We all continue to pray for all those--which means everyone of us all around the world--who are existing with varying trials and levels of exposure to the COVID-19 health pandemic. As a hermit, I have been keeping up more with the news via my laptop (window to the world), and while the details are helpful and the themes of persons' needs also inform me as to specifics for which to pray and also very much, to praise God for all His providence and mercy--I also need to remain focused as well on the silence of solitude for praying, praising, and listening to the Holy Spirit's guidance.
I just received an email of someone's brother, in late 60's or early 70's who has tested positive for the coronavirus and is in the hospital. Please pray for "Tom" and his family and friends. The person who emailed me this news, asking for prayers for her brother, is one who has for years suffered greatly with mental illness. While on medications and managing it impressively, this news of brother's hospitalization, understandably can raise the person's anxiety even more than if not suffering a major trial of long-standing schizophrenia.
During this time of global health crisis, as a human being as well as Catholic hermit, turning to His Real Presence all the more helps in remaining prayerfully God-centered and calm. Christ's peace He bequeaths to all of us. I also find reading about the saintly hermits of the centuries past helps--perhaps especially for those who previously were freely able to go out and about the temporal world, fulfill career demands, tend to private businesses, do their jobs. Children were able to go to school and sports activities. Retired persons traveled, volunteered, and socialized much and often with friends and their routine of running errands and participating in various activities.
I'm encouraging others to check out the lives of hermits--especially the saint hermits whose lives were deemed over time and study following their deaths, to be exemplary Christians who as hermits were adept at living a life in solitude and silence to varying degrees. Today, April 2, in the Catholic Church, a man named Francis from Paola, Italy, born a little over 600 years ago, is one such encouraging example.
St. Francis of Paola reminds us that we, too, can live with sacrifice and joy in life; today's crisis will be temporary, but Francis of Paola lived for many years more akin to what we now are told will Slow the Spread of Coronavirus: Shelter in place. Stay home unless one's work is required for the urgent needs of helping those afflicted with COVID-19 and to now and then get groceries and medications. (This morning I had a first-time tele-health pain doctor appointment.)
Of St. Francis of Paola, the following will give us glimpses of his life:
"At the age of fifteen, Francis left his poor home at Paola in Calabria, to live as a hermit in a cave by the sea-coast. In time, disciples gathered around him; and with them, in 1436, he founded the 'Minims,' so called to show that they were the least of monastic Orders. They observed a perpetual Lent, and never touched meat, fish, eggs, or milk. Francis himself made the rock his bed; his best garment was a hair-shirt, and boiled herbs his only fare. As his body withered, his faith grew powerful, and he 'did all things in Him who strengthened him.' He cured the sick, realized the dead, averted plagues, expelled evil spirits, and brought sinners to penance.
"A famous preacher, instigated by a few misguided monks, set to work to preach against Francis of Paola and his miracles. The saint took no notice of it; and the preacher, finding that he made no way with his hearers, determined to see this poor hermit and confound him in person. The saint received him kindly, gave him a seat by the fire, and listened to a long exposition of his own frauds. He then quietly took some glowing embers from the fire, and closing his hands upon them, unhurt, said, 'Come, Father Anthony, warm yourself, for you are shivering for want of a little charity.' Father Anthony, falling at the saint's feet, asked for pardon; and then, having received his embrace, quitted him to become his panegyrist and attain himself to great perfection.
"When the avaricious King Ferdinand of Naples offered the saint money for his convent, Francis told him to give it back to his oppressed subjects, and softened the king's heart by causing blood to flow from the ill-gotten coin.
"Louis XI, of France, trembling at the approach of death, sent for the poor hermit to ward off the foe whose advance neither his fortresses nor his guards could check. Francis went by the Pope's command and prepared the king for a holy death.
"The successors of Louis showered favors on the saint. His Order, the 'Minims,' spread throughout Europe, and his name was reverenced though the Christian world.
"Francis of Paola (1416-1507) died at the age of ninety-one, on Good Friday, 1507, with the crucifix in his hand and with the last words of Jesus on his lips: 'Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.'"
The following information I am sharing as a cut-and-paste. Is from someone writing in to share what found regarding St. Francis of Paoli. Thanks! Also, there is a biography of his life that several years ago I found most informative and inspiring, including the rather miraculous circumstances of his barren mother finally being able to conceive and give birth to the saint.
"From the time he was very young, Francis of Paola had a gift for prayer. He modeled himself after his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi. At age15. his parents allowed him to retreat to a little spot of land on their property in Paola, a small town in southern Italy. Later he moved to an even quieter place, a seacoast cave.
"Francis' goodness soon became known throughout the area. By the time he was 20, two other men asked to join him in his very strict way of life. As more disciples came, he formed them into a Franciscan community and called them the Hermits of St. Francis of Assisi. These men were called "Minims" because they wanted to be thought of as the least of God's servants. When they began to build a monastery and a church, everyone who lived nearby-- even the rich nobles--cheerfully carried stones to help with the building.
"When King Louis XI of France was deathly sick, he asked the pope to send Francis to his side to cure him. When Francis got there, the king offered him money in exchange for a miracle. Francis sharply pointed out the only God can heal. Then he consoled the king and helped him to prepare for a holy death.
"The two kings who succeeded Louis admired Francis. They wouldn't allow him to return to Italy. Instead, they kept him in France so they could ask his advice.
"Francis spent the last 25 years of his life in France. Being unable to leave made him sad. However, the advice he gave to the French kings during that time restored peace between France and its neighbors, Great Britain and Spain.
"At age 91, Francis spent three months preparing for death. Then, on Holy
Thursday, he called his community to his side. He encouraged them to continue their work in the humble spirit of Christ, who on this night washed the feet of his disciples. On Good Friday, while the Passion according to St. John was being chanted in the church, Francis died in peace."
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