The Joys and Challenges of a Solitary Life

[Shin]

I am looking forwards to hearing about it too!

Love your choice of holy card Therese!

[Therese]

I am looking forwards to hearing about it too!

Love your choice of holy card Therese!

I'll certainly let you know if I hear anything from my friend; hopefully he'll respond to my question about what his life is like as a hermit.  Right now I only know that he is a cook at the hermitage and that he has for the longest time wanted to be a contemplative.  Thanks for the compliment about the holy card!  I have the same picture of our Lady of Quito on my prayer shrine; I put it there because she is so beautiful in this image and I wish to have a special devotion to O.L. of Sorrows.  I renew my Marian Consecration every year on Sept. 15th, the feastday of her Dolors.  I am very grateful that you have provided us with this beautiful holy card of our Lady of Quito for our personal selection, Shin!  God bless you!  Oh, and I love your selection of holy card too!  What a beautiful picture of our Lord and St. Joseph!

[whiterockdove]

I have heard that living in community usually precedes a request bring granted to one desiring a solitary life; the theory being that lessons and sacrifices that come from living in obedience to an order and its Superior are helpful in a solitary life and a guard against selfishness.

But then again our diocese has a hermitess who never lived in a religious community
But was a Benedictine oblate and followed their rule of life for a number of years. Her husband died and sometime thereafter
She went through the process of preparing to withdraw from the workd and then took her vows with our bishop.
 
  Interesting how there are different paths.   


If one wants to join a religious community there are all kinds of practical considerations like finances, age and health. I have said it before; I am so grateful for the existsnce of third orders, oblates and the like. There are lots of us who can't join a religious community because of poor health or debt. There are also many contemplatives not connected to any order who contribute greatly to the salvation of many by their prayers and penance.  I'm thinking specifically of the widows and those living a solitary life through circumstance necessarily by choice.
These are the folks who quietly live out their faith glorifying The Lord by their charitable works and they are seriously dedicated in their devotions to our Blessed Mother.
  I am floating somewhere along this spectrum wondering what Gods will is for me and living in the current reality of solitude that comes from being a caregiver who rarely leaves home. 
 I know discernment is best done in council with others so I am very grateful for all the posts here. I am also in conversations with my priest and a sister from a nearby congregation. Pray for me and I will also pray for you all!
 

[Therese]

You are in my prayers, Whiterockdove.  You can strive to be a contemplative who lives in very deep union with God, even if you never choose to become a consecrated hermit.  Have you read the book The Practice of the Presence of God by Bro. Lawrence?  It is a very short book, but a very, VERY good one.  I can send you a link to the audiobook via email, if you wish; it runs a little over an hour.  I very highly recommend that you read or listen to this book if you are seeking the contemplative life or life as a hermit.  I welcome your comments on it.  God bless you!

[whiterockdove]

Thank you Therese, you can certainly email me that link!
May God Bless Your Day!

Here's an aspiration for today;
"Holy, mighty, immortal God, have mercy on us!"
Amen

[Therese]

Thank you Therese, you can certainly email me that link!
May God Bless Your Day!

Here's an aspiration for today;
"Holy, mighty, immortal God, have mercy on us!"
Amen

You are very welcome, Whiterockdove!  I'll go ahead and send you the link.  It appears that my favorite aspirations are the sacred Names of Jesus and Mary, which I unite to all the Masses ever said and to all the merits of our Lord and our Lady, for my intentions.  There is a good little booklet written by Fr. O'Sullivan about the sacred Name of Jesus and all its power.  The name of Mary is most powerful as well.  The devils flee immediately at the sound of these holy Names.  I like saying Jesus, Mary and Joseph for my intentions as well.  All three of these aspirations are indulgenced by the Church.  God bless you!

[whiterockdove]

Thank you Therese! I received the link and will listen to it when I won't be interrupted which usually means very late at night

Today I had dinner with a fellow parishioner and the priest from whom I took instruction before my baptism and confirmation
Easter vigil of 2012.  It was a great afternoon and brought back lots of good memories of that very special time!  We are a mission diocese so our priests only stay for a few years. I was so fortunate and I am so grateful for the time he and my Godmother/sponsor  took to meet with me
Through that year.  He was a very strict instructor and was raised in an Eastern Rite Church.
Please pray for him as he returns to his home country for vacation. 

St. Christopher, please pray that traveling priests are kept safe and able to
Minister and proclaim the gospel wherever they go.  They may be the only
Gospel that some people have ever encountered.
Amen.
   

[Therese]

He has my prayers, Whiterockdove.  God bless you!

[whiterockdove]

 Thank you for your prayers, Therese
You'll like this aspiration I picked for today;

"Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation!"

Have a great day, everyone.

[Therese]

Thank you for your prayers, Therese
You'll like this aspiration I picked for today;

"Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation!"

Have a great day, everyone.

I love this aspiration and pray it.  Have a great day too, Whiterockdove!

[Shin]

I have really benefited a lot from reading some of Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, O.P.'s works. 

[Therese]

I have really benefited a lot from reading some of Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, O.P.'s works. 

I too, Shin!

[Shin]

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, help us! Jesus, Mary and Joseph, save souls! 

[whiterockdove]

I just looked up some of his writings.
Very nice!


That we may learn to bear suffering patiently:

Remember, o most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone
who fled to thy protection, implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,  I fly unto thee,
o virgin of virgins, my mother.
To thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O mother of the word incarnate, in your mercy,
despise not my petitions but hear and answer my prayers
Amen.

[Therese]

I am looking forwards to hearing about it too!

My friend might choose to keep his life very private, so who knows if he'll ever answer my question, Shin.

[whiterockdove]

Here's a aspiration for your day;

Mary, most sorrowful, mother of Christians,
Pray for us!