Catholic Hermit: Which Blessing is Best?

The other morning I utilized a "House Blessing Kit" offered to parishioners in what several dioceses provided in this country.  The procedure is based upon a centuries-old custom of praying and writing the year and initials for the names of the three Wise Men.  This form of house blessing was traditionally done on the Feast of Epiphany or evolved into doing it on the first day of the calendar new year.

But I also did a blessing of this old house, my hermitage I've named Te Deum [You, God] Hermitage earlier in the autumn due to on-going problems occurring, quite negative and dark.  A friend sent some priest-blessed holy water, and my spiritual father said to use it liberally throughout the house while asking Jesus to cast out demons and to bless the dwelling in His Holy Name.  

I did this as well as wrote on each window, "Jesus", with the holy water.  (This was not the priest's idea but rather that of the friend, and I found it to be efficacious and powerful.)

My spiritual father also wanted me to get the parish priest to bless the hermitage (old farmhouse) due to the demonic assaults and activity occurring.  In fact, he wanted the priest to do so for some time, but the priest did not grasp the urgency or necessity, which I have come to understand as many priests may not have lived experience with some types of negative spiritual activity even if they are intellectually aware from reading about such.

So my spiritual father also said, then, to get the priest from the Orthodox Church since the Roman/Western Church priest did not respond to bless the place.  The Orthodox priest came quickly, as he had more a grasp of actual spiritual warfare.  He flailed holy water all over, even climbing up the ladder to the second floor despite my concern for his feet getting caught in his long habit.

Now, which blessing is best?  Which blessing was effective?

I have no idea, other than I do have some gut-level instincts and thoughts on the matter.

Since Jesus is about love and mercy, about intention and thinking with the heart, about God's law of love, I rather think He is quite pleased with the holy water used to write "Jesus" on each window while I prayed in earnest for the devil to be cast out of this dwelling and God to permeate.

Yet, I also know that Jesus is One to appreciate sacrifice in action, and the Orthodox priest taking time away from his monastery to drive here, to talk over the situation, to pray, and to bless every room and space in here with ample holy water, seems to have quelled the dark forces.  Plus, the priest has given his entire life and liberty to his vocation, and the faith and efforts of the priest lend to the power of his blessing.

Jesus also would appreciate the utilization of an old tradition of house blessing in kit-form of dispersing among believers who then make the effort to read the prayer suggested and to chalk about their doorways, the prescribed year and Wise Men name initials C+M+C which can also mean in Latin for "Christ bless this home."  

There is a power in unity and meaning in symbolic rendering reminiscent of Old Testament direction of God for Jewish people to put the blood of a sacrificed lamb on their lintels so that the angel of death would pass-over their homes and spare the occupants from terror deaths.

I rather think Jesus also appreciates the listening heart of this hermit (or of anyone's listening heart) in heeding the thought to write the Jesus Prayer as well, or to have written the Holy Name of Jesus on each window with blessed water.  

What is obvious, given the effects of the first and second house/hermitage blessings, and no doubt the third will only help, is that a ritual blessing by the parish priest ended up not being necessary.  Yes, it would have been marvelous and beneficial had he taken the hour out of the several months of my requesting to actually come, to read the prescribed prayers and scriptures and to sprinkle holy water about.  But God provides regardless!

God provides beautifully and powerfully from spontaneity in trust and faith in His Name and in His mighty love and mercy!  He honors the prayers of the heart and of the faithful; he loves the intentions and neediness of His little ones who in earnest desire call upon Him directly in whatever little creative, human, and super-and-natural means our hearts direct in us to do.

The situations such as this remind yet again that Jesus did not preach or emphasize the laws of minds or of men, but rather always placed the law of God above all other laws.  And the law of God, He says, is the law of love.

Yesterday while waiting in civilization for an ophthalmologist appointment, I read more in my little volume of St. Bernard's Sermons on the Song of Songs.  The emphasis of loving God so permeates all that Bernard writes, for Jesus' love of Bernard and Bernard's love for Christ so infuses Bernard that once more I know Christ's love and my love for Christ is what matters in existing in this temporal wold and in the mystical realm.  I want nothing other than to accept God's love and to love God in return.

So when the headlines caught my attention of a spat occurring between this current pope and a group of Catholic believers who do much good for thousands of suffering people around the world--a spat over church laws--my mind and heart fled all the more from the secular church in-fighting.  I said a prayer for there to be peace on earth among men of good will, and prayed that my body, mind, heart, and soul could think of God above all things and love God and others as He loves us.

As to which house/hermitage blessing is best, I still do not know for sure.  However, I sense that there are aspects of each that please the Lord most: spontaneity of loving heart, desire in faith, sacrifice of the Orthodox priest-monk to take time and energy and cost to come to my hermitage, and the sacrifice of the friend to send not only holy water from her parish but also holy water that was her late mother's from Lourdes, France.

Perhaps blessing a house or hermitage or any dwelling is like how Jesus blesses us with His love and mercy, with his guidance and spiritual direction.  It is an on-going process, including various aspects of faith, hope, and charity involving heart-felt instincts, listening within to Christ's inspirations, and accepting sacrifices of others, including loving friends and thoughtful priests.  

Perhaps the best blessing of all is of God in us, Christ with us, His Real Presence residing in the tabernacles of our hearts and souls, and of our presence, then, within whatever earthly temporal and mystical dwelling in any given present moment.  Christ with us, around us, above and beneath; Christ through us and in us.  Remain in his love, and we and all about us are blessed.

Catholic Hermit: Loving Mercy!

The Lord has been so very good to this old, nothing, consecrated Catholic hermit!  However, after a work-mode bonanza of some needed energy and bits of hermitage progress, the body is feeling increase of pain and depletion.

The Lord remains so loving and merciful, with perks along the way, though.  Yesterday had to drive to civilization for way-past-due truck (named Precious Blood) lube and tune and oil change, and in the wait room was a man who struck up conversation.  He noticed my crucifix and sure enough is Catholic.  Great conversation with a good soul of which he certainly is.  God provides!

Am today just now dressed and trying to get the pained body up and off this mattress to head out to the back side of hermitage to continue caulking up under an overhang.  My angel is with me, and I've had inspiration as to how to rig a scaffold-type effect on some steps so that a ladder can be placed under a section of overhang on each side of a deck, so that the old hermit can reach up to do necessary caulking and eventual trim painting.

Ladder to heaven?  Well, that is a good thought while working today, as best as the body can be pushed to work despite radiating pain causing loads of nausea as well as pain going down legs and into feet.  Ah, it all could be so much worse.

On another loving and merciful note, after Mass on Saturday evening last, some women conversed kindly, and long-story-short, called over a man who right then and there said he'd come help this hermit install the microwave above a range.  When he arrived, he seriously asked if I am trying to live in here as it is.  My, I laughed and said this is on the upswing, for sure!  Yes, am living in here, as is.

While the man did not install the microwave, he will come back to lift it onto a mounting plate once the hermit here gets that work done.  The wonderfully competent and kindly young countertop template man came on Monday morning, and he explained to me how to mount the microwave mounting metal strip, to add some toggle bolts for strength, and noted that part of the support will come from bolting down into the microwave from cabinet above.

Such helpfulness not only from the women and man from the parish as well as the countertop template man--well, it is all very encouraging to the heart, mind, and soul.

Let us all remember just how much a bit of kindness, thoughtfulness, and encouragement can accomplish in those who we encounter either in person or in our thoughts of them.  It takes faith in the latter concept, to consider how kindly thoughts can affect souls all over the world and in the great beyond, of souls continuing on in eternity.

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

Now, to get the body up and out, into physical motion, with the mind and heart and spirit praying love and mercy for all.

Catholic Hermit's Mass Reminder

Here it is again!  The Lord speaks through His Living Word!  He is the Word of Life Itself.  From 2 Colossians 3, these verses remind us all over again, of truth in our existence, how to live, to think, to be.

"If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right had of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died,
and our life is hidden with Christ in God."

Last evening at Mass, the Lord gave me this important message again.  Despite my body in higher-than-usual pain, the spinal headache nearly keeping me from the drive to the parish, and with the mystical state impeded with my thoughts, not God's, trying to interfere with bliss--the Word pierced through all distractions.

The Lord needs me to remain focused on what is above--not all the problems, obstacles, and also the various tricks of the devil.  He is emphasizing the God-pivot here, and that is to seek and think on what is above, not get slagged down into what is on earth.  Yes, I have died--at least my will has died and God's will has replaced mine.

But my own thoughts too much remain.  To think like God thinks, in Love and Mercy, is to also think of what is above, what is of God.

And how great it is, also specifically the overlap for the eremitic (hermit) vocation, to be reminded that our life is hidden--hidden with Christ in God.

An amazing thing prior to and after Mass:  my putting my own foot down on the devil and determining to not be influenced by those who were bothered by the unusual aspect of one having a mystical ecstasy during Mass, has brought about good fruit.  I should not have let myself weaken and flee in the past when priests and/or parishioners were used as pawns of the devil.

Yes, it seemed in my own thoughts at the time that it was best to not return if they were bothered, if they shunned or asked me to leave.  But I have learned that the devil pops up again and again until we put a stop to it.  We must persevere, die to ourselves, hold firm and fast, think of God and that which is above.

The parishioners here have started to warm in the three weeks--already!  The couple who had been kindly, then the next week awkward and cool, have returned to being kindly.  The man deflected the concerns of someone at the end of Mass, when I was just beginning to rouse from the mystical state.  He put the concerned person to rest and reassurance that I was all right and explained the situation however he wished.  It was not for me to know, and it does not matter, other than he and his wife greeted me charitably as I entered the pew prior to Mass and handled the concerned person in the pew in front of us.  Victory!  All glory and honor to God!

And others after Mass responded when I smiled; they smiled back. When I encouraged people with heart-felt wishes that I hoped their week would be blessed and wonderful--they thanked me and responded they hoped the same for me.  The priest is trying to learn the parishioners' names and has mine down with a friendly smile.  He remembers that there is still the hermitage blessing to be arranged and will be calling to set up a time.

So there is marvelous progress.  A man prior to Mass, when we were waiting for confession, spoke to me.  He is new to the area, and we conversed of his adaptation and settling in.  I was able to give him tips on dealing with rodent issues, for one, and also listened to his thoughts and trials of unpacking, and of how it was in his previous area of the country, and the parishes he was used to.  Sometimes we simply have to lower our expectations in some of the basics and to step up what we must do to keep up our spiritual lives during the week.  Really, that is our responsibility as followers of Christ, anyway!

Re-reading this morning the selection of Scripture, 2 Colossians 3, I find another powerful reminder.  It has to do with these verses:

"Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly....
Stop lying to one another, 
since you have taken off the old self with its practices
 and have put on the new self
which is being renewed, for knowledge,
in the image of its creator....

And here is  a pivotal point, especially relevant to those situations in which we get caught up too much in the earthly, in divisiveness.  It can be between classifications of cultures, races, peoples, groups.  The nit-picking can occur even in silly insistence upon fabrications, such as that privately professed and publicly professed hermits are not each and all consecrated in the life of the Church, not that in heaven it is going to matter.  

We are told by the Word that we are to "put to death, then, what is earthly."  What matters eternally is if we remain chained pawns of the devil or if we die to that which is below and rise in Christ to what is above.  

 "Here there is not Greek and Jew,
circumcision and uncircumcision,
barbarian, Scythian, slave, free;
but Christ is all and in all."

Yes, this is what the Word of God speaks in truth.  If we can but put our foot down on the devil trying to use us as pawns, trying to create lies and division--if we can break free from earthly fetters, we can come to think of things above.  We can think as God thinks, in love and mercy, not in our own laws of mind.  "Christ is all and in all."  

This is the takeaway point for each of us and all of us.  While I do not expect it to sink in with everyone, I desire it for everyone and must embrace it for myself "Christ is all and in all" and "Think of what is above and not what is of earth" is a God-point in reality and truth for which we must strive to embrace.  Otherwise we remain slaves, divided, deceived, limited, and hindered from Divine Union--not free, not living a "life hidden with Christ in God."

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Victory from death goes all to God's glory!

Catholic Hermit: Tailspin of Pain; Love and Mercy

Made the drive into civilization with the non-charging laptop.  Had a phone call along the way of another matter that did not go well.  Being bashed several times a day!  Had to do with a disputed bill. This nothing consecrated Catholic hermit "lost it" a bit.  Later got a grip, went into God-pivot and then praising.

In the Apple store, the non-charging laptop charged.  Worked.  They had the top tech working on it due to third time to come in with the issue in the last couple or so weeks.  They had replaced the computer innards.  Strange, as it would not charge last night nor this morning, and nothing had changed in the hermitage.  They thought surely it was something "environmental."  Hmm.

I did not bring up the electronic interference I experience now and then.  However, they did find something else wrong, in a software issue.  They worked an hour and a half trying to resolve it.  Had three "geniuses" trying to figure out what it was, and finally got the manager.  "Weird, very weird," I could hear them commenting to one another.

Then they told me they'd never seen anything like it and could not solve it so were sending the issue to the "engineers".  I'd be contacted within 48-hours so that the "engineers" could work on it, remote.

With the spinal headache I'd awakened with this morning increasing, my short term memory down to maybe 3 seconds (poor Apple tech had to repeat to me frequently), I felt inclined to explain that pain level is high and thanks for repeating: short-term recall gone.  Simple, humble communication helps.

With the weirdness of the laptop not charging, then charging elsewhere, I have resolved to get the house blessed sooner than later.  It is time!  Be proactive!  I also decided to get the unfortunate stress of the doctor's visit off my back, figuratively and literally.

I made a phone call and discussed with office manager that chronic pain patients need support and cooperation rather than punishment.  Yes, I am aware that some people are drug addicts, but the genuine sufferers should not be made to suffer even more.  While I realize the doctor has not known me long, my records are there.  

Already in middle of night with break-through pain, I've had to take an extra med but am now sleep-deprived and heading into a pain siege.  Pain patients need sleep as pain is fatiguing to begin with.  Then if medication is not adequate, the problem spirals into cyclical pain sieges requiring stronger medication and being in bed for a few days, further reducing the muscle tone which is necessary to remain active as possible.

I will be seeing nurse practitioner next time.  Don't need more stress.  Although I know the evil one is giving backlash, causing some chaos, allowed to enter temporal senses (pain!), also messing with emotions and knowledge, we simply must handle what we can handle by communicating needs, explaining logically, laughing, not blaming, but forging forward proactively.

Then do the God-pivot!  Keep thoughts on God above; love others as Jesus loves us!

But, I'm now in full pain ordeal, and sick with it.  Have taken extra Excedrin, drank sugary coffee, flopped on mattress, going to get ice packs when I can next get up, and will keep praising God!

Answered a couple emails of the two women who were taking their major steps this week, putting their feet down on tricks of the devil.  One insight came to mind, that I shared, and will share here, for I need the reminder more than anyone:  Love and Mercy.

One of the women has had some interference going on with an old trigger-point--something of her past and also thinking it is envy.  Well, it is a trigger from her past but probably not all the envy and other guilt aspects she was over-thinking: castigating herself rather harshly and coming up with various guilt-thoughts.  She wanted my input.

In the thick of this horrible headache, squinting as I type, "Love and Mercy" came to the intellect within the center of the soul.  (No interference from devil there!)  It is clear:  "Love and Mercy."

Keep the prayers simple.  Think like God thinks, with Love and Mercy.  Just pray:  Love and Mercy.  Let all the other thoughts drift away.  Stop beating ourselves with analysis of what others did or how they influenced our past.  Stop ruminating on the reasons why we might be envious, or on other subjective flogs, or dwelling on situations that stew us.  

Don't strain the brain in praying.  Simply fill all the rings of our soul with the words: Love and Mercy.  It works.

The prayer is Love and Mercy.  That suffices especially in times of stress and suffering.  It probably suffices at any and all time.  How God thinks ought to be enough for us, right?

(By the way, had a message that the bill dispute is resolved.  I guess my "losing" it for a bit was redeemed by my doing the God-pivot.  He handled it with His Love and Mercy.)

Catholic Hermit's Consolation

Been having more severe pain issues lately.  It is difficult to keep going, and the Lord has heard this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit's thoughts.  I've been quite direct.  Why try to fool His Real Presence?  Impossible!  So He knows how hard it is for us to want to live when the suffering becomes most challenging, when the true crosses we are given weigh down upon our mortal frames.

And, or course, at the same time we may be praising God for all things.  Honesty, though, is always the best policy.

So it was that this body dragged its way through a couple of days.  The severe pain continues in the relatively new bodily locale: liver area.  Yes, recent scans show nodules and what an emergency room doctor said was a "splayed and frayed" portion of the upper right quadrant--a portion under the back rib cage and touching the bottom right lung lobe which has a larger nodule.

All is confirmed non-malignant.  The Lord also understands and knows this hermit's disappointment.  On earth, only those who have had death experiences or are mystics, or a couple or so persons who know the hermit for the past many years of suffering, can grasp how this could be for one to be actually eager and excited about the prospects of cancer.

It is not as a means of escaping from something, although that would be a decent enough reason.  Crosses can become excruciating.  Just see an inward glimpse of Jesus Christ being crucified.  He cried out to God with His last breaths.  I suppose it does not even take someone who has had a marvelous death experience or who is a mystic, to have a great desire to pass to the other side, to begin the new life, to be more on the way to heaven without dragging our physical bodies around with us.

Over the weekend I did try to get up and do what I could to make a little progress with the on-going efforts of making this hermitage more livable and ultimately salable.  The neighbor lad, seemingly so sincere about wanting to work with promises of coming on Thursday and able to work Friday and Saturday, never showed up.  I'd placed a call and left a message late Thursday when it was becoming obvious that my "guarded encouragement" that he meant what he said, was turning to reality that he was not reliable.

Ah, the Lord gives and the Lord takes away!  Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

His brother came, evidently hearing the message later on.  We were able to get the bathroom cabinets into the bathroom.  Of course, one is incorrect so Lowe's will be ordering a correct cabinet--the fourth try in getting four cabinets ordered correctly.  I will wait another month or so on that project.  The lad who did come became faint.  This pained hermit walked him home to make sure he did not keel over on the road.  He'd had a couple routine inoculations that morning.  Promised he'd be back on Friday, as well as his brother probably coming.  Did not happen.

It was all right.  This hermit did what possible, and the angel Beth and St. Joseph surely helped.  The trim is now installed and caulking done, and posts wrapped with trim board--the porch nearly completed.

By Saturday afternoon, the thoughts came from within where God's Will has replaced mine.  And I think they were God's Thoughts nudging me to try going to confession and possibly Mass.  Catholic friends and others have suggested otherwise.  Why go through more persecution and hardship?  Why subject myself to that?  (You'd have to search back into older posts for the backlog of events, to understand what had transpired.)

However, I decided to drive the distance, for the liver-muscle-whatever pain had subsided some.  The truck still loaded with mulch, I headed to the parish.  The new priest was hearing confessions.  I decided to remain for Mass; a man and his wife were willing for me to sit with them, for a year ago they were the ones who became alarmed when this hermit (they know not my vocation, of course--am hidden from the eyes of men in that regard!) did not move during Mass.  They would remember and did, for they had called EMS only to find, after Mass, the hermit not near death nor dead but simply has a mystical phenomenon known as an ecstasy, during any Mass.

So it occurred again this time, which is fine.  Lately the reminder has come to my mind (and must be the Lord's Thoughts reminding me) of what Jesus had said four years ago.  He had shown me some parishioners and priests and told me they would criticize and persecute but that I was to not pay attention to them, to not be bothered by them.

The Saturday vigil Mass was marvelous!  Praise God for the new priest who did not at all bastardize the Mass.  There was no horror in the mystical state.  All is well!  In fact, there is something that I remember distinctly from the priest's homily when in a holy Mass, in the deep mystical state, usually nothing is recalled after.  But the Lord wills that I would hear and recall these words from the priest.

"We have to learn to think like God thinks.  And God thinks in terms of love and mercy."

What a consolation to this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit's body, mind, heart and spirit!  I have been so praying for God to replace my mind with His Mind--my thoughts and ideas with His Thoughts and Ideas!  Increasingly, the difference between my mind and His Mind has been painfully revealed, and the dichotomy disturbing.

The answer is simple as far as discerning the difference.  God thinks in terms of love and Mercy.  God's Mind Is Love and Mercy.  All of my thoughts can be sifted out accordingly.  His Thoughts can be discerned based upon love and mercy as key.

I will be returning to Mass, if body able, once a week.  I am joining the parish although I know that as a consecrated Catholic hermit, my interactions will be governed by my rule of life, the Gospel Rule, and the parameters of my eremitic vocation as set forth in the Institutes of the Church, by my vows, and as defined in The Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Prior to Mass, at the end of confession, I mentioned to the new priest that there might be a bit of a mystical state that has been occurring during Mass for going on eight years.  An ecstasy by definition, but that it might not occur as has been awhile since being at a Mass in person.  I also mentioned that I am a consecrated Catholic hermit, privately professed, going on 16 years, and at some point perhaps we might want to talk some.  Yes, I'd like to be helpful with any specific prayers or spiritual needs of his efforts with the parish and my being part of the Body of Christ.

After Mass, yes, people had inquired some of the parish administrator, regarding this person they noticed at Mass.  The parish administrator told me that people were "talking", and some would be judging the situation, judging the hermit without knowing me.  I assured that it would be all right.  We can do all we can to keep others from judging and temptation or occasions of that particular sin, but ultimately, I must keep my eyes on Jesus.  Look at HIM.  And remember what He said over four years ago.  Others will wrongly judge and criticize you, but you are not to pay attention to them, not be bothered by them.

What a loving and merciful consolation the Lord has given me!  And I must approach all as God Thinks, in love and mercy.

Praise His Real Presence!  Little children, let us love God above all things and others as ourselves.  We must love as Jesus loves us, as God Thinks and Is:  Love and Mercy.

Catholic Hermit on Holy Doors

The other day an elderly spiritual friend emailed news of diocese bishop desiring parishes to have holy doors in keeping with Pope Francis' declaration of the Year of Mercy and establishing a holy door such as Pope John Paul II dedicated for the new millennium in 2000.

However, the rector of their diocese cathedral was in a quandary, lasting a few days.  In fact, he contacted the parish council secretary three times--each to change which door of the church would be, in fact, the "holy door."  Finally, on the fourth change, he solved his great dilemma and had the secretary change the minutes to note that every door of the cathedral would be designated a holy one.

The only other changes to be made were to publish the updates in the parish bulletin and to ask the parish secretary to print out extra copies of the "indulgences" that those entering the holy door/s and doing certain religious practices and efforts would receive.

What are indulgences, many of this era may ask?  The following is a brief overview, beginning with the more general and concluding with examples depending upon the types of sins committed or indulged in.

"In the teaching of the Catholic Church, an indulgence is "a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for sins" which may reduce either or both of the penance required after a sin has been forgiven, or after death, the time to be spent in Purgatory.

"The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes an indulgence as "a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints".

"The recipient of an indulgence must perform an action to receive it. This is most often the saying (once, or many times) of a specified prayer, but may also include the visiting of a particular place, or the performance of specific good works.

"Indulgences were introduced to allow for the remission of the severe penances of the early Church and granted at the intercession of Christians awaiting martyrdom or at least imprisoned for the faith.^[3] They draw on the Treasury of Merit accumulated by Christ's superabundantly meritorious sacrifice on the cross and the virtues and penances of the saints. They are granted for specific good works and prayers in proportion to the devotion with which those good works are performed or prayers recited.

The information expands. Please indulge this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit.  The following are some examples of typically, contemporary, proffered actions which suggest that a person who fulfills them can receive remission of penalties of sins. 

"There are four general grants of indulgence, which are meant to encourage the faithful to infuse a Christian spirit into the actions of their daily lives and to strive for perfection of charity. These indulgences are partial, and their worth therefore depends on the fervor with which the person performs the recommended actions:

1. Raising the mind to God with humble trust while performing one's duties and bearing life's difficulties, and adding, at least mentally, some pious invocation.
2. Devoting oneself or one's goods compassionately in a spirit of faith to the service of one's brothers and sisters in need.
3. Freely abstaining in a spirit of penance from something licit and pleasant.
4. Freely giving open witness to one's faith before others in particular circumstances of everyday life.

"Among the particular grants, which, on closer inspection, will be seen to be included in one or more of the four general grants, especially the first, the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum draws special attention to four activities for which a plenary indulgence can be gained on any day, though only once a day:

1. Piously reading or listening to Sacred Scripture for at least half an hour.
2. Adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist for at least half an hour.
3. The pious exercise of the Stations of the Cross .
4. Recitation of the Rosary or the Akathist in a church or oratory, or in a family, a religious community, an association of the faithful and, in general, when several people come together for an honourable purpose.

"A plenary indulgence may also be gained on some occasions, which are not everyday occurrences. They include but are not limited to:

• Receiving, even by radio or television, the blessing given by the Pope Urbi et Orbi (to the city of Rome and to the world) or that which a bishop is authorized to give three times a year to the faithful of his diocese.
• Taking part devoutly in the celebration of a day devoted on a world level to a particular religious purpose.  Under this heading come the annual celebrations such as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, and occasional celebrations such as World Youth Day.
• Taking part for at least three full days in a spiritual retreat.
• Taking part in some functions during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity including its conclusion."

[*Sorry! I can't get the two points in larger print to be the same as all the others.  No emphasis intended.]

Is there any blog reader still logged on and reading?  I admit I did not read through the cited passages; I've read such years ago.  It is kindly that Catholics are made aware of and given reminders of what religious and spiritual activities, postures, prayers, and liturgical functions of which we may partake and participate.  Many Catholics, perhaps, don't understand or aren't aware that there are many aspects to prayer, to communicating with His Real Presence, of making creative and interesting offerings in every present moment: love gifts to the praise of His Glory!

What seems of interest is that there remains this notion of keeping souls at what St. Bernard of Clairvaux describes as the second degree of love.  That is, to love because of a reward of some sort.  Love God for what He will do for the person.  Why not tack on the holy doors, the explanation of the four degrees of love, and explain the fourth and highest degree (in St. Bernard's schema)?  Love God in Himself.  Explain what loving God means in some every day examples--of loving Him because He is Love and for no other motive, no strings attached.

There is far more that can be explained about loving God in Himself, and how that love then filters and flows from His Real Presence, and covers with love, all of humanity and creation, all souls, all breath, all energy and beingness.

And, as for holy doors, do we really think that once we touch them and enter through, either going in or out, that they are at all holy?  Once we touch or pass through, the door is not holy, more than likely, unless we are holy, ourselves.  What seems to be of consequence, is to ponder this fact and to realize that it is not the door, but the spaces in which we go in, or the spaces in which we enter when going out of a door, and if we live out holiness in those vast spaces whether the spaces of our souls or the world at large.

It took me a second or less to have holy doors in the hermitage and figure which ones to designate.  There are only two at this point.  (Of course, they are not at all holy because I am not holy, not really, not enough at least by my own consideration.)  Put I like the idea of designating them as holy as well as the space within the hermitage and the space outside the hermitage: the entire world and cosmos.  

My spiritual father sent a Christmas card and some cash, with the notation:  "Get some ice cream to eat!" inside.  (He knows I am living lean, working hard, suffering much, perhaps taking things a bit seriously these days.)  However, I really cannot justify ice cream when Craig just called to say the bathroom door with frame I ordered, has come in to the lumber yard.  

Immediately, I thought:  That bathroom door will also be a holy door!  It is the first interior door installed in this abode.  It is a signal for the interior holiness necessary and the work my soul needs to tend to--yes, with loving celebration.  The money sent by the holiest of priests, my spiritual father, will go towards that holy door.  The priest's love and mercy, expressed tangibly with some cash, is what will make that door "holy." 

Love.  Love God in Himself.  Live and love the God's law of love.

(Note: Above extractions on indulgences are from Wikpedia internet site.)