Catholic Hermit Shares Another Encouragement

I continue to rejoice and praise God for the good souls, for the righteous, for the kind people we encounter each day either in physical form in the real world or in thoughts and memories of the lovely.  Then I weep and pray for the bad souls, the ones who do not even think about the reality that they have a precious soul, that it is this soul God implanted into a fertilized egg in their mother's womb, co-created by a man's sperm in cooperation with God's power and mystical might.

So many people exist without thinking about the reality of souls.  They do not consider that this world is but a proving ground, a place of growth for our souls.  And these souls of ours are all we will have when we die to our bodies and to this world and life; these our souls will be what we will be for all eternity.

It is imperative that those of us who do know the value of and existence of souls must do all we can to pray for and help others keep from doing wrongs that harm their souls forever.  And, we must do all we can to keep our own souls vibrant and healthy, holy, and capable of goodness for eternity.

Other than these thoughts, I have fought to endure with tremendous physical pain.  Each added temporal battle--which are truly unnecessary if not for some bad mistakes people have chosen which cause extra suffering and trials to be overcome on top of physical pain--seems a weight that will crush me.  Yet, I pray and persevere and remember that it is God Who fights the battles for me.

I did call the parish office Saturday morning, weighted down with suffering and needing some encouragement, realizing that this hermitage needs blessing and any assistance of mystical power that the Church can offer.  Alas, it is not a positive result as there is still no return call, four days later.  The conclusion I sense is that the Lord is reminding me that He alone will be my guide, my support, my encouragement, my healer and provider.

At least with the horrific bodily pain I am trying to live with and through, my mind reminds me it is not always this painful, and that even within hours, the barometric pressure shifts that have been running rampant lately, daily and nightly, will pass.  Then the pain will ease enough for me to rise from the mattress.  And if not, there is medication to help sedate the physical body, although that means there is no progress.

Sometimes the mind considers trying to drive out, drive far enough away and remain away for the fall and winter months, avoid the barometric pressure shifts and not have my body suffer to excruciating levels.  That may be what must occur, for the mind and emotions can only handle so much suffering, or so it seems.  I know God can handle all suffering, and it is in this faith that I must exist for now, today, in this present moment.  I pray to be able to rise even if to move about in here, to keep the body limbered.  We shall see.  

But for sure, the Lord hears my cries and knows that I turn to Him in faith, and that I understand that no return call from a priest and not even a return call from a message left with a priest of another rite in the Eastern Church, simply means the Lord desires me one-on-one, with Him alone: solus Deus.  That, in fact, is rather special.

The following is poignant truth, is it not, and beautifully presented?

Catholic Hermit: Thoughts on Being Chained to Souls

The following are excerpts from recent letter to my spiritual father (director) after having read from 2 Timothy.  Somehow, he enjoyed the thoughts, and encouraged me to get to my writing.  He added to the thoughts, the aspect of the Mystical Body of Christ as those of us who are chained to souls the Lord gives us, to be praying for, suffering for and with, to help bring them to salvation in Christ's eternal glory.

From the letter:

"Did you notice yesterday’s (Thursday, June 2) first reading, 2 Timothy?  He talks about how we are CHAINED—like chained to souls to help bring about their salvation, chained as in the Gospel, with our being chosen to help bring souls not yet chosen to come to His eternal glory, chained for their salvation.

"That really struck me in a major way.  That is how it needs to be with those of us who are in Christ and His Real Presence having His abode in us, and us remaining in His Love.  We are by that very fact, chained to the Gospel, the Living Word, and our life, our souls, are chosen and to be chained then to the work of helping bring other souls to salvation in His eternal glory. 

"I think it is meant to be very natural, rather pleasant, yet urgent in a natural way such as how we would be if we had a chain around us, chained to something so that we never are away from it but we get used to being chained as part of our entire existences. And being chained, we become used to that which we are chained.  We know not to pull against the chains but to just accept and have these souls part of our existences and efforts of salvation to His eternal glory.  We are chosen for this effort, to be chained to souls He needs to come to salvation and to His eternal glory.

"I realize there is not really a conscious way to keep in mind all the souls we are chained with, as we are also chained ourselves to the Gospel.  It is our being chained to His Real Presence and His Living Word, that is what will then seep into the souls we are chained to, as well, and all that is how these souls will come to salvation for His eternal glory.

"A. (young mother and wife) is concerned about her husband who is not acting his usual self, and is going through some very early pre-pre-midlife crisis.  She has been very concerned, and mentioned doing some kind of fast. I suggested we do not need to make it misery or difficult but rather light and enjoyable, fun to pray.  So she said he likes driving cars, like a race car driver would enjoy going around curves well, doing it professionally.  So we are offering various aspects of driving in whatever ways, as the prayer for him.  

"I have considered my back a road, and so the constant pain is a constant prayer, and I think of this awful muscle trouble in my back to be straightening out, and my back being a straight and solid, safe road, for her husband to be on, for his life to straighten out and be solid, and find his way.  Then that also related with J.’s cycling roads and paths, and then also a woman named A.H. asked for prayers for her daughter and her boyfriend (living together) who are hiking in Tennessee, camping and going on trails.  

"And, all the prayers of my back spine road and muscles, are for their souls. I realize that the temporal aspects are not the main point, for anything can happen to our bodies and temporal circumstances at any given moment without notice.  It is our souls that are of prime importance, so the enjoyable ways of praying and having the prayers continue without my even having to think about them, since my back is doing the praying as a road and path—the pain is praying.

"It is light and easy, and I’m not all that concerned but more so am psyched and excited and interested in souls now, and “on it!”  I am onto these souls, have my prayer talons in them. I had to laugh after I realized the bi-location experience of being with J. and then later finding out why he was so excited and his trip he was going on, that the poor guy wants nothing to do with me, but God does not let him have that freedom.  I was taken there, and not just me but his grandmother (my mom) was there, also.  

"We are on it, and you are on it, and S. is praying along with several others I have alerted; and J. cannot escape.  He is chained, and we are chained to his soul, as well, and many other souls for we are chosen since we know the Lord and love Him and have offered to do His will and work.  So He has many souls that in and through Him and the Gospel, we are chained and chained to help these souls come to salvation and to His eternal glory.

"It is so humorous, isn’t it?  The work is not hard work when we  keep it natural and fun and try not to struggle away from being chained.  I am chained to this mattress and to ice packs, and to much added pain, and I am chained in this unfinished dwelling and even the heat wave we are to have this weekend, and chained to trying to walk outside enough and lean over to hook up soaker hoses every couple of hours to try to keep things watered.  But it really does not matter.  

"Our daily, temporal efforts are totally whatever the Lord allows of our bodies, but our souls are chained, and we can easily do that work for the souls we are chained with, due to being chained to the Gospel and HIs Real Presence, ourselves.  It is fascinating, right?  It is exciting, and quite the adventure."

Catholic Hermit: Scripture, Addendum on Being Chained

[Section of Scripture and addendum sent to spiritual father (director) of which I was going on about in a letter written to him.]

Perhaps it is not quite how I had read it, but the meaning seems clear that we are in essence chained to the Gospel.  We are chained but not in a criminal way, not bad, but chained to other souls, chained in Christ, chained in the liberating Gospel, the Living Word.  

We are saved by being chained in His Love, in His Real Presence, and thus for the sake of those who are chosen for us, for souls, so that they too may receive salvation that is the salvation in Jesus, and all then together with eternal glory.  

It does make sense, to consider ourselves chained to the freedom that is Christ, but chained for the work of souls, in a natural and good way, not trying to escape or pull against the good work that is the Gospel, and which does involve suffering that in a temporal sense can wrongly seem like suffering.  

It is really quite freeing to enjoy being chained in His Love, to His Real Presence, and then to the souls He chooses so that they can be saved in HIs eternal glory, all of us together, in wonderful chains that are not temporally binding at all.

From 2 Timothy:

“Beloved:

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:

such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering,

even to the point of chains, like a criminal.

But the word of God is not chained.

Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen,

so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,

together with eternal glory.”

Catholic Hermit: Pain Severe

The pain is so severe this morning that it feels difficult to breathe.  Extremely fatigued so hard to have energy to breathe beyond little and not often.  Body is burning with quite a bit of pain, and am trying to consider that it is as "taking bullets" for souls--including this hermit's own soul!

It is not easy to have such faith, to have come upon a thought, a potential reality that is of the spiritual aspect.  A part of me would say it is not so, the aspects of suffering and of souls, of being what I rather humorously term being a "soulbuster."  Yet there is not much other explanation for the situations and souls I encounter, repeatedly, with the very good souls of much largesse and depth, sprinkled into the life experience.

Regardless, this level of pain is sapping whatever energy and strength I might otherwise possess.  There are so many tasks in here that I could attempt to accomplish, but the pain is blinding and binding.  Perhaps I can try to get off the mattress and heat up yesterday's left over coffee. There is always the option to take more medication; but that, at this level of pain, will not do much to help unless taking that which is given for extreme episodes to knock the body out, essentially.

What a life to lead!  If the pain can be turned around some, with the spirit and body and mind and heart on top of the pain rather than it on top of my being, I can begin work on cutting cement board to construct the shower niche recessed box.  Yet, on days like this one, in which the pain has sapped the body of energy and the eyelids keep drooping into a kind of autonomic dozing, an escape-mode from pain, I wonder if I will ever be able to maintain the efforts here.

Yes, the entire body is in a kind of burning sensation, and beneath the burning is raw, intractable pain. The feet are so painful--perhaps best to try to stand on them and see if that helps to push some pain out?  Rather sickening, really.  This is all part of this consecrated heart and soul's existence, daily life, spiritual being, Christian essence, hermit and suffering vocation, legacy:  so very much pain in so many aspects. 

Was this how Jesus felt when on the cross?  I believe so.  He existed on this earth as long as His body was able to function.  This is so for each of us, as well.

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

Catholic Hermit Trying to Turn Adversity...

...into prayer for souls.

Woke up early this morning when the pain got too intense in this body.  The hermitage was especially cold even though the pricey wall heat pump an area heat "specialist" sold me and had installed a couple years ago.

Had to stay in bed all morning other than a couple brief times up to heat some hot water for tea and heat up some of last night's pea soup.  Then I thought about the man who assured me that the heat pump would be "more than adequate" and would "heat up the whole downstairs."  

Last year in the fall and winter, I called him as the heat pump was not heating up the downstairs, not by a long measure of any imagination.  He said it will do better when there is drywall over the insulation. Well, the drywall is over the insulation; the ceilings are also insulated--something not usually done in home construction nor necessary.  But I wanted to do all I could to keep the heat contained for the next year.

So now we are in that next year, and I have to face the fact that yet another person took advantage of this ol' hermit.  A nephew emailed in jest that I should take some of the many rats I've hauled out of this place and mail him a couple for Christmas.

Well, it did make this chilled, nothing consecrated Catholic hermit laugh a bit, which was the nephew's intention.  Rats for a rat....

But immediately I had already told myself the "salesman" hopefully did not intentionally lie.  He simply is rather ignorant as I later learned he had taken up the business of heating not many years previously.  Most likely, his love of photography was not generating enough income....  I suppose desperation helps us become more enthusiastic in what we are trying to sell someone?

I will have to get some additional heat sources for the winter.  A desert is stark and cold or stark and hot in various means and ways.  In the meantime, since I will use an extra space heater for the tiny room in which I have a mattress on the floor--I am offering prayers with any reminder of the man who sold me what is not at all adequately heating the hermitage.

Hell is supposedly very hot by some accounts.  Jesus refers to the fires of hell.  So that reminded me that my most important work as a hermit is praise of God and prayer for souls.  I am praising God that I have a sock hat to wear on my head and a comforter to keep the bed warm, and I have some plug-in space heaters.  There are people in the world who have far, far less as heat sources and are far more chilled.

Now the outdoors has heated up enough so that the inside is not as cold.  I will rise, dress, and head down into the crawlspace to turn off the water supply.  There is a plumbing task to accomplish today!  And while under there, I'll offer up a nasty task as an extra big prayer for the man who sells over-priced heat pumps to make a living, and for those friends of his who gave excellent referrals--as they only meant to help him out with his business.  

The nasty task is to remove a dead rat--one that died under there about a month ago, judging from the length of time it took the stench to subside.  I'll scoot over to that area of the hermitage, under the floors thereof, and locate the corpse, bag it, and bring it out and bury it.  That is my way of dealing with people who maybe do ratty things.

I try to give benefit of the doubt that most people do not intentionally do things.  They get enthused or desperate, or believe so much in their abilities that they exaggerate.  I don't think they intend to not tell the truth; and it is true that sometimes companies also stretch the truth in what their products will accomplish.  Yes, I had researched the product in addition to speaking with others who have it.

And, I can clean the filter as that might help a tad bit on the out-put.  I still have some more insulation I can add to one area under the house, as well.  But mainly, I will pray for souls of people earning a living and for my own soul, that we try our best to keep ourselves squeaky clean and holy from any tendencies to take advantage no matter how desperate or ignorant of consequences to others, that we may be.

We must turn all adversities in ourselves and in others, into prayers of positive action and hope for our betterment as people with souls!  Let our lights shine before mankind and do unto others as we would do unto ourselves.

Praise God for all our many blessings and the ability He gives us to pray through any adversity and to praise Him for giving us the ability to praise Him!

God bless His Real Presence in us, little children that we are!  Remain in His Love!  Our souls can be just the right "temperament" and keep our hearts warmly loving, always.

Later:  Only could get to a dead baby rat.  That suffices.  The big one must have crawled under some major pipes so cannot get to that area.  I have been considering any times in my life in which I have been a rat in any way to anyone.  I'm finding some examples!  His Real Presence deals with us directly!

Catholic Hermit Has Powerful Dream

The Lord gave intense instruction and reminder in powerful dream last night.  It has to do with the value of souls and of how much in danger can be our souls.  There was more to it, of course.  Was so clear and sharp as to wake up this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit!  Fear and awe--trembling for souls.

Plus, in the dream, trying to remedy situation of our souls endangered by our mortal flaws and ignoring God and the state of our beings, was stymied.  Pray for souls!  But also, as shown, often our abodes reflect our soul's state of being or that of others.  It can be difficult to take temporal, spiritual action, such as using blessed holy water in homes for so many do not have that belief or faith in such.  Or it can be difficult to find priests today who would take seriously our concern for souls and for dwellings enough to do an orthodox house blessing.

At least, these have been obstacles in my own situations and in hearing of others' plights.

Am reminded to  pray earnestly for all souls and to do what I can to bless this dwelling as well as to bless with as much faith as my mind, heart, and spirit can muster--others' dwellings.  And this means the dwellings of our souls--our bodies--and the dwellings in which we live as humans upon this earth. 

I can do a "house" blessing in person, here, today; and I can do it when I visit others, quietly, with interior blessing room by room or from the exterior.  I can also bless in faith and love, from deep within my mind, heart, and spirit, from afar--to any dwelling anywhere, upon which my mind is led by the Holy Spirit.

While asking a priest to formally bless a house is marvelous and good, often it seems priests do not consider such as all that necessary or urgent.  My dream showed the importance, however, of the state of our souls--our souls' abodes as well as our bodies' abodes.  There are supernatural aspects that can affect the security of our souls when we do not even realize the intrusions that can weaken us, or the dangers that we may be surrounded with.

We go along in life, day by day: working, eating, sleeping, interacting, playing and even praying.  But we do not necessarily realize the incredible value and status of our souls among each other and with God.

I was shown how lacking can be our souls.  I have let slack the praying and beseeching, the protecting and blessing, on behalf of souls--souls of whom I'm aware and souls in general.  The dream was a powerful reminder and in rather desperate and intense showing of souls and circumstances--ones of which I am familiar but had neglected other than in passing thought.  Serious business, is the state of our and all souls!

Now there will be far more concern and loving consideration to do all, in faith, that I can possible do and be for souls!

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love one another and consider in love and prayer, each others' souls!