Sister Josefa Menendez's 84th Anniversary of Passing

Sr. Josefa Menendez, mystic and victim soul, died 84 years ago today. The hermit appreciates this woman who was very much a kind of hermit within her religious community. She was a Spanish young woman who was sent to a house in France, and she did not speak the language. There she received visits from Mother Sophia Barat (foundress) and from the Virgin Mary and from Jesus. They all taught her how to suffer for Jesus, how to be a victim soul for the Sacred Heart.

Each year on this day, since Dec. 29, 2000, the hermit has renewed the vow of consecration to the eremitical life. This evening, after Mass, the hermit's regular confessor (who happened to be the celebrant, thanks be to God, for he is aware of the hermit's vocation), received the renewal of the vow, the hermit on knees before the rector, who stood before the altar. It took but two minutes or so, and he laid hands on the hermit's head and gave a blessing and said he received the promises made.

The hermit had been prepared that he might not even receive the renewal of vows. Who knows? One must remain detached, always, and open to the surprises of Our Lord. It cheered the hermit's heart to hear that he referred to this renewal as promises made. The two elderly people yet in the Cathedral had even gone their way, so the renewal was extremely private. And promises made--what a beautiful phrase!

The hermit did comment that last night there had been a nightmare of sorts--for the hermit--in which the hermit was shown to be very hypocritical and not living the life interiorly, or in having the life in loving order but rather being superficial in living the hermit life! The Rector smiled; the hermit exclaimed it was quite a nightmare and not doubt a means of God prodding the hermit to do better.

So thanks be to God that today is Sr. Josefa Menendez's date of passing from this world into that of the Holy Mountaintop, into the consuming fire where God Is--and her soul is melted into His Eternal Love. Thanks be to God that the hermit could renew "the promises made", in such humble and brief circumstance, but with major import, for God expects more of the hermit now, and a renewal of effort by the hermit, and to honor Sr. Josefa by increased effort in this hidden life of stricter separation from the world, celibacy and chastity, poverty of body, mind and soul, and obedience to the Church and to the spiritual fathers guiding this hermit's soul. As for assiduous prayer and penance, and bodily poverty--the hermit mentioned concern to the priest: the hermit lives a life of much comfort and has not done assiduous penance, not much at all lately. He said to let God handle that--that He will send penances soon enough and for the hermit to not go looking for them.

Well, the hermit then remembered the major suffering in the early morning hours, and of the awful dream, convicting the hermit of scandalous hypocrisy (dreams have a way of exaggerating to add to the shame and make the mark to be remembered vividly!).

Prayers of love and friendship, of asking for assistance in living a more hidden life and one of greater humility, penance, prayer and austerity have been offered several times today, speaking to Sr. Josefa directly. The hermit thanks God for her, and for what she wrote which is compiled in a book called The Way of Divine Love. The hermit has typed out two prayers that she used to offer, one to Jesus and one to Mary. Tomorrow, the hermit will repeat these prayers in a kind of "across the borderlines" unity with the dearest friend a hermit could have.

This afternoon the hermit spoke on the phone with the spiritual da/anam cara. The question of writing on a public type forum such as a blog--and admittedly writing just simple, personal daily thoughts and activities and not at all polished or intellectually astute to enlighten others--was a question the hermit posed. He said of course the hermit must continue, and primarily because it was a very good exercise for the hermit to work this vocation out in writing, as it unfolds. If it is of benefit to others, then good; and if there is controversy, that is to be expected. If others misunderstand what is expressed, that is part of baring one's soul. If the hermit shows its own faults and sins, then that is good, too, for humility and to learn and grow.

Earlier, the priest at noon Mass, when asked if writing a blog, albeit anonymously, is proper for the hermit, that priest said that of course it was, for it utilized today's technology to chronicle a form of life and might be of interest to a few others.

So, the hermit will continue, and will do as the confessor had said a few days ago, to strive to write in generalities if it is something that could seem to offend others, even if not intending to. The hermit today told the spiritual da that the hermit has been begging St. John to teach the hermit to write like him! But, of course, that is reaching to the skies where the Eagle soars; and the hermit is a nearly dead gray mouse or a weak-winged cabbage butterfly, flopping along pretty close to the ground--yet desirous of doing all for God that such a creature could possible do.