A Nun-hermit

[Sister_Laurel]

[quote name='EWIE' post='1498595' date='Apr 13 2008, 12:48 PM']...." Finally, people have a right to expect a kind of I guess what I am hearing of here is another way something which is truly sacred has been trivialized and emptied by those who pretend also to "honor" it.

Aaaahhhh agreement 99%, but I don't think most people mean to trivialize it, as much as they want to "be somebody"....to call attention to themselves as someone of importance.
I now you are on a lot of forums and you are not naive -- not at our age. We've seen it all and you KNOW some of our friends on ML are not consecrated, certainly not in any denomination, currentlly in existence, let alone the RC one.]][/quote]


I have not been active on this forum in the past, and don't personally know anyone on the ML who wears a habit without being allowed to in some official way. (That said, I do know of a couple of people who are in some sort of autocephalous church, possibly not really established, so perhaps I DO know some of those of whom you speak.) I don't think people WANT to trivialize the habit, but they are doing so nonetheless. How can religious be expected to appreciate and wear the habit allowing it to mean all it is supposed to mean when lay people who are clamoring for this wear the habit themselves and empty it of meaning? When religious say they eschew the habit because they do NOT want to be put on a pedastal or contribute to elitist mentalities in the church, these same lay people object that they have never heard of or experienced such a thing, and yet, as you say, "they want to call attention to themselves as someone of importance."

I can honestly understand religious who do not wish to deal with these "habit wars", much less with the hypocrisy of those who claim to honor the habit while emptying it of meaning.

Sincerely,
Sister Laurel M O'Neal
Stillsong Hermitage
Diocese of Oakland

[jkaands]

[quote name='EWIE' post='1498595' date='Apr 13 2008, 02:48 PM']...." Finally, people have a right to expect a kind of I guess what I am hearing of here is another way something which is truly sacred has been trivialized and emptied by those who pretend also to "honor" it.

Aaaahhhh agreement 99%, but I don't think most people mean to trivialize it, as much as they want to "be somebody"....to call attention to themselves as someone of importance.
I now you are on a lot of forums and you are not naive -- not at our age. We've seen it all and you KNOW some of our friends on ML are not consecrated, certainly not in any denomination, currentlly in existence, let alone the RC one.[/quote]

Irrespective of people's motives in illicitly wearing a habit, they are trivializing it.

[HisChild]

[quote name='SRLAUREL' post='1498039' date='Apr 12 2008, 11:38 AM']The hermit is self-supporting and must undertake whatever she can within the parameters of hermit life which allow that. Ther diocese supplies NOTHING except her canonical approval of the vocation and a context for living the life, not stipend, insurance, housing, transportation, etc --- and generally that is a good thing. Many Bishops do not allow the hermit to work outside the hermitage: they will not profess someone if that is necessary still, but they do ordinarily allow limited activities and sharing of gifts, talents, and education outside the hermitage.

Sincerely,
Sister Laurel M O'Neal
Stillsong Hermitage
Diocese of Oakland[/quote]

Sister Laurel,

I've read your article and seen your blog recently. After 'googling' you, I noticed you were on PM. I haven't been online in quite some time but thought to sign on and drop a line. I find your life admirable. I have a question for you. Simple curiosity, really. I pray you don't mind the inquiry.

Although I've met several hermits in my journey, I've never thought to ask this until now. Of course, you cannot be in debt or have other obligations, but I'm wondering... how does a hermit pay for her own bills: utilities, water, rent, groceries, health insurance, etc.? Must they have some monies stored away for these purposes? Logistically, I can't really see how this would be feasible since they have either very limited or no active apostolate or way of earning money, unless they've somehow had funds saved up for their support.



The peace of the Risen Christ,

Denise

[Sister_Laurel]

[quote name='HisChild' post='1498965' date='Apr 13 2008, 11:46 PM']Sister Laurel,

I've read your article and seen your blog recently. After 'googling' you, I noticed you were on PM. I haven't been online in quite some time but thought to sign on and drop a line. I find your life admirable. I have a question for you. Simple curiosity, really. I pray you don't mind the inquiry.

Although I've met several hermits in my journey, I've never thought to ask this until now. Of course, you cannot be in debt or have other obligations, but I'm wondering... how does a hermit pay for her own bills: utilities, water, rent, groceries, health insurance, etc.? Must they have some monies stored away for these purposes? Logistically, I can't really see how this would be feasible since they have either very limited or no active apostolate or way of earning money, unless they've somehow had funds saved up for their support. Denise[/quote]


Hermits support themselves in various ways. Some (because this is most often a vocation of those in the second half of their lives) have physical disabilities and therefore receive medical insurance and even disability payments through the state or country they live in. Most do some kind of work from the hermitage (it is simply part of the life to work in some way), writing, painting, weaving, pottery, crafts of other types, beekeeping, and then too, as I do, limited adult faith formation in parishes, spiritual direction, retreat work or lectures, etc. There are actually a lot of opportunities for working out of one's home these days and some of them are right for a hermit.

Some hermits have saved for their hermitages and are now living in them for a minimal amount, some rent at reduced rates, and occasionally one hears of a diocese supplying housing at a nominal (or no) cost --- though this is very rare, and also rather risky for the hermit to count on; also some live in subsidized housing due to their own very low incomes. I suppose that some hermits receive regular gifts from parishioners or stipends as well, but all in all, it is a difficult life in terms of supporting oneself. Clothing allowances are pretty minimal for those wearing habits, but food, utilities, transportation and the like are expensive no matter where one lives.

Sincerely,
Sister Laurel M O'Neal
Stillsong Hermitage
Diocese of Oakland