Understanding Isolated Asceticism

[TK421]

Hi Traditional Catholicism subsection. It is I.

So I’m taking a lay ecclesial ministry course on Church history (we’re following through the series "Epic: A Journey Through Church History, which so far I am highly pleased with and would recommend to others) and right now we’re running through the period of the early councils, from which come 40% of our Doctors. One of the movements that started taking off more after the period of the more severe persecutions was people going off to live in the wilderness as hermits.

It is my understanding that because of God’s nature as being infinitely generous, he does not lead people into doing anything except that it may help others. On the surface, one might then criticize the lifestyle of the hermit. Indeed, many contemporary people do just that. This can’t be correct since several early canonized saints in the Church followed such a lifestyle, at least for a time. Perhaps the most elaborately written account is the one penned by St. Athanasius on St. Anthony of Egypt. This person went into the desert for solidarity, and was subsequently tormented by Satan with various fears and temptations, of boredom, laziness, women, and later fearful wild beasts, all of which were overcome through prayer. Satan was very angry with St. Anthony’s pursuits, so whatever he was doing, it clearly must have been a good thing.

St. Anthony’s solidarity, however, wasn’t indefinite or absolute. He did have limited contact with outsiders to provide spiritual direction, and he later went into Alexandria to comfort Christian prisoners and pretty much stuck his neck out, asking to get martyred, which didn’t happen. God preserved him.

So again, I’m not trying to sound strictly utilitarian, but all the same, going off of my logic that because God is infinitely generous, I believe it is theologically sound to say that He would never lead a person into a vocation that does not help others. What are the comprehensive spiritual benefits that the Church would give to the hermit lifestyle? To me, what it really boils down to is the powerful spiritual growth it can foster, which is an inspiration for others, even if they themselves don’t adopt the lifestyle.

Deeper insights? I’m sure there are volumes of material that can further discuss this.

 

[chimo]

Hi Traditional Catholicism subsection. It is I.

So I’m taking a lay ecclesial ministry course on Church history (we’re following through the series "Epic: A Journey Through Church History, which so far I am highly pleased with and would recommend to others) and right now we’re running through the period of the early councils, from which come 40% of our Doctors. One of the movements that started taking off more after the period of the more severe persecutions was people going off to live in the wilderness as hermits.

It is my understanding that because of God’s nature as being infinitely generous, he does not lead people into doing anything except that it may help others. On the surface, one might then criticize the lifestyle of the hermit. Indeed, many contemporary people do just that. This can’t be correct since several early canonized saints in the Church followed such a lifestyle, at least for a time. Perhaps the most elaborately written account is the one penned by St. Athanasius on St. Anthony of Egypt. This person went into the desert for solidarity, and was subsequently tormented by Satan with various fears and temptations, of boredom, laziness, women, and later fearful wild beasts, all of which were overcome through prayer. Satan was very angry with St. Anthony’s pursuits, so whatever he was doing, it clearly must have been a good thing.

St. Anthony’s solidarity, however, wasn’t indefinite or absolute. He did have limited contact with outsiders to provide spiritual direction, and he later went into Alexandria to comfort Christian prisoners and pretty much stuck his neck out, asking to get martyred, which didn’t happen. God preserved him.

So again, I’m not trying to sound strictly utilitarian, but all the same, going off of my logic that because God is infinitely generous, I believe it is theologically sound to say that He would never lead a person into a vocation that does not help others. What are the comprehensive spiritual benefits that the Church would give to the hermit lifestyle? To me, what it really boils down to is the powerful spiritual growth it can foster, which is an inspiration for others, even if they themselves don’t adopt the lifestyle.

Deeper insights? I’m sure there are volumes of material that can further discuss this.

The ascetical style does not necessarily mean you have to go away to become a hermit. The ascetical struggle can be there in the comforts of your own home. St. Seraphim of Sarov, the great Russian Orthodox saint had been on a seclusion rock for over 1000 straight days where he also needed to battle with demons of all sorts. It seems the devil finds ascetical struggle a big thorn to his life. After this great ascetical struggle the saint was transformed into a great spiritual father for Russia. What this saint is teaching us is to find your own “rock” where this ascetical struggle can begin. The saint goes on saying that the aim of our Christian life is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit. He goes on saying that we need more of the Holy Spirit than what we receive in Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist. We only receive partial deposits at these Sacraments but we must work with what we receive so as to receive Him more to get at that goal of the Fullness which will come in time. That is what the ascetical struggle is all about. To receive more of the Holy Spirit in greater portions. Once you have been given the Holy Spirit in such greater degree you are able to help so many others to be guided by your wisdom and insights. All the ascetical struggle tells you is you are experiencing God more directly. It is often been called “on the job training” with actual experiences to become this mentor to help you better understand the spiritual life.

 

[marywarfield]

Hi Traditional Catholicism subsection. It is I.

So I’m taking a lay ecclesial ministry course on Church history (we’re following through the series "Epic: A Journey Through Church History, which so far I am highly pleased with and would recommend to others) and right now we’re running through the period of the early councils, from which come 40% of our Doctors. One of the movements that started taking off more after the period of the more severe persecutions was people going off to live in the wilderness as hermits.

It is my understanding that because of God’s nature as being infinitely generous, he does not lead people into doing anything except that it may help others. On the surface, one might then criticize the lifestyle of the hermit. Indeed, many contemporary people do just that. This can’t be correct since several early canonized saints in the Church followed such a lifestyle, at least for a time. Perhaps the most elaborately written account is the one penned by St. Athanasius on St. Anthony of Egypt. This person went into the desert for solidarity, and was subsequently tormented by Satan with various fears and temptations, of boredom, laziness, women, and later fearful wild beasts, all of which were overcome through prayer. Satan was very angry with St. Anthony’s pursuits, so whatever he was doing, it clearly must have been a good thing.

St. Anthony’s solidarity, however, wasn’t indefinite or absolute. He did have limited contact with outsiders to provide spiritual direction, and he later went into Alexandria to comfort Christian prisoners and pretty much stuck his neck out, asking to get martyred, which didn’t happen. God preserved him.

So again, I’m not trying to sound strictly utilitarian, but all the same, going off of my logic that because God is infinitely generous, I believe it is theologically sound to say that He would never lead a person into a vocation that does not help others. What are the comprehensive spiritual benefits that the Church would give to the hermit lifestyle? To me, what it really boils down to is the powerful spiritual growth it can foster, which is an inspiration for others, even if they themselves don’t adopt the lifestyle.

Deeper insights? I’m sure there are volumes of material that can further discuss this.

Sometimes isolation is best. But the isolated lifestyle
also occurs within community because the idea behind
it is evangelization best occurs when one is working
on being as perfectly conformed to Christ themselves.
This is what makes, like the Orthodox saint mentioned
above Seraphim of Sarov, the Little Way of St. Therese
so powerful. littleflower.org/abouttherese/learn/stThereseLittle.asp

 

[eschator83]

I too highly enjoyed the Epic program, but you must realize every nation in every age has had a fascinating Catholic history, and Epic can barely do much more than mention the high and some low points. I strongly suggest you get Eusebius’ History; also a good Lives of the Saints (I like Delaney because he is very devoted); Richard McBrien’s Lives of the Popes (he is outrageously and absurdly sceptical about almost everything magisterial, but he writes very well and covers a lot); at least one comprehensive history (I have Bokenkotter’s and McSorley–enjoy going back and forth between the two but can’t seem to make much progess in either, mostly because there is so much complex history); and
also at leat one good history of the Church in an individual nations (these are just plain more manageable for many of us–I like Ireland, USA, especially).
About your concern to understand hermits, ascetics (I was concerned you might be on the way to contemplatives in general), start by praying to understand Jesus’ words to Martha when He told her that Mary had chosen the better way (Lk 10:41f). It is no coincidence that the first commandment is to love God, the second to love our neighbors as ourselves.
I pray you are finding Love, Hope, and Faith–it is a lifelong journey, not just a short class.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

This is the classic Mary/Martha problem. To Martha, Mary’s contemplative vocation seems useless, even worthy of Christ’s reproof. But Christ corrects her, saying that Mary has chosen the better part. Contemplatives generously devote their whole lives to God. There is nothing selfish or useless about that.

 

[catholicscot]

In the Hindu tradition, perhaps, a hermit might be considered as isolated but no one who takes part in the prayer and sacramental life of the Church can be considered to be such. Even if a person lived alone and in an isolated place so long as the prayers they offered and the Rule that they observed were those of the Church then their struggles and sacrifices would belong to the spiritual treasury of the Church. The mystical unity of the Body of Christ is not constrained by material considerations of time, place or distance.

 

[TK421]

In the Hindu tradition, perhaps, a hermit might be considered as isolated but no one who takes part in the prayer and sacramental life of the Church can be considered to be such. Even if a person lived alone and in an isolated place so long as the prayers they offered and the Rule that they observed were those of the Church then their struggles and sacrifices would belong to the spiritual treasury of the Church. The mystical unity of the Body of Christ is not constrained by material considerations of time, place or distance.

I’m assuming the Church law on Sunday obligation was not formerly in effect in the 3rd/4th centuries? These ascetics that moved into the desert would not have had access to the Mass.

 

[catholicscot]

I’m assuming the Church law on Sunday obligation was not formerly in effect in the 3rd/4th centuries? These ascetics that moved into the desert would not have had access to the Mass.

Reading the works of the Desert Fathers I was puzzled as to their frequent reference to the Synaxis but having done the research I relised that yes, even the most remote of solitaries often made quite heroic efforts to join in the liturgy of the universal chuech.

 

[GLam8833]

I read about a shrine in the Middle East dedicated to
a Maronite Hermit-Saint Charbel, he lived an isolated
life and had no contacts at all with the opposite sex.
After his death, when they exhumed his body for
religious reasons, they discovered liquid oozing from
his corpse, even this had healing effects long after
he died!