite melt a parent's heart, no matter how old nor how adult and independent are its children! 

At times--even in this current pain siege--the hermit does wonder if the hermit life was ordained for its being long, long ago.  Surely this is so:  When the soul was placed in its parentally, conjugally-conceived first-cells. Surely so.  But at other times, the hermit yet wonders why such painful strictures set and strapped firm? Then it marvels at just how silent and solitary, prayerful and reverent, the hermit must be--called from the world in not what seems stricter, but what at times seems strictest separation from the world.

Perhaps the answers, aside from God's not wanting this soul to be tempted back out into the "world", reside in His Living Word.  Turn to His Real Presence for answers, not to the memories, guilts, and questions of the past sorrows of this life.  Trust in Him; He has the answers.  

Be thankful for the reality that all is only temporary in this world; and that there is yet hope for our souls, for our children's souls, for all souls Christian and not.  In praise and prayer, keep faith, hope and charity alive!  Remain in His Real Presence; remain in His Love!

What Thomas a Kempis Writes About Hermits

More and more, this Catholic hermit comes across beneficial information in its spiritual reading of the classics by saints and mystics.  This it was with great joy yet with serious reflection, that the hermit found much good in discovering what Thomas a Kempis reminded about the hermit vocation, in The Imitation of Christ.

Now to present it, verbatim.  Who can improve upon a holy man's writings, especially if read as the result of a scholarly and gifted translator's efforts?  Yes, it is well to research a bit to make sure that we select to read in spiritual classics, that which has been translated by an excellent translator.

[From The Imitation of Christ Thomas, à Kempis, Chapter 18, "The Example Set Us by the Holy Fathers," formatted]

• How strict and detached were the lives the holy hermits led in the desert!  What long and grave temptations they suffered! How often were they beset by the enemy! 

• What frequent and ardent prayers they offered to God! 

• What rigorous fasts they observed! 

• How great their zeal and their love for spiritual perfection! 

• How brave the fight they waged to master their evil habits! 

• What pure and straightforward purpose they showed toward God! 

• By day they labored and by night they spent themselves in long prayers. 

• Even at work they did not cease from mental prayer.  

• They used all their time profitably; every hour seemed too short for serving God, and in the great sweetness of contemplation, they forgot even their bodily needs. 

• They renounced all riches, dignities, honors, friends, and associates. 

• They desired nothing of the world. 

• They scarcely allowed themselves the necessities of life, and the service of the body, even when necessary, was irksome to them. 

• They were poor in earthly things but rich in grace and virtue.

• Outwardly destitute, inwardly they were full of grace and divine consolation.

• Strangers to the world, they were close and intimate friends of God. 

• To themselves they seemed as nothing, and they were despised by the world, but in the eyes of God they were precious and beloved.

• They lived in true humility and simple obedience; they walked in charity and patience, making progress daily on the pathway of spiritual life and obtaining great favor with God.  

We consecrated Catholic hermits everywhere, today, ought take to heart and action any one of these proven efforts of our holy hermit exemplars.  We can bring respect and joy to our vocation, advance the spiritual life in our and others souls, humbly pray to be Christ light in the world, uplift the Holy Catholic Church, and offer sacrifice of praise to His Real Presence.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love one another!  Remain in His Love!

Detraction: A Turn-Off

Detracting others is such a turn-off.  Above all, God does not like it.

This nothing Catholic hermit has done it, surely.  Detraction is one of those vices of which a person can so easily convince him- or herself that it is not really detraction.  No, it is only being honest; it is being discerning, using wise discretion and critical thinking skills.

And sometimes it is one of those, but often we are deceiving ourselves.  Bottom line:  a lot of the time we criticize or debunk or judge or put down others, it is simply and honestly detraction.

Usually, at least for the nothing Catholic hermit, it has come out of frustration, or upset in something not properly done.  Or it comes down to not having perspicacity of vision, of tolerance, of letting others do as they do and say as they say, for often enough, it is not going to matter in the full spectrum of life.

Of course, when it is something of note, of vital importance to another, of an ultimate charity to speak or write, we do so.  But we need to be so very careful in discerning these fine lines that can trick us into falling into detraction.  When anger is added to it, or envy and pride, it becomes what today is known as "bullying" or being "abusive."  

Recently when so very ill, this Catholic hermit watched some YouTube videos and read some writings of the Eastern Church.  Some went back prior to the schism between the Latin and Eastern Church; some were after.  Of those after and of the past century up to current times, an undercurrent developed in speech and writing.

One speech by a Blessed of the Orthodox Christians, developed what was no doubt quite believable and reasonable to those of the Orthodox faith, the Eastern "lung" of the Church.  The subject was Francis of Assisi, and the Blessed wrote the various reasons and gave examples, as to why Francis of Assisi is not a saint but was rather a deceived person--deceived by the devil--and not someone to emulate.  The content had numerous points made, all backed up by what the Blessed (one highly esteemed of the Orthodox Church much as a Blessed in the Catholic Church is esteemed) purported.

And in reading it, this nothing Catholic hermit could see how easily one could think it rational and true about Francis--as the very statements and events in his life could be totally taken in another context and with other implications than holiness.  Yes, nothing Catholic hermit could totally understand, for it has itself been accused of this or that--from emotional and mental condition, to a fraud Catholic, to imposter Catholic hermit, to its spiritual experiences being from other than God.

And, truly, the jury is still out on this nothing Catholic hermit.  Only God knows for sure, the inner reaches of His created souls.  As for Francis of Assisi, other than what people have written of him, and the short rule of life he wrote under pressure by eager friars (Francis did not want to formalize his evolving spiritual way of life), there is nothing else--no video footage, no tape recorded talks, no photographs of his stigmata.  And, if there were such "proofs", people would insist they were photoshopped or doctored, or embellished.

Yet repeatedly, in what amounted to a full-scale detraction of Francis of Assisi, it was obvious that the holy Orthodox Blessed truly believed Francis' life was not valid in a spiritually good sense.  There was a sense of pity for him, that he had been so deceived by the evil one, but it only stood to reason since Protestants and Catholics are frequently termed "pseudo-Christians" by the Orthodox.  Found it stated repeatedly in comments and writings.

And, we all know of Protestants who think Catholics are not Christians or are not "saved", and we know of Catholics who think Protestants are not "saved", and of Catholics who no doubt think Orthodox are cut off and not to be heeded.

Frankly, it was quite humbly to have read what the Eastern Orthodox think of someone like nothing Catholic hermit and of Catholics and Protestants.  Had never considered that, probably because don't think of others as saved or not, except those who are doing evil deeds without repentance and who do not believe in God or in Jesus or the Holy Spirit.  And even then, must not judge because how does this nothing Catholic hermit know about the inner reaches of their souls?  And what is known of the next moments, hours, days and years of their life on earth, and of their judgment?  All could change in an instant, and someone thought to be this or that, could be entirely something else!

We really can only go by what is current, written fact, as far as discerning what we are and who we are, and if our lives are valid in His Divine Sight, Mind, Will, and Heart.

It is always good, and humbling, to realize that others can convince themselves based upon what someone has written about someone else, such as the many who have written about Francis of Assisi, and then decide upon a person based upon the ability to interpret what someone has done or purportedly said, or even written, from an entirely different viewpoint of the beholder.  Thus, the Blessed holy man of one wing of the Church, could write and declare Francis deceived and a false mystic and not a saintly man.  (The followers of Francis of Assisi thought otherwise, and the Western wing of the Church declared him a saint--obviously a differing view.)

So is it detraction to debunk Francis of Assisi?  Possibly and probably.  Detraction has a lot to do with the intent of the person writing or speaking, trying to put down the other.  It can be detraction even if he or she truly believes what he or she is writing is correct, or thinks is saving others from being duped, or thinks it is to warn them not to follow or emulate such a misguided or deceived or wrong person.  Is it detraction for any of us to build a case against another?

Well, a lot depends upon motive, and that is so very hard to discern in ourselves, especially if was are proud of our intellects and proud of our positions and presence and status in the world, even if but a small world in actuality.  The internet has done us a disservice, encouraging us to think we are quite the voices of authority just because what we write or say can be viewed by a few or many.  It is public.  And that make detraction all the worse, in some respects.  It is just out there, visible, readable.

Some say that public figures are fair game when it comes to pointing out wrongs (or conceivably rights) they have done.  Detraction deals with the wrongs, as its modus is negation, is putting down, debasing another's actions or words, or personhood.  And sometimes the truth is the truth, but yet again, as Jesus said, "He who is without sin may cast the first stone"

Even if St. Francis of Assisi was a total fraud, a false mystic, had no stigmata, his followers having cast fabrications about him--it then would seem rather ineffective to state all these deceptions unless one had valid proof, had known him, talked with him, observed in person, and was qualified to make a diagnosis.  Only people in Francis' time could truly do that, for anyone can twist what others have written about a person.  Even Padre Pio had doctors examine him and come away with quite different diagnoses of his stigmata than what other doctors verified.

We have the current internet flurry of people who see a blue and black dress and silver and gold.... But of course, that is not detraction to call it silver and gold when it is actually blue and black.  All that has to do with physiology in the way people's eyes functions with seeing certain colors.  However, detraction does have to do with viewpoints, with the way we view others, when viewing wrongly--putting another down, casting aspersions--even if we think we are right.

So, dear friends in Christ Jesus, filled with His Real Presence and loving God Almighty--let us not detract others.  There really is no need to do it.  Yes, we get angry and frustrated.  We are convinced our ways are the right way, our views the right and only views, the way we see things is the correct way to see.  And in some cases, particularly if we can weigh it with the right of the Gospel Rule, we might be right, or at least striving to be right.  

Yet how wrong it is to detract, to put someone else "down", to bully and make statements either in thoughts, words spoken or written, or in deed, that suggest someone else is less than what we think we are.  It is truly pointless in most any way we can rationally think of it.  Detraction does not help others nor ourselves.

And this nothing Catholic hermit knows it, as it becomes frustrated with such as a young man who came to do some plumbing--a young man the electrician was convinced could help when the hermit was so very ill.  No, the "plumber" ruined parts, did things incorrectly, and lied about codes.  It is all fact; the electrician felt terrible; the hermit has had to replace parts and re-do the plumbing, now feeling better enough to do it.  Lost $210 plus the costs of new parts and its own time and effort.

But why put the young man down?  Why detract?  Why hold anger?  It is pointless.  At most, the electrician is going to point out to him what he had done and the trouble and expense, and only so that the young man will hopefully not try to pull the wool on others--and will do a better job for others.  But detraction is not holy, is not good, is not right.  Never ought detraction be part of our action.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love one another!  God Is Love!  Remain in His Love, and remember we are all His children.  The jury is still out on all of us as to how good of children we each may be.  We have the potential to all be very, very good children by His grace and mercy!

A Tidbit from "Stillness"

St. John Climacus has quite a step on the Divine Ascent in his writing on "Stillness."  This nothing Catholic hermit is remiss in stillness, for sure, but all the same, we press on.  There is not a thing that we cannot learn, nothing we cannot change in ourselves, by the grace of His Real Presence.  The Virgin Mary desires to help us; our guardian angels delight in our desire to climb the stairway to heaven!

This thought strikes a lovely chord today.

"Take hold of the walking stick of patience, and the dogs will soon stop their impudent harassment.  Patience is a labor that does not crush the soul. It never wavers under interruptions, good or bad.  The patient [hermit] is a faultless worker who has turned his faults into victories. Patience sets a boundary to the daily onslaught of suffering. It makes no excuses and ignores the self.  The worker needs patience more than food, since the one brings him a crown while the other brings destruction.  The patient man has died before his death, his cell being his tomb.  Patience comes from hope and mourning, and indeed to lack those is to be a slave to despondency."

And this little end note a staccato key:

"Let the soul's eye be ever on the watch for conceit, since nothing else can produce such havoc."

[Yes, always if there is havoc, we never fail to discover some pride of one sort or another having stirred the previousy still waters.]

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love one another!

Catholic Hermit Has a Dream

Well, there are dreams, and there are dreams.

Dreams require discernment.  Obviously, there are types and degrees of dreams.  Not a lot of time and effort should be spent on reviewing them, for that is not necessary.  When some spiritual guides suggest brushing them aside, they also in other aspects teach to discern various locutions, visions, and other numinous messages.

The danger in heeding dreams literally is that the level of images, or imagination, is one in which the devil is allowed to enter into the mind.  If a dream leaves one disturbed and chaotic, it is not necessary to pay much attention, other than to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, and all of our love and obeisance is to Him.  If spoken aloud, that is best when the devil is involved in anything nefarious, including dreams.

Then, other dreams reflect bodily or situational stresses.  These dreams tend to allow the subconscious to float to the surface and relay some irritant or upset in our physical or emotional or mental status involved in our everyday functioning.  These are often depicted by symbolic dream events and are fairly easy to discern.  The solution is to try to correct whatever it is that is causing the stress or upset.  Sometimes we cannot alter the temporal world, but we can always address ourselves and see that our reactions can change; and that change can help us reduce the stress until the situation is past.

There are dreams that teach us about ourselves in ways that are worth discerning.  Again, as in the last category, the subconscious is more freed in sleep to come to the conscious mind enough that we will recall the dream with a message.  Usually the message is symbolic in these dreams, but not always.  Often the message (however it is imaged or symbolized or acted out) in the dream will show us some aspect of ourselves that needs improving.  We must learn to be very honest, though, in order to discern.  We have to not fear facing our vices or other weaknesses in our dealings with others, with our habits and flaws.

(Someone has reported on several occasions and asked for assistance in interpretation, dreams that involve being late and the frustration that accompanies.  While the person awakes unsettled, as there are many elements usually woven into the dream, the message repeats.  And, this person is known in life to be habitually late.  This could be due to various aspects including disorganization of temporal surroundings but also concern over a physical handicap that is not yet fully accommodated.)

Other dreams move into more a spiritual level, with spiritual implications.  (This is not to suggest the other types of dreams are not supernal, as we are all created by God, and that includes every aspect of our psyches, including dreams and all the aspects involved in their images.  God's providence is in our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls.)

The dreams that are pointedly spiritual usually have a different essence than the others.  They are more lucid.  One awakens with peace even if there is something of warning involved, or correction. The above mentioned types of dreams can be easily forgotten.  A highly spiritual dream remains clear, especially until the person has discerned it properly and gleaned the message God Himself or through His angels or saints or other messengers has given.

These messages can yet take the form of symbols, situations played out, images, and including voices.  They can transcend any time period and often involve those we know in our lives as part of the image or "scene", as if in a play.  Sometimes the voice will be known, such as someone in our lives who has passed on or the Voice of God that we somehow know because of the quality and a sense deep within that we cannot describe.

Understand that in these types of dreams, God will never tell us, either by His Voice or through His messengers, anything that is evil or immoral or tempting.  Again, there will be peace when we awaken even if there are distressful images that portray for us something we need to correct or be aware.  We will yet have an inner calm and assurance, and there will be a loving desire to agree to what it is, when we discern rightly.

Last night this nothing Catholic hermit had a dream of the latter type.  It could have easily been of the first, of the distressing and devil-playing-with-the-mind type, except there was a strong message to it and a peace upon awakening, and a ready admittance of what the hermit has been neglecting. It was all quite true.  (And in dreams, often the images and messages tend toward more visual or seemingly extreme or intense in order to drive home the point.  Otherwise it is too easy to ignore them.)

So this nothing Catholic hermit knows well and is duly reminded, that it has been neglecting its soul--the intuitive of its soul, specifically.  Yes, all the efforts on trying to right-side-up this pathetic, old house that some people had rather misrepresented the extent of its woes, has taken the hermit too much into the active and into the world.  The obstacles have been ridiculous, abnormal--such as four months to persevere with an appliance that had a leveling foot not budging.  Well, the examples are too many and not worth repeating, but there have been more obstacles than not, by far, requiring time and attention.

Now, with finances dwindling and needing to go for broke, and get help finishing the heavy parts, and not sure at all will make it out with the shirt on the back, the message is apt.  And the dream stands as a light to guide, for it will be easier to let go and strip away, sell out after a final push of hard work to make it salable, use up the supplies here--and be thankful to return to some other way of temporal existence, somewhere other, and tend the intuitive soul!

Already this has commenced.  The nothing Catholic hermit has shifted its body, mind, and heart all the more to His Real Presence.  The pneumonia passed the mid-point sometime in the night, although there is quite a ways to go before can be out of bed for much of anything.  The images used to show the hermit how horribly it had neglected its intuitive soul, remain as firm, strong, and loving reminders.  Praise God for the images!

Yes, see?  Such dreams are lucid, and even if rather shocking-to-our-sensibilities the images, if the message is from God, it will be joyfully embraced and the result clear and uplifting!  Just the one aspect of the "scene" is needed as a quick shot, like seeing a photo or noticing a ring to remind of our vows, or a cross to remind of our Savior.

If we ignore such dreams, or do not bother to discern any dream, it can be as if tossing out mail unread.  Most might be junk, but as today, when the hermit was able to make it as far as the mailbox, therein was a short, loving, encouraging note from its spiritual father, far away.  It is a keeper, to for a time remind in a tangible way of his esteemed prayers.

Now, some spiritual directors may advise to ignore dreams.  Even John of the Cross mentions similar in the first phase, the purgation of the senses.  But later on, in the intuitive way leading into unitive of the soul with God, he discusses discernment.  We must know that had St. Joseph indiscriminately tossed aside the dream telling him to wed Mary and what to name the Child, or had the wise men ignored their dream to avoid Herod--what then?

God bless His Real Presence in us! Little children, let us love one another!  God Is Love!  Remain in His Love!

Nah, Back to Skimming and Scanning

The respite in the heaviness of detail and didacticism in the book am reading with the young spiritual friend, has ended.  The author returns to chains of cognition, paragraph after paragraph, chapter after chapter.

Now, the book is well written and marvelous!  The author is fairly famous or was.  The content is filled with researched facts and details that are outstanding.  It is just that have read enough from the two saints in question and other biographies of them, and books on the spiritual life written by masters of the spiritual life, that other than some few tidbits of encouragement of personal nature to this nothing hermit,  am returning to the skimming and scanning modes of reading.

Great book, however, as a compendium of details and overviews for those who are chosen or prone or asked to read it.  And it is read by many people.

Compared to John Climacus, though...there is no comparison.  Consider fresh, pure, desert air.  Then consider a huge grocery store and having to go down every aisle, having to carefully pick through items on each side of each aisle, and having to load up not one but several carts of wonderful food, yes.  And then unloading it all onto a conveyor belt, being grateful for the cashier who handles each item and adds up the total.  Pay, then bag each item and carry it all out, take it home, and eventually eat and digest the stuff.

This nothing Catholic hermit is reduced to just needing some fresh, clear, desert air to breathe.

But awhile back, in another mode and life, it seems, the grocery shopping was a necessary process and venture.  Just not now.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love one another, for God Is Love!  And, let us love all those who teach us in their writings in all styles and modalities, how to know and love God and thus one another, better.

Hermit Consecration Anniversary

The 29th of December has two-fold meaning for this nothing Catholic hermit.

It is the date of death for Sr. Josefa Menendez, a victim soul who is dear to this hermit's heart and an inspiration in various aspects of suffering.

It is the date of this hermit's vows as a consecrated religious of the eremitic vocation.

Yes, 14 years ago this nothing Catholic hermit, after many months of postulancy and then novitiate, guided by its holy, priestly spiritual director of advanced years, the vows for the hermit life were offered and accepted by His Real Presence but with the venerable priest as witness and celebrant of a most beautiful, intimate, and private ceremony.

Each year, the nothing Catholic hermit repeats the vows, and in past did so before a Tabernacle in a church, with a priest present. But the past two years, the vows have been repeated within, deeply within, in wordless praise, prayer, and acceptance of the eremitic life that His Real Presence has increasingly guided into experiences of faith and spiritual growth, beyond what the hermit would have ever anticipated.

Somehow, the increased simplicity and the adjoining increased faith in the loving purity of His Real Presence's rich and viable interaction in this soul's temporal and spiritual existence, has precluded the previous years of thinking too much, of trying to figure out and do, and be concerned if it was a hermit as a hermit ought to be, by whoever's standards, such as those hermits before or what others now think hermits are to be or act or appear in this or that way.

His Real Presence guides with a precision that does not require the mind to seek out what it or others may think or dictate.  His Real Presence carries the hermit in His Heart--the heart of the Father for His child, the heart of the Son for His bride, the heart of the Spirit for His wee one's soul.

The consecration of this nothing Catholic hermit in religious life flows throughout all avenues of His Real Presence, of His Head and of His Body, and of His Sacred and Mystical Heart.  He knows.  He consecrates.  He accepts.  He loves.

Who knows where He will guide and lead henceforth?  The nothing Catholic hermit awaits and adores, prays and praises (and suffers physically).

God bless His Real Presence!