Now the Regular Confessor Gives Advice

The regular confessor spoke with the hermit, and when he heard what the issues are, he said I must follow through. The hermit's concern has been that the hermit wanted to react in this situation of the libel and the neighbor situation, just as Jesus would desire and how He would act. But the regular confessor said that also in charity, the neighbor woman could harm someone in future, and must be stopped. So my attempting to stop this, might help someone later, besides helping others to not endanger themselves with breaking the law by mailing threats--or doing something more physical. So the hermit will deal with the world, the world, the world.

Yet, thankfully, the adult son is going to do the negotiating with the paper, and if the paper does not do the decent thing and print an explanatory retraction, then people are volunteering to write letters. It will not be regarding the neighbor woman but will cite what this has done in causing others to believe a falsehood, and then to react and act on it, and that if they are caught, they will face criminal charges. Letters will deal with responsible journalism but also hopefully calm the storm in the neighborhood. Maybe the hermit will be able to stay here, maybe not. Only time will tell. So much for the S of Stability, but one assumes God gives leeway to such matters, and hermits of the past centuries often had to wander for one good reason or another.

The regular confessor also mentioned to the hermit that St. Paul told Timothy to drink some wine to settle the stomach, as the hermit had some Irish whiskey in egg nog, after the trying conversation with the newspaper editor. But, praying the rosary would have been better. Yes, in all things, there is room for improvement. My imperfections exist moment by moment.

The confessor, also rather up there in all aspects of the Diocese, clarified another question the hermit asked, but that might be dealt with later on, or not at all. It really does not have to do with the spiritual life, with living out the interior life. But he said at some point I ought to make it clear for readers, even as there are but one or two who might happen upon this poor blog.

A dear friend who suffers much, is reading a book gifted her. It is St. Francis de Sales' Letters to People in the World. She quoted for the hermit his advice to a priest who had temptations in his vocation, that we must live what God asks of us, that we must be who were are and to live it.

I still chuckle at the difficulty in being a hermit and living it. By stating the "h" word in anonymous writings, there has been a good and gradual progression in accepting the vocation. Those who guide and direct my soul, know, and they assist in being such outstanding directors, wise and of good counsel, that my genderless soul in nothingness is elated with how it is all falling into beautiful place, nested securely and deeply within the Sacred Heart. That is a loving and suitable spot for any soul, and very apt for a hermit. Yes, for all souls of all vocations: this is the place!

It is ironic, that for one who detests being noticed, shrinks from controversy (but will do as directed and write truth (and that as it comes from those in charge of my soul), and so desires to be quite hidden and cocooned--that the world in unexpected storm is pounding rain on the very windows (and mailbox) of Agnus Dei.

As for writing on blogs, the regular confessor did not do as I'd hoped: he said that God would surely let me know if I was to stop, and that otherwise he said that it is very much a hermit thing to do, as it is anonymously cloaked in hiddenness. Always, always, the self is removed as much as possible. So now the spiritual da, the priest who advises from time to time, and the regular confessor so steeped in humility and meekness as to inspire--desire me to keep writing out my thoughts, writing out the quotes from some of these lesser-known or perhaps scarce books, to share with one or two others who might read, or might not, but to reinforce in my soul the good readings the Bishop said he wanted me to continue, and to strive to apply them to the experiences of every day life for a Catholic hermit in this time and place.

Yes, the regular confessor said to say "Catholic hermit", for he desires in meekness and to not be distracted by labels and options for consecrated eremitics, to simply refer to myself as the Catholic hermit. For, there could be privately avowed, consecrated Buddhist hermits, or Hindu hermits, or all kinds of hermits of other philosophies and religions. He told me to quote the Catechism of the Catholic Church so that others would know, but I figure those interested in the eremitic life will read and learn for themselves. It's in the section on consecrated life. He knows that my writing is more to do with the interior life, with living the life, and that it is enough for he and my spiritual da and the other priest and the Bishop to help me in my Catholic hermit life. He said to steer clear of words that would bring unnecessary debates on the technicalities that have actually little to do with my spiritual life as a hermit--a "Catholic hermit." He said he highly doubted if St. Benedict was hung up on such matters.

Yes, St. Francis de Sales: We will strive to be who we are and to live it!