Catholic Hermit: Thankful for Any Progression

Being laid up all weekend with added pain from injury (last weekend) has provided more enforced time and space to ponder God's will and the amazing timing and occurrences that come unexpectedly in our daily lives.

All is in God's purview, all is in God's domain and will.  Even if some aspects "smell" of dark forces trying to discourage and disrupt, even God has allowed those for His good will and purposes.

My vocation as a consecrated Catholic hermit seems all the more in the background as far as the temporal aspects of this unique vocation.  When I notice that the posts regarding "how" to become a Catholic hermit continue to be the most often read of my blog, I am thankful to be of assistance to others. 

But what I've personally come to grasp in my over 17 years since profession of vows and living out daily the life in this vocation, is that the "how's" of the vocation and the temporal structure of the vocation pale in comparison to the living out--the pouring out--of one's body, mind, heart and soul through, with, and in the Body and Blood of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Perhaps the greatest aspect of being a consecrated Catholic hermit as in any vocation and as in being alive on this earth is that of being a tremendous lover of His Real Presence:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

A rule of life, one's vows, and fulfilling each aspect of what the Church states regarding what is a Catholic hermit and what is expected in defining aspects of being a hermit within the consecrated life of the Catholic Church can be tangible and necessary guides and requirements for a successful, eremitical vocation.  Yet what matters ultimately is God's call and answering and living out that call, again, as a devoted (even if imperfect) follower of Christ and a tremendous lover of the Most Holy Trinity.

Day flows into night and night into day, and the life of a consecrated Catholic hermit as directed by His Real Presence unfolds.  The consecrated Catholic hermit lives out to the best of desire, will, and God-given ability--the hermit life as lover of the Beloved.

To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever!  It is love of Christ no matter all else that provides temporal and spiritual progression for a consecrated Catholic hermit...or anyone no matter the vocation or not one, for that matter.

God bless His Real Presence in us!

Catholic Hermit: Peace of Christ, Love

I've been praying about the peace of Christ...as in "Let the peace of Christ control your heart."  What is the peace of Christ?  How is that different, perhaps, from other notions of "peace"?  

Most importantly, how do I get the peace of Christ so that it can control my heart?  I need this!

What has come to me is that Christ's peace is rooted in His Love.  It has to do with God Is Love, and also "Remain in My love," as Jesus is quoted in the Gospel of John.  John also writes of remaining in Christ's love in the First Letter of John.

So I am praying to remain in His love, and also for love of God in Himself and God's love to fill my body, mind, heart, and spirit.  Then I will also have Christ's peace.  If I have His love and thus His peace within me and remain in His love, the peace of Christ will control my heart

Thus far it seems to be going well!  I sense a letting go of what otherwise would have been upsetting, irksome, or negative.  Even my increased physical pain these days of increased manual labor, is not fodder for despair--although I do not push the body beyond what it can bear.  Love does not push nor pull against nature and God's temporal creation.

The parish couple arrived Sunday morning with Holy Communion.  We then had some conversation.  I've pretty much resigned myself to being true and honest.  

For awhile, reflecting upon how unfortunate has been past parish reaction to a mystical state during Mass, or how seemingly threatened have been priests by various aspects spiritual, I considered that perhaps I should have simply lied and said I had narcolepsy.

But then, should a Catholic Christian have to lie in order to be acceptable to others at Mass?  Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  There is nothing about falsehood or lies; John the Apostle in his First Letter writes that if one lies, there is not truth in him.  Obvious, and especially so when we consider Christianity and Christian worship and Christian gathering of Christ-loving believers!

So I will continue on being myself, and I will not shrink back.  If a Catholic parish cannot accept one who is spiritually sensitive, different, or a mystic, then there is something not quite right.  Prayerful diligence might be the answer, as well as persevering in love, patiently letting this couple to get to know me, and then perhaps others will, as well, in a humanly situational manner.  We are all God's children, after all--sinners but all beloved of Christ.
  
Keep up the truth!  This is the 21st Century, and we do not need to keep on with previous ways of treating mystics: no more burning at the stake, not shunning, not sending off to monasteries to be essentially imprisoned, hidden away, not being the devil's advocates in grilling them, scrutinizing, doubting, misjudging.  Jesus is the judge, we must remember.

The Lord will reveal and filter those who have emotional or psychological hysteria over time.  We do not need to do His work for Him in that regard.  And if there is deception going on, the Lord is quite qualified in dealing with it.  More often than not, though, by far--in the Western Church the spiritually sensitive, the mystics, are mistreated more than simply accepted and enjoyed.  This practice can change.  We do not need to be nasty, not to anyone.

A few days ago I posted my hermit vows of 16 years ago.  A hermit colleague was upset by my mentioning that I render canonical obedience.  Yes, I do.  Any practicing Catholic ought render obedience to the various and multitudinous Canon Laws developed over the years.  At least we ought to try just as we try to be obedient to civil laws on the books.  Why not?  

The inclusion of my being obedient to my bishop in whatever diocese I may reside and to obey canon laws should not be a source of upset to others.  Rather, we should rejoice at our human and flailing attempts to canonical obedience but even more so to obedience to Jesus' precepts, particularly that of God's Law of Love.

If we get upset over desire to obey laws of the land and laws of the Church, or laws of God especially--this upset is an example of not letting Christ's peace control our hearts.  The person upset by my professed eremitic vows' inclusion of canonical obedience did not fully understand; perhaps the meaning and intent was confused with canonical approval of hermits by one's specific diocese bishop re. Canon Law 603.  

I, of course, was not singling out that particular canon law. (At the time, neither I nor my spiritual director were even aware of this relatively recent Catholic "law".)  I tend to think, live, perceive and write more expansively and inclusively.  My profession of vows includes obedience to all canon laws to the best of my ability.  I strive to obey them as I strive to obey civil laws.  But most of all, I need to focus on the Law of God which the Living Word specifies is love!

"Let the peace of Christ control our hearts."  

God bless His Real Presence in us!

Now, this nothing consecrated, physically-extra-pained-today Catholic hermit must rise, dress, and begin sanding and priming tongue-and-groove 10-footers, with room on saw horses to do four at a time.  

Daniel the Nazarene (reminds me of Jesus the Nazarene!) returns tomorrow to Te Deum Hermitage; we will continue nailing the fresh wood to the stairwell ceiling and upper bedroom ceilings.  Temperature downstairs this morning has been 52 degrees, so resting on the mattress, bundled for warmth, has been a luxury!  

Praise God Almighty!  Love His Love in the peace of Christ controlling my heart!

Catholic Hermit's Window to the World

A couple or so days ago, this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit's window to the world broke.  The main window, that is, broke and has been sent off for repair.

Now I am using a very small window, in which writing is difficult as is viewing the world out there.  Yet I still am very aware of the latest terrorist horror in addition to other news.  I am praying with all my heart, mind, painful body, and God's will that replaced mine awhile back.

There was a phase earlier in my hermit vocation in which I'd read a biography of Catholic hermit, Russian Orthodox if I recall correctly, who died in the late 1930's or thereabout.  He never looked at a newspaper.

I have always felt most attracted to the humility of the Carthusians.  I love that they write anonymously, only signing a book as "by a Carthusian."  They hear of news through their prior or prioress who has access to newspapers and now Internet.  They post what in the world needs prayer so the hermits can pray for these events and the souls involved.  The hermits see the prayer needs listed when they go to Mass once a day.

For awhile, perhaps in my 6th through 9th years in my nearly 16 years as a consecrated Catholic eremite, I did not pay attention to news.  I prayed for those bits of news of which others either informed me for prayer, or that I heard in the prayer concerns at daily Mass.

But since then I have more relied upon my window to the world, a laptop, to inform me.  Daily mass has not been feasible, nor do I have daily contact with people who let me know of the world news.  The contacts I have are few, and of those, they are spiritual needs, their personal, practical needs, or my own contact such as with Lowes in the ongoing cabinet fiascos.

Thus, I have let my laptop, and now this small pad which I find difficult to write with or view through, to be my window to the world.  I have no prior or prioress to skim through the news.  So I do so, perhaps sometimes spending too much of my rest breaks engaged in watching the short video clips or noticing headlines.  I am most drawn to the lives of people who are suffering, and I pray for them.

I offer my I creased physical pain and the austerity of my living conditions, as prayer.  I offer thoughts of the people all over the world, strangers who become known in rather startling intimacy, once they become noted in national and I ternational news.  These people,mthese souls, then become aggregates of the larger soul, the vast collections of souls represented by the individual examples of those featured in news clips and headlines.

I'm praying to be living by the Spirit, no longer under the law,  in my Eremitic vocation, this comes down to allowing His Real Presence and the Gospel Rule of Life, the platform of the Nine S's*, and the parameters of my vows as set forth in the Church as being one in and of Her Consecrated Life.  If the Lord prefers not the perusal of news, He will let me know.  If He prefers not the window to the world being a laptop and Internet, He will let me know.

I do note from the experience of earlier hermit years, that there was an element of suspense and surprise when I relied upon whatever news or prayer needs coming happen chance from Mass or daily encounters which were more prevalent when not in the desert exile phase, as is now.  But now I sense a deeper connection and perhaps richer prayer in Union with the souls out there in the world and all souls the sufferings represent as well as the victories of souls who rise above the sorrows and tragedies, either in life or through passing over to victory in heaven.

*Nine S's:  silence, solitude, slowness, suffering, selflessness, stability, stillness, simplicity, serenity.

Catholic Hermit: How to Become a Catholic Hermit, Pt. 6

~ Some Considerations, Conclusion

• There is no mention of the hermit having a "Superior" in either The Catechism of the Catholic Church or in Canon Law 603.  The latter does state that the hermit who publicly professes the three evangelical counsels into the hands of the diocesan bishop, is to live his or her proper program of living under the diocesan bishop's direction. Thus, the hermit's director is by [church] law to be his or her bishop.

• The three evangelical counsels include the avowal of obedience.  It is presumed that all Catholic hermits would be obedient to their spiritual directors, their bishops, their religious order superiors (of hermits belonging to a religious community or order), the pope, Scripture, and God.  Traditionally and in prudence, one is not to indiscriminately obey--such as errant spiritual direction.

• No reference is made either in the institutes of the Consecrated Life of the Church: The Eremitic Life, nor in canon law as to a hermit adopting the title of  "Sister" or "Brother."  A publicly professed hermit's bishop may approve such for his hermit.  The consecrated Catholic hermit may have been given that title if currently affiliated with a religious order.  If a person has been in a religious community that is no longer existing or has not been approved by the Holy See, it may be questionable to retain their usage.  

• If a consecrated Catholic hermit who has publicly professed the evangelical counsels into the hands of the diocese bishop and is recognized by [church] law [per CL603] commits a crime such as slander, libel, sexual or other offense punishable by the criminal justice system or involves litigation, is the bishop and the diocese liable as well as the individual hermit?  It is unknown if there current cases being litigated. 

• What action or resolution occurs in the case of a Catholic hermit who professes the evangelical counsels publicly into the hands of the diocesan bishop  and whose proper plan of life is directed by the diocesan bishop, does not fulfill the proper plan of life as directed by the bishop?  If the hermit does not remediate, is the consecrated hermit stripped of his or her consecration, and is this then made a matter of public record?

• A consecrated Catholic hermit who professes the evangelical counsels and lives the eremitic life in accordance with the institutes of the Catholic Church (but not with the proviso of CL603) commits  a crime such as slander, libel, sexual or other offense punishable by the criminal justice system or involves litigation, he or she would be solely liable.

• What action or resolution occurs in the case of a consecrated Catholic hermit who professes the evangelical counsels and lives the eremitic life in accordance with the institutes of the Catholic Church (but not with the proviso of CL603) does not fulfill the hermit life as set forth in the institutes?  Does the hermit's spiritual director, superior, or bishop intervene?  If the hermit does not remediate, is the hermit somehow stripped of his or her consecration since it was not publicly professed nor recognized by [church] law?

• Perhaps, in the above mentioned situation, such cases are part of, if not the primary reason, for the addition and inclusion of CL603 into the canons of the Catholic Church in the 20th century.   Perhaps there was a concern for those consecrated Catholic hermits who may not have lived their eremitic life in a proper or conscientiously responsible manner (and who also may or may not be in an approved religious community or order) ?  It would conceivably be more difficult for bishops to monitor or reprove such hermits--either on their own, with spiritual director, or even in a religious community or order. 

• While there have been past interpretation and initiation of various facets other than church law or the in the church's institutes as to what constitutes a proper plan of eremitic life, a bulk of the interpretation derived from a guidebook for hermits, written in the 1990's by a religious sister employed by a diocese in the United States.  Many of these suggestions came from rules and historical writings and traditions extant from the early desert abbas and ammas, as well as from hermits and anchorites of the Middle Ages.  These practices and traditions, as well as what was written in that particular diocese's guidebook are not mandated nor required by the universal Catholic Church.  [In fact, a phone conversation in 1999 with the vocations director of that diocese verified that the religious sister was no longer in their employ, and the diocese had withdrawn the guidebook indefinitely until further investigation into the content.  The diocese was no longer publishing nor taking responsibility for its contents.]

• Married hermits:  Both parties need to agree to their marriage rights being dissolved and with the choice to enter consecrated life and to choose celibacy.  This may occur if they are older and the high calling and purpose of the married state of life is fulfilled so that the required Evangelical Counsels (poverty, obedience, celibacy) of the consecrated state of life could be met.  [St. Nicholas of Flue is an example of a married man who became a hermit.  Briefly:  His wife agreed to his call to hermit life, regardless the recent birth of their tenth child. Although some family and neighbors criticized the decision, he left the family home to live the eremitic life in a hut in the Swiss Alps.  He became prominent as a contemplative and also prophetically helpful to Switzerland and is now a patron saint of that country.]

• Not all bishops agree to receive the vows of hermits, divorced with or without nullification of marriage.  Some bishops do not agree to receive vows of hermits for a variety of reasons.  At this time, Catholics professing vows and entering the consecrated life of the Church as hermits yet not by the CL603 proviso, are not restricted by bishop approval or disapproval; but also they are not recognized by church law as a diocese hermit.  Of course, it is a good idea for consecrated Catholic hermits under any form of valid profession, to communicate with his or her bishop as to his or her eremitic profession and life.]

• Age of hermits:  Nothing is written the institutes of the Church or additionally in CL603, regarding the age in which a Catholic could profess the evangelical counsels and be consecrated in the eremitic life.  The traditional and historical precedents are that hermits ought to have lived long enough to have suffered much, advanced in prayer, and have enough life experience in to fully engage in and endure the rigors of solitary life as a consecrated Catholic eremitic. 

• Rule of Life:  Again, adopting an individual rule of life is not stipulated per se in the institutes of the Catholic Church or CL603 per the consecrated eremitic life. However, history and tradition of eremites who successfully and heroically lived a holy hermit life, as well as prudence and wisdom, suggest that determining and being true to a rule of life is a positive inclusion.

• Profession of  Hermit Vows:  This actually should be clarified as "Profess the Evangelical Counsels" (poverty, celibacy, obedience).  There is no mention in the church's institutes of Consecrated Life, sp. the Eremitic Life, of "vows" as distinctive of or from avowing to live the three evangelical counsels.  In CL603, there is the stipulation that the professing of the evangelical counsels is to be confirmed by vow or other sacred bond.  It is assumed that "vow" means by definition:  a promise, a solemn commitment, etc.  "Sacred bond" is not specified but probably extends from the vows and rites of the anchoritic traditions, rule of life, and avowal ceremony of the Middle Ages.  In such instances, the hermit or anchorite would take as a tangible sign of their professing the evangelical counsels and avowing--promising--to live the eremitic life, such items as a crucifix, a tunic, a Bible, and/or ring, for women a veil, or for men to have hair tonsured and for women to have hair shorn.

• Future of Consecrated Catholic Hermits:  It remains to be seen in what ways the proviso of Canon Law 603, over time, will shape or shift the historical and traditional path of hermits in the Church.  CL603 contains a notable addition to the stipulations for consecrated Catholic hermits as stated in the institutes of the Church per the Consecrated Life: Eremitics.  CL603 states that the hermit is "recognized by [Church] law as one dedicated to God in consecrated life if he or she publicly professes in the hands of the diocesan bishop the three evangelical counsels, confirmed by vow or other sacred bond and observes a proper program of living under his direction."  It would seem, a hermit who is recognized by church law, ipso facto bears a certain status, or legal credibility, that the traditional and historical hermits do not bear.  In today's Church, this is no small matter, and it seems that bishops and future hermits will desire this proviso.  In time, it may become the norm for consecrated Catholic hermit profession.  Would, then, the historical and traditional hermits, or those who do not profess the evangelical counsels per the added stipulations of CL603, need to be "grandfathered in"--as in some provision proclaimed by the Church hierarchy in order to not to jeopardize or negate their avowed professions and lived eremitic lives--as hermits in the Consecrated Life of the Church?  Such considerations will be dealt with, no doubt, as time passes, precedents set (as they tend to be set no matter if advised), and possible new church laws or additions to existing laws, are set (as laws, also, tend to be set in increasing numbers, in the secular world as well as the Church).

Note:  In these blog posts that attempt to clarify the truth and facts of what is officially church-documented and/or law of the contemporary, consecrated Catholic hermit profession and life, this consecrated Catholic hermit has slipped at times in referring to the professing of the evangelical counsels as professing "vows" as if the vows include other promises.  

Per CL603, as is specifically stated, as well as in the institutes of the Church per stated, the avowal refers to the three evangelical counsels. However, the stipulations of the consecrated eremitic state of life in the Catholic Church as well as the additional stipulations of CL603, do not include detailed specifics or definitions, thus the tendency for what can become interpretations, inventions, inclusions, variations, and eventually precedents.  

Precedents set may over time be welcome and positive; or they may negatively impact or alter the basic truths and facts of the eremitic consecrated life. Thus it seems critically important to know the truth and facts of whatever Church documents, but particularly, for hermits, the state of Consecrated Life in the Catholic Church.

Now to attempt a summation of this and the previous five blog posts.  For those discerning a call to the eremitic life in the Catholic Church or who have already professed the evangelical counsels as a consecrated Catholic hermit and are striving to live the life as Church documents stipulate--what seems advisable is to prayerfully and carefully read and ponder each stipulation, path, and provision.  If already a consecrated Catholic hermit, renew in the heart the professions no matter the form of avowed profession.  

Be clear on the three evangelical counsels and the specific stipulations in The Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Consecrated Life: The Eremitic Life.  If one has been approved by the diocesan bishop to take the Canon Law 603 option, be clear on the additional stipulations.

Reflect upon one's progress and short-comings in living out the life of stricter separation from the world, in the praise, prayer, and penance of the hermit vocation.  Learn by reading the writings and lives of Catholic hermits from early centuries onward.  Follow a daily horarium [term meaning "the hours" used nearly exclusively by the Catholic Church for the daily schedule of those in the consecrated life] that is filled with lectio divina (Divine reading) and prayer. Be obedient to one's spiritual director, regardless of his or her position and title.  

Above all, love, support, and respect other consecrated hermits who strive daily to fulfill their profession of the evangelical counsels and eremitic plan of life, for the hermit life is considered as one of the most challenging of the states of consecrated life in the Catholic Church.  

Remain faithful to Christ and His Church in all matters, as well as to one's consecrated profession. Take seriously the eremitic vocation and what it entails.  To be a consecrated Catholic hermit, whether by private or public profession, is a serious matter, a challenging spiritual path, a humble life, but also a great honor.

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

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!