Ruminations of an Irascible Hermit.: January 2021

Friday, January 22, 2021

The challenge of forgiveness

Forgiving others can be one of the most difficult things, but yet it is a mandate from Jesus himself and he has also made it a condition for our own forgiveness.

Everyday when we pray the Lord’s Prayer we pray “forgive us our trespasses AS WE FORGIVE those who trespass against us”

How often do we take time to reflect on these words? So we truly understand them?

If we have hardness of heart towards others, then we cannot be open to God’s grace, love and forgiveness. This is why Jesus teaches us that our forgiveness is conditional or relational for our forgiveness towards others.

We cannot expect to be forgiven our sins whilst we harbour hatred and resentment towards others. This is the challenge of the Gospel for all of us who claim to be Christians and Children of God

Sunday, January 17, 2021

The cell in monastic life

“The cell, it is like a dwelling where the groom is alone with his bride. It is a fertile place for the human soul to meet with its heavenly groom. The cell creates for the monk, the quiet and calm environment for a life of contemplation. Within the silent walls of the cell a monk prepares himself for the eternal retreat”

- Monastic Prinicples

Fr Raphael El-Baramousy

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Motu Proprio on allowing female Acolytes & Lectors

In light of Pope Francis now allowing women to be instituted as Acolytes & Lectors, here is my response an an instituted Acolyte myself

Monday, January 11, 2021

Litany of Hermits

As I am discerning to be a consecrated hermit, and try to live as a lay hermit - I have written a litany of hermits that I pray after morning prayer to help keep me encouraged and inspired.

Lord, have mercy on us.  

Christ, have mercy on us.

 Lord, have mercy on us.  

Christ, hear us - Christ, graciously hear us.  

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. (repeat after each line)

 God the Son, Redeemer of the world,  

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us  

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us

 Holy Mary, pray for us (repeat after each line)

 Holy Mother of God,  

Holy Queen of Hermits,

St Joseph Silent Patriarch

St Elijah

St Elias

St Jeremiah

St Simeon & Anna

All you Holy hermits of Old and sons of the prophet

St John Baptist

St Mary Magdalene

St Thecla

St Paul first hermit

St Anthony the great

St Mary of Egypt

St Jerome

St Macarius

St Pachomias

St John Cassian

All you desert fathers and mothers

St Simeon Stylites

St Isaac of Nineveh

St Romuald

St Bruno

St Nicholas Flue

St Maron

St Peter Damian

St Francis of Assisi

St Conrad of Piacenza

St Celestine

St Catherine of Siena

St Teresa of Avila

St John of the Cross

St Benedict Labre

St Charbel

St Seraphim of Sarov

Blessed Charles Foucold

Blessed Eusebius of Erszetgom

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

O God,

in every generation you raise hermits to seek you in silence and solitude in the desert,

through their intercession and following their example, may we come to your holy mountain and see your face,

we ask this through Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever

Friday, January 1, 2021

Theotokos as the Burning Bush

“Moses saw the thorn bush which was on fire yet not burnt up. In it we see a sign of your virginity which all must honour; Mother of God, pray for us”

- Antiphon 3 Evening Prayer, Solemnity of the Mother of God

https://stpaulcenter.com/the-burning-bush-theotokos-in-the-old-testament/

Disclaimer

Please note. I am a Catholic layman, not a qualified theologian or philosopher. What I say and write here are my own personal thoughts and ideas, although I always try to conform my writings to the Magisterium of the Church.

I- with firm faith believe and profess everything that is contained in the symbol of faith: namely,

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

With firm faith I believe as well everything contained in God's word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the church--whether in solemn judgment or in the ordinary and universal Magisterium--as divinely revealed and called for faith.

I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by that same church definitively with regard to teaching concerning faith or morals.

What is more, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate when they exercise the authentic Magisterium even if they proclaim those teachings in an act that is not definitive.