Hell Erupts at Agnus Dei

A Diocese hermit e-mailed following this hermit's renewal of vow of consecration of suffering, that the fireworks would begin. They have.

A few days ago this hermit made many offerings for the hermit's late mother to come into more light and to advance out of purgatory. (Can't go into the details as to how the hermit knows the mother is yet in purgatory, for it is an involved story.) Mass celebrated, alms given, prayers of friends, and works done for this intention, as well as some unexpected blessings from a priest who had been in strife but was making improvement--all these goods culminated in a demonic outburst from the hermit's neighbor.

The words poured out in evil force and torrent. The hermit was accused of being the devil, a witch, crazy, and all with invectives attached and cruel and nasty embellishments. Threats were made that the hermit's pension was going to be taken away, that photographs had been taken of the hermit bending over in the gardens, that the subdivision contractor and the neighbor were going to kick the hermit's (awful words added) skinny something out of the subdivision.

As this tirade was coming forth at the hermit, with the neighbor's four-year-old grandson listening and being told that the hermit is an evil witch and the devil, and that "666" should be painted on the evil witch's house, the hermit, stunned, could only think of what St. Alphonsus Rodriguez advises in such encounters: Make the sign of the cross in the air three times and command the devil to bow down and adore Jesus crucified or to depart. He wrote that the devil would flee.

So the hermit stood silently and made the sign of the cross three times in the air, slowly and with serene purpose, and did not speak but in the mind prayed for the devil to depart, and instead more evil outburst came from the neighbor. When the neighbor turned to tell the grandchild more hateful things about the hermit, the hermit thought of love. So the hermit kissed the hand and held it out, mentally thinking "Send love, send love". But the neighbor saw from the corner of the eye (or the back of the head?) and came over into the hermit's yard, and approached with fury, and poured out more invectives and hate. The hermit feared to be assaulted, but thankfully not.

When the neighbor left with the grandson, driving away in their car and still shouting curses, the hermit purposefully walked into Agnus Dei, shook some, and called the police. "How do I handle this?" The emergency officer replied that it sounded as if the neighbor was out of control and an officer needed to be sent to take the report. The hermit feared this would cause even more evil.

However, the conclusion is that the hermit is to come inside if the neighbor speaks, or comes on the property, or if the little child speaks or comes on the property, or if their cat comes on the property, and is to live "as if there is a forest between their houses" when in fact there is but 12 feet at most. Yet, there is something on record, and the hermit's family and friends said this is best. One suggested the hermit videotape or have a taperecorder, since the hermit has no witness save God alone, and the neighbor has spouse and adult son and little grandchild, but the hermit is not going to live like that. It is enough, and well enough, to live further like a prisoner. It is all as God allows, and it is a testament to the power of prayer.

The hermit has prayed much for this neighbor, but more so, perhaps the devil was reacting to the great effort of many for the hermit's mother's soul to be moved into more light and out of purgatory. The hermit does not know if this has happened; there have been no indications from God, but the devil's outburst through the neighbor is a good indication that some effect has occurred in the supernatural realms.

The devil is also angry over the priest's improvement, in his taking steps to live a better life, although he may never be reinstated to active ministry. God is using him, and this is good.

The hermit has not gone out into the Mary Garden since the eruption of hell two days ago, other than to drive to Mass. However, today the hermit will attempt some work in the Mary Garden, in doing a little caulking on some doors needing paint before winter, and in sawing part of a picket fence.

One must not fear the devil. This is certain invitation for more assaults. One must put on the armor of God, and to this goal, the hermit asked the priest after evening Mass, yesterday, to impart a priestly blessing, which he did, for protection. The hermit also has prayed for the neighbors, offering the upset of the event and the loss of freedom and pleasure, to God for the neighbors' souls to be saved.

A St. Michael the Archangel outdoor statue was already on order, for the outburst is not the first, although is definitely the worst. Prayerfully, it will be the last.

The hermit has wondered if living in a neighborhood is such a good idea, after all, or if safety would have been better out in the "boondocks." But, the hermit had been forewarned of the state of one of the neighbor's souls, prior to securing this lot #77 (such a perfect number and the reason the hermit chose the lot); and so it is all spiritual work, another assignment for the hermit.

Da mihi animus, caetere tolles! This is scripted on the hermit's coffin, and St. Dominic Savio used to pray this: Give me souls, all else take away!

Yes, when one offers to suffer for souls and renews the offering, fireworks may and will be set off. The hermit shouldn't have been surprised or upset and now is taking it as part of the job.