Hermit's Way

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Hermits Corner 


"In the beginning there is struggle and a lot of work for those who come near to God. But after that there is indescribable joy. It is just like building a fire: at first it is smoky and your eyes water, but later you get the desired result. Thus we ought to light the divine fire in ourselves with tears and effort." ~Amma Syncletica

Is the Hermit Different? 

The Church does not have one set of moral rules for the laity and another for monks, nor does it divide the faithful into classes according to their obligations towards God. The Christian life is the same for everyone. This means that the true Christian must ground his life and conduct in Christ, something which is hard to do in the world.

What is difficult in the world is approached with dedication in the hermits life. In his or her spiritual life one simply tries to do what every Christian will try to do: to live according to God's will, not ours. The fundamental principles of monasticism are not different from those of the lives of all the faithful.

The hermit's life has always been associated with self denial: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me". Christ calls on us to give ourselves totally to him: "He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me".

We cannot deny that Christian's have different ways of life, but this does not alter our common responsibility to God, His commandments and His will. Every one of us has his or her own special vocation within the body of Christ's Church. Every vocation, whether married or solitary is equally subject to God's absolute will. One's vocation or state in life cannot be used as an excuse for not responding to Christ's call. Each path demand effort and determination on our part. A layman's successes are a hermits failure. "The achievements of the worldly are failures for monks; and the achievements of monks are failures for the worldly. When the monk is exposed to what the world sees as success- wealth, fame, power, pleasure, good health and many children, he is destroyed. And when a worldly man finds himself in the state desired by monks—poverty, humility, weakness, self restraint, mortification and suchlike, he considers it a disaster".~St. Maximus the confessor

The journey to perfection is gradual and is connected with successive renunciations, which can be summarized;
-The renunciation of that which does not build God's Kingdom in the here and now,
-Freedom from pride, 
-The renunciation of our idea as to who God is
-The renunciation of any thoughts of self-will. 
In abandoning the world it includes not only things, but also people.

The world tends to the business of the world. The faithful's vocation choice of marriage, parenting and  single life, with all the obligations of the world attempts to remain within the limits of church tradition. Hermits go in other directions. We seek the absolute as we leave the world behind.

In the lives of hermits and anchorites the Christian can see examples of women and men who take their Christian faith seriously and devote themselves to the path which everyone is called by Christ to follow. Not all attain perfection, but try, and all rise to a certain height. Not all possess the same talent or gifts, but all strive as good and faithful servants.

The comparison here is between the hermit and the worldly Christian. Wealth and fame cannot be seen as equally destructive for hermits and laymen. These things are always bad for hermits, because they conflict with the way of life they have chosen. For laymen, wealth and fame may be beneficial. The existence of the family, and of the wider secular society with its various needs not only justify but sometimes make it necessary to accumulate wealth. Those things that may unite in the world divide in the hermit's life. In the end, the ultimate unifier is Christ.

                                     The Art of Silence and Being

Not everyone is able to prosper in silence,  If it makes one irritable to be constantly in silence,  perhaps one's call is not to the eremitic life. One learns to be silent by being silent, more than by talking or reading about it, it is a discipline. No need to comment on everything we hear or observe. The silence and stillness of our being  is an attentiveness to the word of God that is spoken to our hearts and minds. His word continues to be  written across our hearts as it guides and transforms. In silence we see the world through the eyes of Christ,  the hungry, the lonely, the oppressed. In silence, prayer comes in a flowing stream.

There is an unhealthy and negative type of silence. This form of silence is also seen in the secular world as "the silent treatment". The failure to communicate can express resentment and passive-aggressive tendencies. We can also avoid being challenged, avoid taking a stand, avoid the spouse that requires nurturing while avoiding the demands of love. Silence may be a sign of suspicion, moodiness or it may be the sign of an aloof nature. Such a  silence often comes without benefit of a "Do Not Disturb" sign.

The ego does not remain silent, as it seeks to gain control and organize life for all of its own glory. It easily creates chaos in our hearts, our neighborhoods and the global community. It makes us insist on the rights and reputation of me, myself and I. We can only experience silence and simply being when we learn to surrender and trust Him. When we silence the inner being we are at peace in the presence of the Lover of our souls and the Love of my life. In quieting the static of the heart and mind we more clearly see His presence in the world.
    ~ Abiah+, H.  Benedictine Hermit

  Work and Prayer

For the hermit, work is a penance and a facilitator of humility as we surrender to the Lord.
Work is also necessary to provide food and shelter for the hermit and enables us to share with others. The early hermits knew this well. and this was reiterated in the foundational text for Western Monasticism, The Rule of Benedict.
As we work we are mindful, "in all things may God be glorified" (RB 57). Work  permits us to remain self-sufficient, a burden to no one. Work permits us to  provide produce or services to the poor and disenfranchised. Work permits the hermit to be caretakers of God's creation. Whether planting or gathering the hermit is mindful of every seed planted, every tool provided, be it  physical or spiritual . The hermit is mindful of His presence and hand in all creation.
As we persevere in prayer, at the Eucharist, during mental prayer, praise, intercessions, binding and loosing, the rosary or prayer of the heart, thirst for the Lord only increases and manual labor provides not only for  temporal needs but, our need for Him.

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Over two thousand years ago, a young Virgin and her Child found refuge in Africa from threatening forces. Since that time, Christianity has developed extensive roots in Africa. St. Anthony and the Desert Fathers kept the Church from worldliness and preserved the mystical gifts. St. Athanasius helped write the Creed, St. Cyril kept the Church from dishonoring Christ and His Mother. The African Martyrs gave the Church courage. The African Mothers gave the Church philosophers, St. Katherine. The hermitesses St. Mary of Egypt and St. Sarah of the Nile showed the path of contrition, redemptive suffering and repentance.
The martyr was killed for confessing Jesus Christ, the confessor was tortured for it, but survived. A passion-bearer suffered or was killed, not for directly confessing Christ, but for his righteous life in following Him.
~ Fr. Paisius Altschul