Saturday, March 9, 2019

Catholic Hermit: Another Why of Solitude

Was just reminded of  this message written by St. John Climacus (6th c.) regarding monks and the good or rightness of living a solitary life.  This could well-apply to all of us hermits dotted around the globe.  (I have mentioned before of some hermits who share a house or who live in a quasi-attempt at a hermit "order", or in a lara.  There is a distinct disadvantage for the hermit's progression, yet sometimes a hermit living with others becomes necessary: health reasons, temporary transition, even conditions a past century and logistics of location in which the hermits lived.)

I have also mentioned the recent 4 1/2 months in which I had to "wander" until God found the hermitage He willed for me.   Those 146 days were a most trying time.  I gratefully accepted charitable hosting by others; and in guest-modality, tried my best to meld into their active-life vocations in the world that God chose for them, just as He chose me for hermit life, out of the world.

Św Jan Klimak, Jerzy i Błażej.jpg



St. John Climacus:

The condition of the solitary is not equal to that of the monk who lives with another monk.  In effect, the lonely person needs a great vigilance and a spirit that does not allow himself to be distracted.  When he is not alone, his brother often comes to help him; but to the solitary an angel gives his support.


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