Catholic Hermit, Hermit of God: St. Julian of Norwich, Mystic

Yesterday, May 13, in addition to being the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima (first apparition to the three young children in the Cova da Iria on outskirts of Fatima, Portugal), the date is also the Feast of the mystic and anchoress, St. Julian of Norwich. In fact, the date of Julian's grave illness and beginning of the visions (she refers to them as "showings") occurred on May 13, 1373.

Julian is not her given name; no one knows many facts of her early life other than approximate dates of her life and that her mother and parish priest were at her bedside, fearing she would die from the grave illness she experienced when age thirty-and-one-half years of age.  She recovered rather miraculously from the illness, to which she attributed to God be the glory of her healing as well as the "showings" which were revealed during the course of the illness.

She then became an anchorite; she lived in a room constructed beside the parish church, St. Julian in Norwich, England.  One window faced into the church for her to receive communion and participate in Mass; another window faced outward to the street at which people would come to ask her prayers and spiritual advice, as her reputation spread regarding wise counsel.  It was the practice for anchorites to take the name for themselves, of the name of the church to which their anchorholds were attached.

Julian was educated, could write with ample vocabulary and also was familiar with writings available at the times.  She referred to the Trinity as Father, Mother and Nurse--representing the loving, nurturing nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The use of feminine to refer to God had previously been used in the writings of St. William of Thierry; so Julian was considered to be familiar with his use of that imagery, but it is noted that he did not receive the criticism for doing so that Julian received.

It also is surmised that Julian at some point had been in a convent, as the probably means of her education and familiarity with theological thought and writing up to her time period.  She may have received her education in convent or as a young girl being taught with other young girls in convent school in some fashion. Also, there is no knowledge of her having married.

One aspect of St. Julian's life overview and introduction commentary (The Classics of Western Spirituality, St. Julian of Norwich: Showings) that stands out personally, is that of Julian's maturation in the understanding of the visions over the course of her writing them initially (short form), and then over the years writing a long form with greater detail and insight of interpretation.

It is true of mystical experiences, that to the mystic, they are more clear, more actual and real, the vivid details not leaving the memory as they remain as more real and valid than are events in of temporal life.  Also, with time, the mystic becomes less hesitant in sharing what is experienced and "seen," not feeling insecure or as concerned in how others might criticize.  Julian in her longer form of writing the showings through the years, no longer felt a need to be practically apologetic or demean herself in order to seem overly humble and unworthy in wording such as referring to herself as a lowly worm and other deprecating self-descriptions.

Over the years, a mystic needs grow more confident and secure in the interior gifts given.  The mystic learns to discern and also seeks assistance from trusted others who help discern when concern and questions arise within, but must then rely on God most of all.  A mystic must cease being apologetic and as if shamed about the mystic's way of being; the mystic as everyone, is created by God.  A mystic must learn to be comfortable in his own skin, to be accepting of being "different" from the others, and learn to be deft in managing that they do not belong to "that world"--that beautiful and enticing but "other" world: the temporal.   

Yet the mystic interacts with the temporal world for that is part of the purpose and mission of mystics--to do God's will which involves intersecting with the temporal, often through mystical means and to help others to gain glimpses of the reality of the world to which all will come to have their lives and sole beings to exist, in time.  God has varied purposes and missions for mystics just as He has for those called to non-mystic, needful lives.  Padre Pio, once He was through his phase of harsh scrutinies and trials from others and the devil, also, was very interactive as a confessor and spiritual guide, yet despite being no longer isolated in the monastery, he always had to contend with the usual envies and backbiting of those in the temporal who resented his mission as a mystic.  And mystics have the usual sins and temperaments of all types; Padre Pio had a sharpness and gruffness, but with the physical pain he suffered from the stigmata, who could claim to do better in managing it all?

The mystic's purpose and mission in this world of temporal and mystical realms, temporal and mystical church, the mystic's message and experience, and what these mean and the help the mystic's message and purpose can provide others, becomes dominant in function more than should the messenger be concerned with how or if the message will be received.  Thus, Julian of Norwich over many years and as she matured in the temporal and spiritual life, wrote the in depth, longer version of her mystical visions with greater confidence and with more details of which in the shorter, early form she was less secure in sharing.

For mystics, there is always that element of being in a world not that of most persons, the world that for purpose of delineating here can be called the mystical Catholic world or the mystical Catholic church as opposed to the temporal Catholic world or temporal Catholic church.  As I've written elsewhere and emphasized, the temporal is of course very needed and marvelous, and is God's realm as valued and crucial as the mystical; but there are distinctions.  One major factor is that after this temporal life on this earth, all will be then the mystical, not the temporal any longer, and this mystical world will be for all eternity.  

For some, such as mystics, the temporal world can seem even uncomfortable in a certain way, and as the mystic grows and comes to greater understanding that what the mystic perceives and experiences is not quite what most people of the temporal perceive and how they experience, the mystic comes to levels and points of acceptance of their reality and "place", if you will, in life.  For awhile which can last years, the mystic lives as if with a foot in both worlds or as if I've expressed, having to try to live a "double life" so as to mask the mystic self from the temporal family and friends who do not grasp or fathom or can be frightened, even, by what the mystic experiences and senses and sometimes is brought to share.  Others also can be fearful of what they, too, witness when a mystic's purpose intersects tangibly, sensibly such as aurally or visibly in the temporal world.

But at a certain points in life the mystic must transition to increasing fullness of the mystical world.  That is why such persons as Julian of Norwich transitioned around the age of 30, and the conclusion of one phase into that of greater awareness of her mystic purpose given by God, was manifested through the grave illness which had her between life and death and in which the visions were given to her over the course of the illness.

That is why a mystic seeks a "place" for existing that creates security and provides the environment for the mystic to grow and bloom, in effect, in order to live and do and be the purposes for which God chose the soul to be born a mystic.  God allows the mystic a foundation through childhood, usually of a loving, protected home life and the security of growing up without recognizing for the most part, that others do not perceive or are not experiencing this other realm, the spiritual, the mystical world.  The childhood years for those called or created mystic by God, flow with wonderment and protected acceptance even if often can be marked with illnesses or injuries that are in actuality archetypes of transitions from one phase into the next, with trials being introduced, and experiences of good versus evil.  These early transitions prepare the mystic for more intense and often painful transitions to come in adulthood.  The Lord is kind and merciful!

But as the mystic grows through temporal life, there are points of reckoning, and eventually the mystic's transitions graduate the mystic more fully into phases of assignments and increasing, purposeful fruitfulness.  Julian's life included the later transition of maturation and of writing with greater understanding of the meaning of the earlier showings; she wrote in fullness the long form of the showings which grew or branched out the splendor of God's metaphoric messages from the previous, more tentative and less-grasped, short form.

For a mystic, the Lord provides such vocations and "places" in the temporal world that will keep the mystic safe, in essence, from the distractions of the outer, so that what the Lord wishes of the mystic's purpose and mission is able to grow and bloom and produce fruit for the world either then or for a later era.  Thus, hermit life has always been a haven for mystics; being able to remove and go out into the deserts and forests and mountains or for some, removed to a cell in a monastery or room set apart, has always been ideal.  God protects His mystics; He provides for them in the hiddenness they require in order to fulfill their missions and be as God created them.

Being an anchorite, living walled off from the world for the most part, was ideal for God's mystics.  The evolution of hermit life in the Church of East and West provided for God's mystics through the centuries and up to current times, now, into the 21st century.  However, the hermit vocation now has shifted some with the regularization in the Catholic Church through the "official" recognition by canon law (603).  This has altered to a certain extent, by setting forth a type of legal guidelines of public profession of evangelical counsels and the formation of what is known as the "diocese hermit", an opening up of the hermit life to be expanded upon with additional interpretations and broadening of what was previously a natural haven or "place" in the Church for mystics.

That was the message of the dream and waking vision I had several days ago, and which caused me all the more to know that the Lord did not will me to continue in a canonical approval process.  I then could understand all the more the lack of inner peace that had pervaded for going on three months.  Of course, the Lord provided for me as He always provides for all of us who seek His will and have given ourselves fully to Him, who lay down our lives for Christ in various ways.  [I might share the dream and waking vision later on, but it really seems not of importance for others as it is one of those messages meant for me as a mystic to know why the way of the diocese hermit and canon law official recognition is not necessary nor desired by God for me.]  

Over time, perhaps, if God wants me to know or understand further, I might learn if this would be the case for other mystics for whom hermit life and vocation are best for them given the silence of solitude and relative security and withdrawal and separation from the temporal world, and yes, the temporal church world.  But for now, God has provided for this mystic, just as in Julian's time he provided for her with the anchorhold built into the side of St. Julian Parish Church in Norwich, in the 14th century where she lived after recovering from illness in which she received the visions God desired for her to fathom and share through her writing of them.  (Julian's book of Showings is the first book written in English by a woman author.)

As to mystics being isolationists or separated from the church or from themselves, as some can mistakenly think or project from a temporal perspective or viewpoint, this is not the case.  Yes, mystics are essentially in God's mystical world, in His mystical church world, and most often live as authentic and fulfilled in God and have been as hermits for centuries, and as anchorites, and even known as religious recluses or religious solitaries.  But they are by no means without friends but usually have to limit the contacts as contrary to what some may think, people tend to be very drawn to mystics.  

For the mystic to grow and bloom and produce the fruit that the Lord desires, there can be limitations placed, illnesses, accidents and injuries, circumstances that enforce removal and provide socially acceptable and temporally understandable reasons or even provide "cover" or excuses for the mystic to have the silence of solitude, the withdrawal from the world, the hiddenness from the temporal others who do not understand the natural and God-given spiritual understanding and inner senses of His mystics.  

Perhaps at some point I ought write of the ways and means the Lord has utilized to keep His mystic to Himself, as well as the painful aspect of the mystic to have to agree to and accept the transitions phases of separating out from the temporal world to which the mystic does not belong and which hinders the mystic from the purposes and missions the Lord wills over the course of a mystic's life time.  And the transition point includes accepting that of a mystic not truly "belonging" to the temporal Catholic world of the parish or diocese, just as Julian of Norwich and other anchorites were literally walled off from the parish church other than for the Host to be given them.

And the same is true of those mystics in religious orders who were set off in a more secluded cell, kept as if incarcerated and in many cases unkindly so, were told not to communicate with the other religious.  This is why the desert fathers and mothers kept going further out into the desert or into the forests or up the mountains seeking huts and caves less and less accessible from the many persons who are attracted to these souls and want to befriend them, in today's times wanting to call, to email, to become friends, to go and do--these persons called mystics, misunderstood and often maligned by those the devil tends to use as tools or who are simply ignorant of the mystics and who do not grasp or or even oddly envy God's mystics chosen to be His own for spiritual purposes and missions interfacing the temporal world.

The mystic's life is always unique for a mystic is chosen and formed by God for His specific needs--just as are all souls created by God for His purposes, of which most are necessarily chosen to live and be and function in the temporal world, in the lay single or married vocations, or as religious brothers or sisters, virgins, widows, deacons, priests--and that only of the Catholic temporal world, not to mention the entire world of Christendom and the other major religions and sects with human beings being born and reared and seeking and doing, living, and being. 

God bless His Real Presence in us!  St. Julian, please pray for me--pray for us all!  Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!  Sts. Jacinta, Francesco, and Lucia--pray for us!  God's will be done!

On Catholic Hermits' Health, Medical Concerns

How do contemporary, consecrated Catholic hermits deal with health and medical issues?

This topic may be of interest to some, as it can become an issue considering whatever degree of solitude as well as living location and finances.  This consecrated Catholic hermit intended to share thoughts on the topic after first writing about effects of the will dying, then aspects of bi-location, as well as discerning what are God's insights and what are yet one's own intellect and ideas.

But the past few days met with an unexpected wound on the hermit's thumb which developed into something rather serious requiring, thankfully, advice from a friend far away whose daughter is an ER nurse, who looked at a photo sent via iPad and said get to urgent care right away.  And when that night, the thumb worsened and had additional symptoms due to young physician's assistant at urgent care evidently inexperienced with such matters, a return email from friend advised I get to hospital immediately.  Fever meant sepsis poisoning.

By the interaction of my guardian angel in the ER, mercifully am spared hospitalization but am yet in recovery mode.  How quickly blood poisoning can cause dangerous effects.  I am yet very weak and not easy to type as thumb is bandaged and in splint, but I at least wanted to begin this post that will discuss such aspects of how contemporary hermits may handle their health and medical concerns.  

Per usual with the uniqueness of individual hermits and variances therein within the vocation, I can only share from personal experience but include the historical overview of some past hermits.

Until later...God bless His Real Presence in us!

Catholic Hermit on Sin, Self-Righteousness

The question has arisen:  Can a hermit, even a Catholic hermit, become righteous?  Can a consecrated Catholic hermit come to a point in which he or she thinks he knows more than most others and definitely more than other hermits?  Can that attitude take root that a Catholic hermit is somehow especially equipped, gifted, intelligent, studied, superordinate...in a word: righteous?

The other morning the Living Word spoke to me as the double-edged sword He Is.

"I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."  

While struggling to get the tile mortar thick enough, and then to spread it at the proper depths and over an electric heat mat so as to keep the floor level (sideways and front-to-back), I have pondered His Word.  A nothing consecrated Catholic hermit has pondered and pondered His Word on who He calls.

And yes, it can be that a hermit, a Catholic hermit, a consecrated Catholic hermit and even one known and upheld as approved by others and the Church...and even one unknown to most everyone but a handful of friends far off...may and can become and can indeed be: righteous.

So with all the goofs and messes of this floor tiling task, I can see that there are as many sins available to commit and no doubt committed--as many and more than the abundance of tiling goofs and messes made by this consecrated Catholic hermit (of the hidden variety).

It has been a rough  couple of weeks.  Finances are tough.  Reality is raw regarding a couple family members.  Even getting basic Medicare is painful; the past had to be brought up in order to explore any means of even getting Medicare, only to find out that I will have to pay.  The cabinet combat continues, and the managers at Lowe's are not responding.  Friends think a lawyer is going to be necessary, but does this hermit want more battles with the temporal world and at what costs?

Even got lost trying to find the social security office...but the Lord led me out of the confusion of roads and streets to get there just in time for the appointment.  I admit over and over in my conversations with my Spouse, that I made many foolish mistakes in the way-distant past that are very much affecting my temporal existence in the present.  I've been far too trusting and naive; and as a result, put myself in the temporal pickle jar, so to speak.  But I also know that my Spouse will lead me out of all situations just as he led me out of being lost in civilization.

Truly, this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit becomes very lost in "civilization."  And as for sins, yes, I am a sinner, for there surely are flaws in a person who gets himself into repeated "pickle jars."  I even like pickles--the ones we eat, that is.

The main point I hold dear to my heart is that the Lord has called me.  He has called me to not only be a consecrated Catholic hermit, but to be His Beloved.  He has called me, a sinner, and being a consecrated Catholic hermit is but a pathway of sorts, and nothing worth being righteous about, ever.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love God above all things and others as ourselves--but not love ourselves too much.  Self love can keep us from hearing Him calling.  We all are sinners, no matter how self-righteous we may be.

Catholic Hermit Shares Inspiration and...

...a laugh.

Eleventh day as pain siege subsides--and able to get up after an intense day yesterday of soul-cleansing, spiritual insights, and reality therapy.  This morning someone posted this photo, and I find it inspiring due to the body, mind, heart, and spirit effects of laughter.

Even hermits, even Catholic hermits--even Catholic hermits with gut-wrenching, constant pain--can benefit from a belly laugh.

Enjoy!

God bless His Real Presence in us.  Little children let us love one another and love our each and every ridiculous and boring natures--absolutely!  

Catholic Hermit: Deeper Conversions

Of course, this extended period of physical suffering includes--and perhaps has predominant impetus in--deeper spiritual conversions.

These periods of immense suffering include the accompanying storms and darkness.  The body, mind, heart, and soul are put through the grinder, so to speak.  Or, to stick with weather metaphor--all aspects of body, mind, heart, and soul are buffeted by howling winds, pounded by torrential rains, drought-ridden by desert dryness, immobilized and frozen in icy avalanches.

This period of time here, for my body, mind, heart, and soul--seems as if not weathering this storm.  Yet, it most certainly must be or I'd not be writing about it.

Last evening, when realizing I have no means to do manual labor, and at a deeper sense no work to be done in any active or acceptable, tangible, capacity in the temporal Catholic Church--and facing the unknowing of when or if the body would be "doing" much again, at all--an email came.  It is one that I have received the past three years, asking for some St. Bernard Love of God Bourbon Balls.

I realized the Lord was reaching in, saying, "You can do this.  I will let you be able to make these over which you pray and pour love into the efforts."  

Making these small and simple confections are usually without obstacles--nothing like other work efforts or interactions with the temporal world that become marathons of perseverance and endurance.  Other than if the printer is ornery if more labels are needed, the process is something that my body can manage if I make them in phases.  It is so very painful for me to stand in one spot for more than five minutes or even less.  And that is the case even when the back pain is at more manageable levels.

There is nothing else in my life right now that I can actually "do" and have satisfactory completion.  I am still persevering with kitchen and bathroom cabinets, so those rooms cannot be finished until there is resolution with the store and cabinet company representative.  There is nothing else--no other area of life that can be engaged to complete something.

Even all the garden harvest that I processed and froze is ruined.  Somehow, the cord came loose from the outlet when a couple weeks ago--surely must have been then--I struggled with each awkward and heavy bathroom base cabinet, having to get them in from the pole barn to the house.  Yesterday, when I finally was able to walk the short distance to the pole barn, needing a container of frozen food, I discovered all in the freezers had long-since thawed.  There is no meat involved, but the hermit's winter and spring food supply is all but gone.

Can't even empty it out--body not able.

As for what is going on spiritually in this deeper conversion, I've written it to Fr. V. in Nigeria and to a long-time friend, not Catholic, but who reads without comment, and prays.  Fr. V. is unlikely to respond with comment other than to remind to pray and remain in Christ's love.  Yet, it serves a purpose to express the depths of thoughts, insights, and conclusions when the storms are ravaging the outer and inner earth of our beings.

I am considering on a deeper level such great and successfully spiritual souls as Bruno the Carthusian, John of the Cross, and Joseph Benedict LeBre.  Their times of deeper conversions give great insight into those called to a different type of temporal life, a deeper call to live in the spiritual realm while their bodies existed in the temporal world.  Even with John of the Cross, his mind, heart, and soul went to another "place" although living amidst his fellow Carmelite religious brothers.  

He wrote his great insights and poetry more toward the beginning of his adult life as a consecrated religious and priest.  In the very few years between his imprisonment and torture by his fellow priests and monks and his final years of persecution again by his fellow religious, John had brief cohesion of active life utilization of his body, mind, heart, and spirit as spiritual director to Teresa of Avila's religious sisters in the several foundations she made of reformed Carmelites.

Bruno had more temporal Catholic world utilization at the beginning of his priesthood but extending some years when he was priest and professor in Cologne, Germany.  His departure from the temporal Catholic world was a decisive separation although previously had been an agreed-upon goal between himself and five or six friends--some of them priests.  They had resolved to leave that world and seek union in God without the temporal distractions and the laws of minds that can cause all kinds of obstacles to the "climb up the holy mountain.".  

And leave they did, and up the highest mountain they could find in the farthest reaches of the French Alps. Bruno was only called back to the temporal Catholic world once after that, by a pope.  He assisted for a short time although the pope wanted him to remain longer in his service.  But Bruno left for another foundation of similarly-minded men (again, some of them priests and others not) that later became also a monastery known as part of the Carthusian order.  Bruno died there.  

He did not formally "found" the order himself.  No, he simply (but I am sure with many dyings to self along the way) lived the ideals and in the way he thought was most helpful in climbing the holy mountain, to live spiritually the Christian ideal for achieving Divine Union and living the law of God.  He did not write down any laws of mind; he lived in whatever way he sensed could be successful in the repeated deeper conversions which would reach the spiritual summit.

Joseph Benedict LeBre sought entrance to numerous religious orders.  He was allowed entrance into several, often with much reservation on the parts of abbots and priors.  He never lasted long; they were concerned about what they perceived as his potential to be ill, and a couple superiors sent him on his way due to his becoming ill.  In other monastic attempts, he was considered to be at cross-ends with the goals and efforts of the monks themselves. Joseph's focused and desirous seeking of the spiritual realm and of God did not fit in.  Out he went.

Joseph had his mind, heart, and soul set on the spiritual heights.  Yes, he was crushed repeatedly when sent away from the various religious houses.  But that led him to a time of deeper conversion in which he realized he was called to live the life of a "pilgrim."  He determined to follow Jesus directly, without the ways and means or laws of minds involved in religious orders or other designated vocations.  He wandered for a couple of years or so in France before sensing within a strong calling to walk to Rome.  

Joseph LeBre wandered, walked, lived, and prayed as Jesus did in His life ministry.  He never encountered his family again.  Even in Rome, he lived as a pilgrim--not taking upon himself label of hermit or religious solitary or anything other vocational title.  Today he would be likened to a hobo or a homeless person; in Rome, those who noticed him at first considered him a filthy vagrant.  He died in the odor of sanctity, on a street, although a priest convinced him to live in his rectory for awhile, living there along with a few other homeless men the priest took in--worn out and ill from their ages, poverty, and harsh living conditions.

These three examples, have roosted in my mind this past day, as they have off and on for several years.  As such, these three souls (on earth known as saintly men) assist me in the deeper conversion occurring.  Such conversions are unlikely to provide much progress or success if the body is not incapacitated from all activity and distractions.  Thus, while difficult to be rid of current temporal distractions due to the pain and the mind's concerns about how will the work progress in this hermitage, how will I be able to do the heavier work once the family leaves the area--a prolonged, incapacitating pain siege allows for that self-concern mindset to pass.

Then the eye of the storm occurs in which the temporal worries and questions and thoughts of even past persecutions or whatever else, are stilled and silenced.  That is when His Real Presence shines the light on the deeper conversion and upon the decisions and acceptances that are to be made if one is willing.  If not, there will be yet more storms and then eyes of the storms with their opportunities for deeper conversions.

The three men have been in the beam of Christ's light in this day of the eye of this storm.  Even though the body could get up and move about a bit more, the pain is enough to remand: lay low, be still.  And, there is now the recognition of the storm's purpose, the pain siege's "inner eye."  The mind and heart want to pursue the deepening and to be given, in the soul's "eye," the insights and courage required to venture forth and through the other side of this storm.

These three men's life examples of following Jesus in His life and teachings and in the law of God, are with me as companions--as storm chasers, I guess we could say.  We don't need to fall victim to storms but rather to see them as they are--natural events brought and allowed by God--and to enter into them knowing that in the storm's eye are the deeper conversions of greater Christ-clarity, of spiritual progression, and hold the graces we carry with us when we pass through them.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love God above all things and love one another as ourselves!

Catholic Hermit Considers Two Types of Wisdom

Today in the Scriptural-prayer gift for the longtime friend, St. James writes about guarding the tongue and the two types of wisdom.  This friend is an exemplary Protestant who has guarded her tongue with holiness in never making negative comments in my presence regarding my conversion to Catholicism over 20 years ago.

So mostly I am reflecting upon wisdom today and am rather intrigued with James' comments on two kinds of wisdom.

"Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom."

He points in the next verses that this type of good wisdom comes from heaven, but there is another wisdom that is earthly and demonic.

"But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such 'wisdom' does not come from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice."

Then returning to the first kind of wisdom, the Apostle James further explains.

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."

I am partially through writing to the friend about some examples in which I marveled at how she has tamed her tongue in many situations. This does not mean that she never speaks about other people.  Quite the contrary.  The last times we met in person, a few years ago, she shared some details of people in their lives, of their trials, and of needed prayers on their behalf.  The same type of details came in a Christmas letter and in a birthday note.

The details about their lives and their adult children's and friends' lives are mentioned with successes and changes, with gratitude and concerns.  There is nothing of envy or ambition in her heart nor in the intent with which she writes of their lives.  Her life is good--filled with love of God and love of others, filled with good deeds done lovingly with family, friends, and strangers alike.

But the communications about their own lives and those of others come from loving intentions.  Love, we can see, is always pivotal in our lives and in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, in the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and in all the virtues.  So we touch upon, once more, the Law of God, the Royal Law, the law of love of God above all things and love of others as ourselves.

So heavenly wisdom comes through not so often in "great" events.  Heavenly wisdom, perhaps surprisingly so, comes through in our daily thoughts, words, and actions.  If we are living and breathing according to the Law of God-Is-Love, what comes out of our minds and mouths and from our hands is going to be pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

Whenever there is any discrepancy or diversion from this wise and holy check-list of heavenly wisdom, we have as a result: disorder and evil practice.  If we find in our thoughts or emotions or deep in our souls any twinge of envy, of any type of selfish ambition, we know what issues forth out of us is not going to be heavenly wisdom and will not bear good fruit.  There will not be peace within us nor with others.

I think those who read this blog as well as this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit and most-of-all child of God with soul seeking union with His Love--we do know the difference.  The problem we might have is in discerning honestly, the truth of our minds, hearts, and spirits.  We have to dissect our intentions down to the core of whatever is motivating us to think, to speak, to act.

While the devil can deceive us, the farther along we come in knowing our souls, the better off in knowing--situation, feelings, and thoughts alike--if our being and intent is that of God's law of love or by or of any lesser motivation. Ultimately, when we have thought and said and done whatever it is we think, say, and do moment by moment, affirmation of heavenly wisdom versus the earthly, unspiritual, of the devil type comes from feeling and observing the harvest.

Is there peace and a harvest of righteousness?

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us remain in His love and love one another. Pray for the Holy Spirit's gift of heavenly wisdom.  Sow in peace!

Catholic Hermit Recovering

Such horrific experiences of clarity of the holiness of a Mass that is disrupted by unholiness or even what is not that which is in union with a priest at the portal, pointing the way from the temporal to the spiritual realm, takes a bit of recovery time.

By late yesterday when up on the roof painting siding, the inner peace returned.  Yet this morning, awoke asking the Lord if this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit has any responsibility beyond praying for the priest and for the parishioners.  Don't yet know the answer.

Could do a bit of casting of the nets to discern.  Could call a priest who is solid in his vocation and who is aware of the parish priest and his issues, and seek his counsel.  However, am not convinced ought to even do that much.  Prayer is quite powerful as is suffering.  And this hermit has suffered greatly with a growing compassion for the parish priest who is not able to fulfill totally a vocation that requires death to self and teaching and preaching and leading people through, with, and in Christ Jesus.

To have a disorder that precludes being comfortable or willing to be around people personally, is not helpful for a priestly vocation.  To have one's heart in poetry and theatre and in personal performance is not helpful.  So there are some hurdles that would need to be leapt, and it may not be in the personality or desire to do so.

This Catholic hermit very much empathizes!  It tried and tried, years ago, to please the parents as well as to try a vocation as a classroom teacher. But something deep within knew it was not its true calling.  Yet, the practical aspects for a classroom teacher are quite clear-cut, and the hermit's mother was a very successful classroom teacher, as was it's husband, years and years ago. It all made practical sense--all the reasons to be a classroom teacher, and the hermit could do all that was required.  However, if it is not one's true vocation, there is not the innate quality and success, the heart is not filled with the quench of natural contentment even if the externals are accomplished.

So the Lord plucked the hermit out of the classroom when it did not have the courage or wherewithal to do so.  And the Lord made more clear the hermit's vocation. Yes, it is to teach--but to teach men and women how to stabilize their emotions through spirituality.

And to this, the Catholic hermit must review and refine it's own part in this calling.  Writing is mostly the means of this teaching, and prayer; and the hermit must pray more about fulfilling the calling.  Distractions pull the hermit off-course.

Today's Gift of the Holy Spirit as spiritual gift for the hermit's friend, is the gift of "knowledge."  The Catechism of the Catholic Church clarifies this on knowledge:  with the gift of knowledge, we understand the meaning of God.  The gift of knowledge is more than an accumulation of facts; it also helps us to choose the right path through life.

Somehow, with the horror of what occurred in the bastardization of a Mass, the hermit lost over a day of its life and got confused on what chapters to read with what intentions in the spiritual gift.  So today the hermit is reading/praying Chapters 9 and 10 in The Letter to the Hebrews.  Chapter 10 is particularly rich, deep, and moves the soul.  It relates meaningfully with the gift of knowledge.

The Catholic hermit needs to rise from the mattress. The pain level is quite high this morning, but it will rise, dress, and continue caulking the trim on the porch area as well as re-do the window trim and flashing, as the hermit got the flashing in the wrong place.  All must be done omnia pro Deo: all for God!  To do something wrong and to leave it not right, is not the best one can do for God...or anyone.  But doing our best and giving our all for God is our primary duty and ought to be our main desire, as well.

God bless His Real Presence in us!

Catholic Hermit on Internet Boundaries

In addition to temporal, physical boundaries, a hermit of the 21st century needs to consider internet boundaries.  Anonymity is very important, it would seem.  Anonymity is an aide to keeping the vice of pride at bay.  However, if writing is one's gift and part of one's calling, then there are other safeguards for the internet use besides remaining anonymous.

The internet can be marvelous in expressing one's thoughts, mostly for oneself, but also if others happen upon something that seems of value and interest to them.  For hermits to write otherwise, such as with hopes of being noticed, recognized, receiving internet awards or whatever, can once more lead to pride.  These aspects can then devalue the value of the honest expression of thoughts and experiences, that were so helpful to begin with.

Setting boundaries also includes safeguards so that one does not get caught off guard or distracted by others' issues, opinions, agreements, disagreements.  Email and other social media sites have the capability to block others.  These are the equivalents to fences and gates, and through trial and error, a hermit can discern when blocking access and interaction is necessary and for the best for all parties concerned.

Most blog servers allow for screening.  One can allow comments for some but not all.  There is also the option of allowing email contact, but then being able to block those who have spurious intentions, anger issues, or obscene tendencies. There are actually protective orders available in many states that cover internet stalking and can be easily attained.  Documentation is simple since online stalking is easily shown and traced.

However, there are benefits and virtues to be developed by simply learning to ignore, pray for, be patient with, have mercy upon, and persevere with one's objectives and missions, when it comes to setting boundaries.  Each hermit probably should assess each situation as it arises.

As in the temporal, physical world, with people who can tend to intrude into the hermit's space and time needed for prayer, reflection, rest, and work, the internet has these same potential intruders.  (Is it not enough for a hermit to deal with spiritual intrusions within the mind and heart and soul?  Yes, indeed!)  Just as there can be in the spiritual realm and in the hermit's cell and surrounding space, the niggling poltergeists and taunts of the evil one in varying degrees, there can be "human poltergeist" types--and also "internet poltergeist" types.  These are those strangers from who-knows-where who float about the web and can tend to latch on, become obsessive, and distract in positive and negative ways, both.

Thus, setting boundaries is most important.  Keeping anonymity helps, but if others on the internet begin to make themselves known in a nuisance type way or intrusive, or distractive ways, then blocking access or also blocking oneself from noticing, serves a very good purpose to keep the thoughts and writings more focused on the topics being discussed, and seeking more the inner nudges of what is unfolding rather than in reaction to what other is out there in the internet world.

It takes a certain discipline and also discernment of spirits to determine when and how and with whom to set boundaries.  What kind of boundaries are helpful and must one keep them set in place always?  These questions are best answered by the individual hermits and through their personal discernment of spirits process, as well as if necessary, some input and guidance from spiritual directors or others.

For this consecrated Catholic hermit, it has been a benefit to learn to set boundaries but also to set limits on itself, such as to not read much if anything of what is going on in the internet world but rather to simply use the writing of such as blogs and email correspondence as a tool of communication of thoughts and life experiences.  If there are questions posed or incoming correspondence, then one needs to make a determination of whether or not it is best to open the gate and entertain the exchange.

Hospitality has always been a traditional hallmark of some hermits, not all.  Some hermits traditionally remain very hidden and private.  And, of course, in our time period of easy access such as through the internet and social media, it behooves even a hermit to set some precautions, or troubling and troubled persons can become a distraction of which hermits are not called to deal with but rather to pray about.

As is the case for writers in general, some find helpful doing much reading of what other authors write. It becomes a point of stimulation and also gives ideas as to other styles and content in writing.  For a hermit, it seems a boundary of self-discipline can be set for not reading what others write on the internet or to get involved in other styles of writing.  Reading the Living Word of God, reading of saintly and successful hermits of history, and reading of spiritually uplifting and motivating writings that are tried and tested over time, probably do more for a hermit in his or her own writing.  

Prayer helps the hermit in what to write and how to write and if and when to write, the most.  The writing can become a prayer, of course, and in that, it is between the hermit and God but shared anonymously with those who may happen upon it on the vast internet.  If one has boundaries as to what it takes in and what it blocks, the process can be fruitful for the hermit especially, and perhaps of some use to others.  But this latter aspect is not a requirement nor the main motive of writing and sharing anonymously, with others.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  This Catholic hermit needs to clean out the paint brushes that became gummy from sun and painting up on the porch roof, and get outside to begin some caulking.  When the sun lowers in the sky, the upper level painting may commence.  We do need to make decisions based upon common sense and what is, in the temporal realm, and not let it interfere or distract us from what we need to accomplish....  This is so true of the spiritual realm, as well.

Catholic Hermit, Setting Boundaries

After another pain siege and being on the mattress on the floor for a couple or three days, am finally up and kind of moving about.  Got up on porch roof to caulk and paint the trim its first coat of Simply White.  Love to choose paint with names that go along with the whole realm of God's goodness and spiritual reminders.  It was a tough call, as Dove White also had appeal.

With a grinding headache and low back that is not quite up to a courageous level of pain endurance, could not drive the distance and then sit through Mass.  Will see how the pain level is in the morning.  Standing on the porch roof is actually far less pain-inducing than sitting.

But the pain siege and some other incidents have reminded this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit to write about setting boundaries.  Hermits need to set boundaries commensurate with the vocation, and at least in cohesion with one's individualized rule of life and the profession of vows, plus the statements under Consecrated Life of the Church specifically for the Eremitic Vocation.

There had been a woman who came frequently, hollering the hermit's name and wandering around the exterior of the hermitage.  At first the hermit met the woman as she stopped to get some vegetables at the table out by the road.  So the hermit had a brief conversation with the woman and detected the woman seemed rather needy in some ways, but that can be fine.  We all have our needs.  However, the woman began showing up daily.  Even when the gate was shut, she'd stand out there hollering at the top of her lungs for the hermit.

At first the hermit went out and explained to the woman that it was becoming too frequent, and the hermit needed quiet and time to work and to pray--quiet for pain management, in particular, and private time.  So it was suggested she perhaps stop by once every three weeks or so, or even once a month.  (This was after in conversation it was ascertained the woman was not interested in spiritual conversation but what one could term "chit chat."  So, it was settled.

But the next day, the woman returned and remained outside the gate, hollering and hollering.  This pattern continued, and the hermit decided it fully grasped what St. Seraphim the Sarov and St. Godric of Finchale meant by hiding from those who kept coming seeking them out.  Since resting on the mattress, the hermit decided to not go out and chit chat.  Surely she would grasp that once every three weeks or so, meant just that.

No, that was not what the woman grasped.  The day she tried to open the door to come inside and then stayed outside, circling the hermitage, was the day the hermit decided it would need to be more firm and deal with what was becoming a problem with a person who was obviously exhibiting some unusual behavior, outside the norm of etiquette.

The next time the hermit set out the vegetables, toward the end of the day, the woman caught glimpse of the hermit and began hollering for attention.  The hermit had another conversation with the woman and said again, that this was not what was meant by a visit now and then or once a month, and that the hermit really could not chit chat daily.  So, the hermit expressed that the friendship will need to be one of prayer, one for each other, and leave it at that.  The amount of work load here was emphasized with a sweep of the arm and a brief listing of tasks, and daily interruptions unless there was some spiritual purpose or need, could not be entertained.

The hermit also wired shut the gate up high, to maintain the privacy needed not only for prayer and quiet, but for the rest periods throughout the day this hermit needs in management of the severe, physical pain. All this had been explained to the woman, but it was clear she could not accept the boundaries at first.  So they had to be set firmly in place along with, for awhile, the gate impenetrable.

But such situations can be rather rare, it seems.  However, a hermit must be prepared for incidental situations that arise, if they become pesky or inopportune for either party involved.  The hermit had prayed about the woman when the visits became daily, and it discerned that it was not equipped at this time to take on someone needing emotional or psychological assistance daily or even weekly. Sometimes we have to know our limitations in all aspects.

Mostly, though, we have to know what we can handle within our daily lives, juxtaposed with our vocation, and what the major tenets are.  And some of the boundaries we must set really have very little to do with the external interruptions, or those this hermit terms as "human poltergeists"--nice enough people but determined in being time-usurpers and psychological distractions.  Perhaps most of the boundaries have little to do with the external incidentals.  They have to do with our interior distractions.

So it is, that this Catholic hermit is having to set boundaries regarding some internal issues and distractions--those which the hermit and God know about, and a couple of spiritual friends with whom the hermit corresponds now and then.  The hermit has relaxed some boundaries such as interaction via computer with political news.  While good for praying for our country and those running for office and in office, the time that can be consumed and the distraction it can become which takes thoughts away from other intentions, sneaks up on the soul.  So the Catholic hermit is working on setting some boundaries in this category.

When interior boundaries are broached--those that are subtle yet known between the hermit and God--vices begin to signal that something is wrong.  Anger simmers as the world is frustrating.  Frustrations volley the "ball" back to anger.  Before long, the soul has lost the set, then the match, and the game ends in a feeling of defeat.  How does God feel with a soul such as this?  The temporal world, such as of news or other aspects, will only bring the temporal with it.  The temporal is so far out of bounds (and should be outside our boundaries as hermits, only to be broached carefully in prayerful consideration much as a spectator viewing without emotional attachment), that it will always elicit frustration.

Yet another boundary being set more firmly is deep within, and that is in some spiritual weaknesses that are starting to swell and erupt like a bug bite that itches and gets scratched until it is raw and seeping.  These have to do with some virtues that have been bitten by the vice-fleas.  A major type of vice flea doing the biting currently is that of acedia, or spiritual sloth and ennui.  So the hermit is wiring the fence shut, so to speak on that vice and is making greater effort to combat the excuses that creep in, encouraging the hermit to short-change the spiritual reading or the time spent listening to and sensing His Real Presence within the body, mind, heart and soul.

Anyway, hermits do need to set some boundaries, and these boundaries will vary depending upon the ebb and flow of hermit daily life--the external and internal aspects of the temporal and the spiritual details, moment by moment, hour by hour.  Otherwise, soon enough, the hermit is no longer on a narrow path but skipping through a wide-open field, coming up with grand-sounding excuses as to why this friendship, or why that, or rationalizing that something is spiritually connected or necessary when it is not at all in reality.

Time belongs to God, and a hermit (or anyone who is following Christ and desiring union with Him) ought learn to set boundaries as to how His time is utilized, day and night, for His glory and for the spiritual progress of the hermit, as well.  His glory being satisfied will also, then, satisfy the needs of others.

God bless His Real Presence in us!

Catholic Hermit's View: Where Hermits Reside

Of a few recent inquiries, one reader wants to know more about where hermits live.  This seems timely to this your Catholic Hermit blogger--especially since someone sent an article about a couple of hermits in a diocese who professed vows and are living together.  Where a hermit resides has a few options and facets; how a hermit lives is yet another topic of perhaps greater magnitude.

A consecrated Catholic hermit, privately professed, is free to live anywhere in this grand and beautiful world God has created. A consecrated hermit can live in/on a woods, valley, city, village, mountain, river, ocean, beach, desert, plains, and so forth.  The dwelling itself can be a hut, tent, cave, trailer, garage, apartment/flat, condominium, townhouse, house, etc.  

A consecrated Catholic hermit, publicly professed, can live within its diocese and in whatever type of dwelling situation (examples given in previous paragraph) its diocesan bishop approves for said hermit.

So this is where consecrated Catholic hermits live or may reside, dependent upon if they are privately professed or publicly professed.  In case the reader inquiring as to where a hermit lives, also is asking how a hermit is to live, such as under what circumstances or within what parameters, here are further thoughts.  After all, how a hermit lives is a principled structure for a hermit's spiritual life.

An explicit detail in the Church's issuance on the eremitic vocation, as part of Consecrated Life of the Church (and in the US, the Bishop's Conference's adoption of same as quoted from The Catechism of the Catholic Church; see USCCB website) sets some parameters.   Particular to where or how a hermit lives, the section for eremitic life states, in part "a stricter separation from the world in the silence of solitude...."

Thus, when this consecrated Catholic hermit (privately professed now over 14 years which is not long in the full spectrum of life but well enough along to be into the nitty gritty of the vocation) heard of a the two older women (initial vows publicly professed) who are living together, as well as that of a very young woman living in her childhood home with her mother and father, it seemed to miss the point of that very basic parameter: solitude.

There are other considerations, of course.  One might ask, "What about the religious orders of hermits, such as the Carthusians or the Camaldolese?  The fact is, according to the Church institutes, these are religious orders foremost, and their charism, mission, lifestyle is that as hermits.  The distinction is that they are firstly religious brothers and sisters within the Consecrated Life of the Church.  Hermits are individual eremites with their vocation as such, within the Consecrated Life of the Church.  Can we see the nuanced but defined difference?

So, religious monks who are in a religious order of which the mission and charism is eremitic in nature, would live together or in proximity yet their monastery and cells would provide for the solitude implicit in the Church parameters on eremitic life, but also for them, defined within those set forth re. religious orders.

Hermits who are privately or publicly professed and living in accordance with the institutes of the Church pertaining to Consecrated Life, under the sub-section Eremitic Life, would live alone, in solitude.  To live with ones parents or with one another in a typical house would rather, it seems to this hermit, confuse the point of solitude.  Yes, one could stay within ones bedroom, but a house shared with others is not arranged to provide for the privacy of solitude such as one finds in a Carthusian Charterhouse.

However, this is yet one example again, of how bishops vary in attitude and norm for those they canonically approve or receive what they might call "first vows" (first or second or third or final vows are not actually required nor documented in the Church institutes on eremitic life).  What to one bishop seems to mean "solitude" is, in fact, to another bishop "not solitude".

It seems to this hermit and its spiritual directors past and present (including priest of 68 years in priesthood, a bishop, a monsignor of advanced years, and a religious order priest), solitude for a consecrated Catholic hermit means to live alone.  And, additionally, they have insisted that a privately or publicly professed hermit ought to have some life experience with relationships and suffering, be more advanced in years, and be well along in spiritual and prayer life.

The simple part of the inquiry of a blog reader is that of where hermits reside.  The more challenging aspect is not just how hermits live within their residence (solitude seems fairly obvious as meaning alone) but how hermits live out their vows and what is explicitly written in the institutes of the Catholic Church to be professed as a consecrated Catholic hermit.

The following is that most crucial piece of writing which should guide, form, and define each and every consecrated Catholic hermit, as cited in the pertinent Church document on the subject, as well as what the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has adopted, also, for hermits/eremites avowed and professed in the Consecrated Life of the Church.  (Perhaps, if a hermit finds its bishop or spiritual director strays from any aspect of what is accepted and adopted as to how a consecrated Catholic hermit ought live, it may be prudent to seek another superior/director who is in line with the Church's Institutes on eremitic life.)

III. THE CONSECRATED LIFE

914 "The state of life which is constituted by the profession of the evangelical counsels, while not entering into the hierarchical structure of the Church, belongs undeniably to her life and holiness."⁴⁵³

Evangelical counsels, consecrated life

915 Christ proposes the evangelical counsels, in their great variety, to every disciple. The perfection of charity, to which all the faithful are called, entails for those who freely follow the call to consecrated life the obligation of practicing chastity in celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom, poverty and obedience. It is the profession of these counsels, within a permanent state of life recognized by the Church, that characterizes the life consecrated to God.⁴⁵⁴

916 The state of consecrated life is thus one way of experiencing a "more intimate" consecration, rooted in Baptism and dedicated totally to God.⁴⁵⁵ In the consecrated life, Christ's faithful, moved by the Holy Spirit, propose to follow Christ more nearly, to give themselves to God who is loved above all and, pursuing the perfection of charity in the service of the Kingdom, to signify and proclaim in the Church the glory of the world to come.⁴⁵⁶

One great tree, with many branches

917 "From the God-given seed of the counsels a wonderful and wide-spreading tree has grown up in the field of the Lord, branching out into various forms of the religious life lived in solitude or in community. Different religious families have come into existence in which spiritual resources are multiplied for the progress in holiness of their members and for the good of the entire Body of Christ."⁴⁵⁷

918 From the very beginning of the Church there were men and women who set out to follow Christ with greater liberty, and to imitate him more closely, by practicing the evangelical counsels. They led lives dedicated to God, each in his own way. Many of them, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, became hermits or founded religious families. These the Church, by virtue of her authority, gladly accepted and approved.⁴⁵⁸

919 Bishops will always strive to discern new gifts of consecrated life granted to the Church by the Holy Spirit; the approval of new forms of consecrated life is reserved to the Apostolic See.⁴⁵⁹

The eremitic life

920 Without always professing the three evangelical counsels publicly, hermits "devote their life to the praise of God and salvation of the world through a stricter separation from the world, the silence of solitude and assiduous prayer and penance."⁴⁶⁰

921 They manifest to everyone the interior aspect of the mystery of the Church, that is, personal intimacy with Christ. Hidden from the eyes of men, the life of the hermit is a silent preaching of the Lord, to whom he has surrendered his life simply because he is everything to him. Here is a particular call to find in the desert, in the thick of spiritual battle, the glory of the Crucified One.

[Note: Bold emphasis added for the specific paragraphs pertinent to hermits:  "The eremitic life."]

Catholic Hermit Still Around; God's Graces

Haven't written in awhile.  Have been more silently living the hermit vocation in solitude and stillness.  The hermit's young helper has continued to put in three hours' of work about four mornings a week.  Hermit finances and the helper's school obligations provide a shift back to the hermit in total solitude other than occasional, perhaps, time the helper can work a couple hours from time to time.

Current spiritual reading include the daily lectio divina, the Scripture readings of Mass and meditative consideration.  Also, the hermit is daily reading 2 Peter, finishing up a spiritual bouquet for a sibling's birthday--chapter a day of 1 and 2 Peter with reflections on various aspects of the sibling's life in Christ.

The young mother and the hermit are now reading four books on St. Gemma Galgani.  We phone discuss once a week, across the miles.  From the saint's diary, we each had the same reaction--kind of unsettling, some of Gemma's recording of what her angel, Jesus, and the Virgin Mary had to say to her.  The wording and the way they dealt with her much as one would with a naughty and immature child, caused us to wonder if Gemma had some emotional issues.

We concluded that she may have, due to her close attachment to her mother who died when Gemma was quite young, as well as Gemma's longing to be able to go to heaven with her mother.  However, we also discussed the reality that God interacts and speaks with us at whatever level of emotional, spiritual, maturity, and age we are, and in whatever ways is most effective to teach us and to guide us in virtues, especially faith.

This thought coincides with the hermit's other current reading, and this done with an elderly friend, again across the miles.  We continue on with the sermons of Pseudo-Macarius.  The current homily addresses how God gives us graces in varying amounts, types, and time periods of our lives.  For some, there are few tangible showings of God, or there may be one experience early in life and then nothing.  In those God desires for the soul to increase in faith over years and years.  For others, God might grant tangible graces in abundance, spread out over life.  God deals with us as He knows best, and how, when, where, and why the graces are deemed by Him as most effective according to His will--not ours.

Thus, St. Gemma Galgani, being a young girl and feeling such an emotional loss of her mother, needed more nurturing and more tangible graces, and the words used by her angel, Jesus, Mary, and Bl. Gabriel are as Gemma needed to hear them, so that they would make sense to her.  Plus, we allow for a young person's interpretation of such conversations as well as the translation from Italian to English.

As for this hermit, it has learned over the years that it does not want to anticipate graces.  No, this hermit prefers to be surprised by His Real Presence.  Otherwise, if eager for or begging for or anticipating graces such as visions, locutions, or any of the daily miracles we all experience if we but see the coincidences, lessons, and benefits galore each day as graces--this hermit would doubt these if it had asked for them or anticipated them, or specifically desired them.  God knows the hermit well. He knows each of us inside and out, and He deals with us according to His will and what is best.

Gemma was quite young when she wrote her diary and autobiography.  This Catholic hermit and the young mother have the advantages of spiritual direction, spiritual reading, and are older than Gemma.  We tempered or circumstances compared to Gemma's and do not need, should not need or beg of His Real Presence, a lot of tangible, spiritual experiences.  As St. Paul writes (paraphrased), when we are young we need milk; when we are older we are able to eat meat.

To grow in faith, to have hope that is not seen, and to love His Real Presence, our angel, the Virgin Mary and all the saints, to love one another as Christ loves us--this is the daily living out of life in Christ.  We can recognize the myriad graces we are given, all around us in the miraculous, simple, daily details.  However, when we have true and deep need of special graces and encouragement, often Jesus will surprise us with a more tangible visit of some sort.

In the meantime, the young mother and I decided that we prefer being surprised by grace, and to not stand out or make requests of God that require manifestations that do take energy and effort, coming from the spiritual back into the temporal realm.  We need to grow up, for we must cooperate with His Real Presence and all we have been taught by Him and the angels and the saints, by His Living Word in Scriptures, and through our being in the Body of Christ in Holy Mother Church.

On a temporal note, progress continues in manual labor efforts in renewing this old hermitage.  Still no bathroom, but a tub is in one space and a shower base in another.  The helper and the hermit have been hanging 1/2-inch concrete board for the shower surrounds.  The hermit finished plumbing the hot and cold water lines, and there is but one task left to be done in the cramped crawlspace under the house: tie in the tub drain pipe to a p-trap, and that to the main drain.

There is less than a foot of space for the hermit to squeeze its body under beams and joists beneath the house.  Yes, for that reason the hermit has put off this final plumbing task.  But today or tomorrow, it must be done as the helper is needed to shove down on the pipes from above while the hermit glues and shoves up for the final fitting.

By the grace of God, we do what we do.  By the grace of God, we breathe and think and move.  By the grace of God, we have faith and hope.  By the grace of God, we love.  These are each and all, supernatural experiences, when we get down to the realities both temporal and spiritual--all very mysterious, all quite mystical.  Is it not?

God bless His Real Presence in us!

Catholic Hermit Considers Jesus' Request: "Learn from Me"

It is so simple yet profound.  Think of it!  Jesus says, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me."

There is so much to learn from Jesus!  Today's thoughts will center around all and anything Jesus chooses to teach this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit.  The very thought itself--the truth of it--excites this hermit!  Just consider the unfathomable and limitless lessons Jesus will teach! Some might be difficult, painful; some might be review of previous teachings; all will be a joy to learn.

Now, for some incredibly uplifting news for this hermit, personally.  The hermit's helper returns this morning for three hours of manual labor and the bits of discussion while hopefully finishing the porch.  (Porches are a marvelous "place"--which could be a topic with many spiritual insights in the thinking and writing.  What aspect of a porch coincides with a soul's relationship with God?)

The incredibly uplifting news is that the helper's mother happens to be an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister, and she has asked the priest if she can bring this hermit His Real Presence in Holy Communion, and he willingly agreed.  So today, when she picks up the hermit's helper (her son), this desirous consecrated Catholic hermit will receive the Body and Blood, soul and divinity, of our Lord, Jesus Christ, present and living in the sacred Host!

Glory be to God!

The hermit will send off a letter to its spiritual director this afternoon, sharing the marvelous news, plus an email to Fr. Vincent who will be overjoyed.  These holy priests have been praying for the hermit for a long time; they will receive thanks and assurance that their prayers are being answered.

All is a matter of God's will, His allowance, His bequeathing, and His timing--even though God is outside and beyond and within "time", all at once.

On another note, the hermit has noticed an influx of readers interested in the Catholic hermit's blog post of March 9, on CL 603.  It never ceases to cause consideration as to why some readers tend to prefer reading about temporal Catholic Church laws more than the spiritual insights of saintly writers who climbed the spiritual ladder and left illumination and helps for the spiritual life, along with greater understanding of the Trinity:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  

This hermit (and surely do many of you readers) thrives on the Living Word of God and the writings of the likes of the saints, and such as those of the early centuries of the Church when the distractions were few and the timeline proximity to Jesus' days on earth much closer than the many centuries since. Yes, there are some readers who prefer the spiritual writings over the laws.  Both types of writings are part of our Christian lives, in our times.  Perhaps it comes down to priority of what we desire most to pass through our eyes and into our souls.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love one another for love is of God.

Catholic Hermit Loves These Words of Jesus!

Not only does Jesus lead by example, He speaks what this hermit and all of us ought to remember to exclaim:  Praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth....

"At that time Jesus exclaimed:
'I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son 
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.'"

(Matthew 11: 25-27)

O, Lord Jesus Christ, let us be one to whom You wish to reveal to the Father!

God bless His Real Presence in us, and little children, let us love one another as He has loved and loves us!

Catholic Hermit Still Around...

Been very tired recently--working hard, praying much, striving to manage pain.

The Catholic deputy has sold their home and moving so that he and his family can attend a valid Catholic parish with licit Mass.  Found out this priest in area parish will be around another year or two.  Yet it does not change the parishioners' attitudes, for what happens to people when set in ways and wills?  Ran out the previous priest for being too spiritual, wanting adoration and the like.  Imagine that!

Yes, am very tired.  People do not return phone calls.  A friend from far away mentioned it is due to people texting rather than speaking.  For those of us with very old phones and not able to text, and not affording the costly plans of the more costly phones, makes life difficult such as trying to get helpers and workers for even minor tasks.

Would like to write some on a topic that is going to be meaningful tomorrow especially.  It is the 20th anniversary of a major mystical event--and probably very good that this consecrated Catholic hermit ponder it and remember the details.  It was in easier, more pleasant, lovelier time of life--still much pain in the body, but without the seeming hopelessness that comes at times, to pick at the fruit of whatever positive the hermit can ripen in the physical aspects of this existence.  (The birds have been plucking whatever fruit they can get once the hermit leaves the orchard area--still trying to get the bird netting in place even if they figured a way to pull away the netting over the strawberries!)

Perhaps this hermit needs to ponder the perseverance of these birds and pray for like perseverance, an instinctive perseverance, and without emotion of relationships and no need of return phone calls because no need for help with work.  Birds build their own nests, after all, and if they cannot manage it, they succumb to the reason they cannot--broken wing, illness, old age, pestilence, predators.

Now, on that note, must go out and change the sprinklers and soaker hose.  And then finish another wheelbarrow of mulch, and then get to the bird netting.  So much for the fake owl purchased at suggestion of clerk who said it really works.  Did seem to help keep the birds from returning to area of roof in which they previously could enter into Te Deum Hermitage; but they are undaunted by it when there is fruit to be scavenged.

Yes, this hermit needs some of that rather bold and ruthless energy and determination.  Please, Lord!

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love one another, remain in His Love, and kindly be polite to others and return phone messages.  It is the charitable action; not everyone has texting capabilities, and even hermits need help now and then.  Birds do seem to work together, at times.