Catholic Hermit: Hymn for a Hermit

A friend texted this morning of having the hymn, "Onward, Christian Soldiers" playing and singing in mind and felt it good for both of us.  Another friend had emailed a few days ago and has mentioned previously, of singing or humming a hymn more consciously thought when reading her devotions on break at work--a hymn to go along with the theme.

I'd not been listening to the Holy Spirit in this regard as I used to do so, often.  For a time period not too long ago, it became rather a perpetual gift to have a hymn be brought to the conscious mind, to hear the music and sometimes the words of a line or two, or more.  If not more, I'd be able to look it up--good ol' Google and Youtube--and always would be a reason for that particular hymn.

So later today when out struggling to get some weed barrier literally unearthed and pulled/dug out from an area in which I hope to plant, this hymn began playing in my mind. I'd joined in early morning with the "Onward, Christian Soldiers" hymn the friend had been hearing; but evidently the Holy Spirit had one picked out for my particular, current predicament of which I've written probably far too much in past few posts.

But it has occurred to me that this hymn, written by an Englishman in 1776 while hearing an uneducated but moving preacher in Ireland, converted to Christianity--Protestant and eventually Church of England after Calvinism.  I find the lyrics to be ideal for this hermit here--especially the "Let me hide myself in Thee" image and of my sincere and on-going plea for deeper conversion.  

The current, increased, physical suffering is also addressed in the only way it should be, in this hymn, as reminded of Christ's suffering and the redemptive clinging by me, a sinner, to the cross of Christ .  (If a fortunate day, I'm up maybe 5 hours and on floor 19--such a decline; when in a pain siege am down for days on end.)  Suffer pain as best I can!  I must, for love of Christ, for His Church, for souls including my own to come increasingly close within Christ! 

Such hope and touching upon the daily life in vocation for this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit, or I'd think any hermit, in the lyrics of this hymn:  Rock of Ages.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure, 
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to  Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.