The Infant Jesus' Rule of Life for His Mother

From private revelations in compilation from Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich comes this rule of life given to Mary from her Divine Son.

"My mother, I wish to make a rule for your daily life and work. From nightfall you will take some sleep and rest. From midnight until dawn We will praise the Eternal Father together. Then prepare the necessary food for yourself and Joseph, and afterward give Me food and hold Me in your arms until noon, when you will place Me in the arms of your husband, to give him some refreshment in his labors. Then retire and return to your work until it is time to prepare the evening meal. And pray continually to the Eternal Father for sinners."
(Brown, Raphael, comp. The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics. 1951. Rockford, IL: TAN Publishers, p. 142.)

This is the second rule of life given to Mary, the first being from the priest in the Temple when she was a child. This rule has the following components: physical needs such as sleep, rest, food; nurturing needs such as tender care for family; manual labor; praise of God in union with Jesus; praying continually to God for sinners.

This rule of life is basic and obviously acceptable since Jesus proposed and commanded it. Of course, most Catholics understand that private revelation is not dogma, does not have to be believed. It can be, however, and it also can be considered that which augments our faith. When the visionary is approved by the Church, the writings are not necessarily included as part of the canonization process. In Bl. Emmerich's case, her writings are not part of her sainthood process since a second party took down her narration and another party edited. However, the bulk is in tact. Bl. Emmerich's revelation are so rich in detail, and the other aspects of her amazing and holy life lend credence to the content as being credible. Visions are visions, and the beholder can at best describe what is usually rather indescribable.

It is well to present various rules of life, not only ones that hermits embrace but also those of holy ones, of saints, of the Mother of God. To put these rules of life in context of our currrent day rules, such as for canonical and non-canonical hermits, offers a view of simplicity but with the basics for holiness in daily life.