Hermits - Right or Left, Heaven or Hell?

[seeker44]

I apologize if this has been asked before. A question continues to surface in my mind and is relevant to my love of prayer and focus on spiritual acts of mercy. I admit that by disposition I’m more a shy hermit than an active apostle in some sense of the word. Considering Matthew 25:31-46, do Christian hermits and persons who by nature and perceived “calling,” who dedicate themselves to prayer and spiritual acts of charity, have any realistic chance of salvation? For me this is not a silly question.

Our Lord often speaks of active, corporal acts of mercy (feeding, quelling thirst, clothing, healing, etc.) in what appear to me to be the greatest requisites for being in the line on the right for entering through the gate of Paradise. In other words, if I’m not fervently active in St Vincent de Paul, CRHP dedication, and other corporal ministries, our Lord will not recognize me at the Last Judgment; I’ve chosen to be in the line on the left headed for the fires of hell. Thus, only those listed in the ministry section of the parish bulleting are going to heaven; the rest of us are hoping to be saved, but most likely we are walking through the wide gate of lukewarmness and mediocrity, about to be spit out of the mouth of God. In the same way, persons who feel called to a life dedicated to prayer, lectio, liturgy and so-called “spiritual” exercises are in this herd of slackers.

No doubt that true “prayer persons” and hermits ideally should be transformed; thus, as any concrete situation may present itself, they will give themselves lovingly to concrete, corporal acts of charity. I would hope that they are not like the priest and levite in Luke 10:29-37. However, active ministry may not be the dedication, focus, or main activity of the “pray-er” and hermit. (By the way, I’m not saying that active ministers are not mystics, contemplatives, prayer persons or spiritual seekers, even if I may be implying this as I try poorly to express myself. I’m looking more at those whose main ministry, if that is the proper way to say it, is prayer and devotion versus active corporeal ministry.)

Since “Time, Talent and Treasure” are so much emphasized in my parish, as they probably are in most parishes, I often get the impression that prayer, and for that matter treasure, although called “important” are in reality marginalized, i.e., donations and devotions are activities for “lazy” and “couch Catholics” who wish to avoid helpful, important, Christ-like work in the trenches. Those who sincerely follow Christ and are on the Way are manning soup kitchens and shelters, hauling furniture to the homes of the less fortunate, dispensing monetary assistance – “doing something” useful rather than taking the easy way of offering prayer and pledges.

I hope that a life dedicated to God primarily through prayer does, indeed, count for more than just lipservice, even if such a one is not “doing” something in the corporeal sense. One’s growing love for and union with God should blossom into a readiness for unhesitating, corporal acts of mercy and love as a concrete, specific situation may enter into one’s life, even if corporal acts of mercy are not the main focus and dedication of one’s time and energy. And I hope also that love expressed through monetary support is more than a “lazy layman’s” way of feeding and clothing the less fortunate. The climate in my parish does not always support these views, thus, my interest in your opinions.

 

[Veronica97]

I apologize if this has been asked before. A question continues to surface in my mind and is relevant to my love of prayer and focus on spiritual acts of mercy. I admit that by disposition I’m more a shy hermit than an active apostle in some sense of the word. Considering Matthew 25:31-46, do Christian hermits and persons who by nature and perceived “calling,” who dedicate themselves to prayer and spiritual acts of charity, have any realistic chance of salvation? For me this is not a silly question.

Well, I hope this isn’t true b/c if it is, I’m in big trouble. I’m also shy and although I do contribute monthly to Food for the Poor and help others as I see a need, I find myself leaning more towards praying for the salvation of others…especially through the Rosary. And not just prayer, but more the “spiritual works of mercy” in general.

To instruct the ignorant;
To counsel the doubtful;
To admonish sinners;
To bear wrongs patiently;
To forgive offences willingly;
To comfort the afflicted;
To pray for the living and the dead.

And I suppose that means that contemplative nuns (such as Mother Angelica) are in a lot of trouble too. But I think of Our Lady of Fatima and how she said, “Many souls go to Hell b/c there is no one to pray for them.” And I think, then, that it must be pretty important to pray for others. I’m interested in hearing what others have to say as well. I think there are many people though who have a hard time with prayer–with concentrating and discipling themselves to do it–and so in some ways it’s harder for some than working in a soup kitchen. I don’t think we’re meant to neglect any of the works of mercy, but God gives everyone different talents.

 

[po18guy]

I apologize if this has been asked before. A question continues to surface in my mind and is relevant to my love of prayer and focus on spiritual acts of mercy. I admit that by disposition I’m more a shy hermit than an active apostle in some sense of the word. Considering Matthew 25:31-46, do Christian hermits and persons who by nature and perceived “calling,” who dedicate themselves to prayer and spiritual acts of charity, have any realistic chance of salvation? For me this is not a silly question.

Only as much of a chance as anyone else. What about the cloistered nuns and hermit monks? How is your faith and prayer life substantially different from theirs? Many Saints spent years, decades, even lifetimes in the desert in prayer. That did not impede them in the slightest. Another point to consider: you are speaking of only a snapshot of your life as it is at this moment of time. Life is dynamic and the Lord may change you in an instant into the fulfillment of His every desire for you - it is a matter of denying yourself and being open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. You sound slightly scrupulous about your spirituality. I would speak with father at your next reconciliation about the thoughts you are having. I am certain that he can put your spirit at peace.

 

[Veronica97]

I spelled “disciplining” wrong. Sorry–I need to go to bed.

 

[seeker44]

Yes, Veronica – I feel and see about this matter very much as you do, and I appreciate your reassurance, and thank you also po18guy. I appreciate that you confirm my scrupulosity and I know that guilt is the not the purest motive for charitable action, even if guilt has its place in some things. I’m one who still believes that Satan exists and ready to deceive by false recriminations that distract and discourage those who seek God. A priest I spoke with told me that “prayer people” and pure contemplatives are lacking these days when many professed religious and dedicated laypersons have become almost full-time social workers. We do, indeed, have our own particular gifts and calling – some more with Mary and others with Martha.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

First thing is, God loves people to do corporal acts of mercy, as well as spiritual acts of mercy. But make no mistake about it. Those acts are NOT the key to heaven. They are the works that we use to develop our faith, but God doesn’t have a statistician marking down and counting, “OK, you gave more than expected on the spiritual acts, but tsk tsk your corporal acts are only at 40% so you fail as a Christian and as a human being.”

Yikes! Yes it sounds like it from the Time Talent Treasure mantra. I worked on our own parish stewardship; my pastor paid out of his own pocket for me to get training in the diocese stewardship program and bring it back to the parish leadership. They wouldn’t have anything of it. They are worldly, and can’t get past the quid pro quo mentality of “what have YOU done for US lately?”

Well for crying out loud what have they done for US? Made us think that getting into heaven is about earning our way in? In a minute I’ll quote a scripture that will prove it’s impossible.

You are not the one that is misguided. The Time, Talent, and Treasure concept is a great starting point, but every parish I’ve seen that talks about them, distorts the meaning of True Stewardship. Stewardship that is required, or compelled is not true stewardship. True stewardship is your bursting over with love and thanks and desire to bless others, so you do what you can out of your own free will, and your enthusiasm. Not what someone tells you, but what the spirit brings you into. Imagine if even one out of five Catholics acted that way, we’d hardly have any problems at all.

We are all different members of the same body. The Church needs mystics and prayerful people, or it will be dead. Hollow like whitewashed tombs, to borrow an image from Jesus. They look beautiful on the outside, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth.

So think about this next time you think about all these people who make a big deal out of being seen doing things. And let’s face it – they say it’s between you and God, but the Church has an agenda and needs, and IMO those in parish leadership – including pastors – have a terrible track record at sterilizing stewardship so that it never goes beyond the next threat or bribe.

These people may even sincerely believes they are doing it All Perfectly, but really they are playing on the emotions of people who want to be good and are swayed by other people’s Strong Opinions, and they use the feelings of comparing ourselves to each other as to which is more “worthy” by virtue of how much time, talent, treasure they give. These are often forms of quid pro quo, and even very subtle and disturbing variations that few other than the enemy realize are leading people astray. They foster an attitude of “What Have You Done for Me Lately?” This is just as unhealthy a way for the Church to come across, as for an individual.

Here is a passage to think about regarding others passing you on their way to heaven by their Good Deeds Seen in Public. Pretend they are parading around witnessing about how blessed they are because of all the junk they do… puff puff puffff (that’s their ego inflating)

Matt 23:23-24
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. [But] these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!"

They are diligent in paying attention to things that really Do Not Impress Him. The reason they don’t impress Him is not that they are not good things to do, but there are priorities.

Let’s look again at how strongly Jesus worded His case for … dare I say … the type of people who look down on those who aren’t doing “enough” corporal works? In the kingdom there is no calculators or measurement scales.

Matt 23:25-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.

The well known 1 Cor 13 expands this, in case anybody isn’t clear on what does NOT impress God:

1 Cor 13:3
If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

OK so you give away all … do every corporal act of mercy until you are homeless, naked, and hungry – that does not mean you have love or that God is impressed.

Again, and I can hear it now, I am NOT suggesting you should not do these things. Do them if you can or not if you can’t, but keep the thought that you aren’t doing it because they made a Big Deal out of it, but that you are doing everything you can for God. It’s no different than where God tells slaves to obey their masters. If they manipulate you and jerk your chains, they are making you into a de facto slave. So do what you believe is right and don’t accept any guilt for anything else.

Really, part of the problem is we are trained like little lab rats to believe we are always supposed to be impressing God. It’s not easy to impress someone who created the whole universe. Good thing God doesn’t need to be impressed. He’s already knocked out about you, and wants you to share in His love and His joy.

Alan