Hermits

[elizabeth09]

Thought about for a year, and I look at one communite.


carmelite sisters of the divine heart of jesus
http://www.carmelitedcj.org/
http://www.carmelitedcj.org/retreats.asp

[Mary Veronica]

[quote name='Orans' date='31 August 2009 - 08:15 PM' timestamp='1251764140' post='1959113']
Could you share a little about their life? How do they live the solitude? How much common life do they have? Are they many in the community? Do they have individual hermitages? ... and whatever you may want to share.

The hermit vocation is very beautiful even though it is not easy. I'll be praying for your discernment.

Peace
[/quote]

yes, they have individual hermitages, they have seven. They pray, eat, work, in solitude. there's only 3 nuns presently in the foundation. here's there website hermitsofourladyofmountcarmel.org I would like to share more... But I think I can convey more personally to anyone who feels even the slightest desire to the life. besides I don't know where to begin

[HisChild]

I've seen their website before. They sound lovely. I wish they'd update their site, though!

[Indwelling Trinity]

Thr carmelites of chester come under the O. Carms and their vows are solemn. They are a samll communtity about five hermits.

Mother Mary of Jesus Joseph is Foundress and prioress. I have found her to Be very Kind snd loving but she does stress the psycholgical aspects of the life to a great degree. She is very selective of whom she accepts. Origianlly the land they posess was givnto them by Father Romano of the Hermits of Bethlehem in Chester which are directly down the road from them. Unless you heve almost spoteless pyscholigicl help, you may find it hard to enter.

I think to some extent this is wise, however i think there should be a balance between God;s healing love and psychology as many come with previous baggage in this current day society. Never the less i have personally seen those with severe psychological problems overcome them with medication in a deep humility and acceptance of their brokenness they have only to become truly integrated religious, even in the eremitic hermit Life style .

Whether Mother is open to that is another question.
How great is God's mercy and love!

However it can't hurt to write if you are discerning them

How ever all in all they are truly a very beautiful community.

Tenderly,

Indwelling Trinity

Edited September 26, 2009 by Indwelling Trinity

[Orans]

[quote name='Indwelling Trinity' date='26 September 2009 - 03:09 PM' timestamp='1253992197' post='1973036']
Thr carmelites of chester come under the O. Carms and their vows are solemn. They are a samll communtity about five hermits.

Mother Mary of Jesus Joseph is Foundress and prioress. I have found her to Be very Kind snd loving but she does stress the psycholgical aspects of the life to a great degree. She is very selective of whom she accepts. Origianlly the land they posess was givnto them by Father Romano of the Hermits of Bethlehem in Chester which are directly down the road from them. Unless you heve almost spoteless pyscholigicl help, you may find it hard to enter.

I think to some extent this is wise, however i think there should be a balance between God;s healing love and psychology as many come with previous baggage in this current day society. Never the less i have personally seen those with severe psychological problems overcome them with medication in a deep humility and acceptance of their brokenness they have only to become truly integrated religious, even in the eremitic hermit Life style .

Whether Mother is open to that is another question.
[/quote]

As a hermit I believe that solitude and silence bring to the surface all and every psychological issue the person has, whether known, or unconscious, or buried. When there is no entertainment and no one around to blame for our problems we cannot keep on avoiding facing issues -the reality of our brokenness. And this is very much part of the journey, indeed.

Though it is true that most people can overcome their psychological limitations, it takes time and effort on their part and often on the part of the community -when this happens in relgious life. And if this essential discipline is not taken care of we know well that communities, especially cloistered communities, can be very dysfunctional.

I don't know this particular community of hermit Sisters, but I understand that this may be more important for them to the point of looking at the psychological aspect more closely than other bigger and more "busy" communities (even if contemplatives) do.

[ruso]

[quote name='Laudem Gloriae' date='16 July 2009 - 07:07 AM' timestamp='1247717269' post='1921282']
Before entering the Sheffield Carmel, nunsense stayed with the Hermits of Bethlehem and looked into the Hermits of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. She posted at the threads below - and probably others - these are what I found. If you are looking at these type of orders.

Here are some past PM threads on the Sisters of Bethlehem, Hermits of Bethlehem and the Hermits of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - sisters.


[url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=56995&hl=hermits"]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?s...&hl=hermits[/url]

[url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=77990&hl=hermits"]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?s...&hl=hermits[/url]

Hermits of Bethlehem:

A Way of Desert Spirituality: The Plan of Life of the Hermits of Bethlehem, Chester, New Jersey, by Fr. Romano founder of the Hermits of Bethlehem at
[url="http://www.amazon.com/Way-Desert-Spirituality-Hermits-Bethlehem/dp/0818908211"]http://www.amazon.com/Way-Desert-Spiritual...m/dp/0818908211[/url]

[url="http://www.patersondiocese.org/page.cfm?Web_ID=1424"]http://www.patersondiocese.org/page.cfm?Web_ID=1424[/url]



Hermits of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - sisters:

[url="http://www.hermitsofourladyofmountcarmel.org/index.htm"]http://www.hermitsofourladyofmountcarmel.org/index.htm[/url]
[/quote]
The Sisters of Bethlehem are many vocations in Europe, his charisma is going up.

http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=55470&view=&hl=lerma&fromsearch=1

[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6bQneoc8R7U/R9G82ju6I8I/AAAAAAAAAT0/PJGnaW8nzM8/s400/DSC00059.JPG[/img]

[img]http://www.marianistas.org/comunidad/attachments/monjas_de_belen_sijena.jpg[/img]

[alleros]

For Benedict, it was "Do as I say" not " Do as I did"....

quote name='Staretz' date='18 July 2009 - 12:56 PM' timestamp='1247939818' post='1923779']
I like St. Benedict's assumption (not that I am biased or anything), that a hermit is one who leaves a community after a long period of testing in a community and is therefore fully armed for the battles that he will face. After all, when you are alone with God you are also alone with yourself, and that can be a scarier prospect than you might think. "Single combat" with the world, the flesh, and the devil is not to be taken up lightly.

A certain Grimlaicus wrote a "Rule for Solitaries", which I wrote about in this forum [url="http://http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=85294&mode=threaded&pid=1664284"]here[/url]. The link to the actual rule is [url="http://www.anselm.edu/homepage/athornto/grimlaicusweb.htm"]this one[/url]

I hasve taken that page, reformatted it a bit in InDesign, and imported made it a PDF file. if anyone wants it, PM me with an email address to send it to!
[/quote]

[GraceUk]

I must say it would never appeal to me. But it is good that we are all different. I saw a programme a long time ago about an Irish hermit. A lady who lived in a caravan and was recognised as a hermit by her bishop. So I expect there is a difference between hermits who live as part of a community and hermits who go it alone as it were and are not part of a community. But all through the ages there have been hermits. They must get very close to God.

[alleros]

That would have been Irene Gibson?

That is a story. She was the first woman in Ireland to take hermit Canon 603 Vows and she was not in the caravan for long.

She raised 20,000 sterling from the irish folk and built the complex you will see here.

But then she, as she put it "had the scales removed from her eyes," turned against the Catholic Church and set up this idea.

[url="http://www.catholic-church.org/hermitage/"]http://www.catholic-church.org/hermitage/[/url]

Thus incurrring a great deal of hostility from those who had actually built the place as well as given their money, and isolating herself; She went on Irish TV twice about it all.

The venture failed; the only person there was herself, which is why all the photos are taken from the back. Only her..

She then put it up for sale, but could not let go when an offer was made.

Now, it is literally falling down and she left there some three years ago; saying she was not a hermit and could not live alone.

Her interviews are still online.

The Solitary life - and I speak from decades of experience - is a rare one and needs balance. Not from the psycholgical aspect some raise, which is surely true for each person , but from a practical viewpoint.

As the world darkens it has more appeal.

[quote name='GraceUk' date='26 October 2009 - 09:41 AM' timestamp='1256568101' post='1991483']
I must say it would never appeal to me. But it is good that we are all different. I saw a programme a long time ago about an Irish hermit. A lady who lived in a caravan and was recognised as a hermit by her bishop. So I expect there is a difference between hermits who live as part of a community and hermits who go it alone as it were and are not part of a community. But all through the ages there have been hermits. They must get very close to God.
[/quote]

[GraceUk]

That sounds as if it could have been the same person. The name Irene rings a bell but it was years ago. I didn't realise she had gone against the church. And I am sure the Irish people who had supported her wouldn't have been pleased with that. It's not really too clear from the website that the order is not in communion with the church as it were. We don't seem to get too much of this breakaway from the church here in the UK where I live. In fact I've not heard of it. Doesn't mean to say it hasn't happened. It's quite sad really. In fact a few church of England vicars and now a Bishop are wanting to join the Catholic church. And that seems to be causing a bit of trouble. Sorry to digress from the topic.

[alleros]

This page makes it clear

[url="http://www.catholic-church.org/hermitage/page3.htm"]http://www.catholic-church.org/hermitage/page3.htm[/url]

And of course we knew here and the whole saga.

And her interviews...



[url="http://www.independent.ie/national-news/nun-forced-to-abandon-nineyear-project-on-silent-religious-colony-335050.html"]http://www.independent.ie/national-news/nun-forced-to-abandon-nineyear-project-on-silent-religious-colony-335050.html[/url]

[url="http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article1155656.ece"]http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article1155656.ece[/url]#

Oh it was 250, 000 sterling

Raises before she made her attack on the Church.

She went on Irish TV saying that the Roman Catholic Church ( post Vatican 2) was in league with Satan. That interview used to be online and may still be so.

This is even more rare in Ireland than in the UK of course.

We visited her soon before she left and by then the wilderness was taking over. Such a waste.


[quote name='GraceUk' date='26

October 2009 - 12:33 PM' timestamp='1256578435' post='1991562']
That sounds as if it could have been the same person. The name Irene rings a bell but it was years ago. I didn't realise she had gone against the church. And I am sure the Irish people who had supported her wouldn't have been pleased with that. It's not really too clear from the website that the order is not in communion with the church as it were. We don't seem to get too much of this breakaway from the church here in the UK where I live. In fact I've not heard of it. Doesn't mean to say it hasn't happened. It's quite sad really. In fact a few church of England vicars and now a Bishop are wanting to join the Catholic church. And that seems to be causing a bit of trouble. Sorry to digress from the topic.
[/quote]

[GraceUk]

I didn't realise she had become such a controversial figure. I am assuming it is this same one. I only mentioned her because she was the only solitary hermit I had ever heard about.

[sistersintigo]

Regarding Sr. Irene Gibson:
get a look at this!
http://www.advertiser.ie/mayo/article/4933#

[alleros]

Interesting indeed.

As she broke her hermit vows, and then failed to set up a community? Sister?

People in Ireland are slow to forget.

When we first came here, no one would even speak about her and why she was shunned as she was.

It took time to learn what had happened. The disapproval went so very deep and still does.

[quote name='sistersintigo' date='26 October 2009 - 04:00 PM' timestamp='1256590815' post='1991691']
Regarding Sr. Irene Gibson:
get a look at this!
[url="http://www.advertiser.ie/mayo/article/4933#"]http://www.advertise...o/article/4933#[/url]
[/quote]

[sistersintigo]

A thought regarding Saint Bruno who founded the Carthusian Order.
Wherever this man went, someone followed, even if the followers were only a handful of men. What the followers generally did then, was to shift from St. Bruno's eremitical, solitary focus, to the "cenobitic" monasticism, which combines community with solitude. Bruno himself, God rest his soul, moved from place to place largely because he really wanted to be alone! The first foundation of the Carthusians, La Grande Chartreuse in the French Alps (still active, against all odds, nine hundred years later), imposes solitude and silence each and every day on the choir monks; and at the same time, I have never heard this monastery referred to as a "Laura" with "hermitages." Although the Carthusians put down their roots at la Grand Chartreuse, Bruno went somewhere else to live, and to die. He headed south, to the Calabrian area of today's Italy, near the bottom of Italy's "boot". He tried his best, at the end, to be a hermit, rather than a prior with monks around him. Bruno could not get away completely from human contact, as his associates persisted in sending, and requesting, letters from him; and there were men nearby to make sure he did not die abandoned. But Bruno persisted in seeking a reclusive life. All these centuries later, there is debate, some of it lively and heated, about whether Bruno left La Grand Chartreuse because he failed to compromise, or whether his career as a vowed religious was a complete success. I guess the essential thing is that his life and work makes people stop and think, whether they agree or not.

[Josie07]

it seems i already am i hermit. but i dont want to be.

[HisChild]

What do you mean?

For the point of this discussion, of course you know that a hermit is someone who withdraws more completely from the world. This is self imposed, if you will, a choice. This is not something foisted on one due to circumstance or loneliness.

Do you have a more secular understanding of the word hermit?

[EJames2]

video; hermits fire-of-love
[url="http://vocation-station.blogspot.com/2008/02/hermitsfire-of-love.html"]http://vocation-stat...re-of-love.html[/url]


[quote name='Laudem Gloriae' date='15 July 2009 - 09:07 PM' timestamp='1247717269' post='1921282']
Before entering the Sheffield Carmel, nunsense stayed with the Hermits of Bethlehem and looked into the Hermits of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. She posted at the threads below - and probably others - these are what I found. If you are looking at these type of orders.

Here are some past PM threads on the Sisters of Bethlehem, Hermits of Bethlehem and the Hermits of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - sisters.


[url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=56995&hl=hermits"]http://www.phatmass....s...&hl=hermits[/url]

[url="http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=77990&hl=hermits"]http://www.phatmass....s...&hl=hermits[/url]

Hermits of Bethlehem:

A Way of Desert Spirituality: The Plan of Life of the Hermits of Bethlehem, Chester, New Jersey, by Fr. Romano founder of the Hermits of Bethlehem at
[url="http://www.amazon.com/Way-Desert-Spirituality-Hermits-Bethlehem/dp/0818908211"]http://www.amazon.co...m/dp/0818908211[/url]

[url="http://www.patersondiocese.org/page.cfm?Web_ID=1424"]http://www.patersond...cfm?Web_ID=1424[/url]



Hermits of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - sisters:

[url="http://www.hermitsofourladyofmountcarmel.org/index.htm"]http://www.hermitsof...l.org/index.htm[/url]
[/quote]

-

Edited February 7, 2010 by EJames2

[Mary Veronica]

I just got back from a two week visit with the Hermits of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Chester, New Jersey. I'm going back soon to enter as a postulant. even though pretty much anyone can walk in and have their personal thoughts about this particular eremitical life, I'd like to be someone (who hopefully might be called there) to put in some good thoughts:

Anyone who feels like they've been discerning forever or have journeyed long, will show me the compassion and hope that I thirst for . so I've been discerning for three years now. I like to say that I was first a Marian Devotee of ST. Louis de Montforts' works, and I will always be to my last breath!then I entered the Poor Clare Colettine order for 1yr and 3 months.then I entered the Discalced Carmelite order for 4 months.

although the contemplative orders had similarities (apart from their unique charism,ie: Franciscan, Carmelite) I found it hard to devote myself wholeheartedly to both their charism because I didn't yet have a personal calling. what I did have was a desire, but not a "calling."from what I've observed from the stories of our saints handed down to us, a calling is ultimately very personal and it can take many journeys to find it. but once it's found than it doesn't matter so much WHERE one is, but WHAT that one does at the moment. hopefully what we do according to our calling, is good and fruitful, whether others who are standing in the same place with us are not called to act in the same way. just like St. Teresa of Avila, Lucia from Fatima, Mother Teresa,St. Francis they all found their calling fruitfully: St. Teresa had to leave her original community to live the Primitive Rule as a Discalced Carmelite because of God's calling (not just because of interior inspirations) which was so ingrained in her that not even the most prudent and wise oppositions could stop her. and the fruit is manycontemplative vocations and saints faithful to the Primitive Rule.

Likewise with Lucia of Fatima, who was not originally a Discalced Carmelite but a Sister of St. Dorothy for over 20yrs, which was a beautiful testimony that she entered Carmel (with papal approval) seeing that she had longago seen the vision of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with the Child Jesus and the Scapular--I'm not sure why she didn't enter Carmel first, but GOODNESS who can refute the fruits of her journey.
And with Mother Teresa who was a Sister of Loreto before she heard the "call within a call" from the poor.
And St. Francis who became everything perfectly (merchant, chivalric soldier, a beggar, a preacher, a saint etc) but he was called to start the "Friars Minor" to rebuild God's Church, even though God revealed to Him in the beginning that the Order would suffer disunity, but would produce many saints and last to the end of the world.

well anyway, I think I might find my calling here at the Hermits of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. yes, there are trials here and in every foundation of the Church. the trials might be small or grave or nothing at all,depending on the individual who encounters it-especially if that individual is called to encounter it and to persevere by Grace. in other words, as for the psychological aspects of the life, that is the founder's call and may it be her salvaton, BUT it is not in the constitution approved by the Church to take on her mentality. the life itself calls for the fidelity of each individual hermit, and if they should fail, then God forgive them and may He forgive us for the many infidelities we have, and May God Be Blessed for His loving fidelity to us, and may we learn by His Grace to be faithful to Him even in times when we are judged as unfaithful.

If it is true that the heaven rejoice exceedingly over one sinner who converts than over the countless just who are already converted, then what's in the"conversion" that seems to hold it's prominence over "fidelity?" it has to be mercy. God's Mercy is Love, but it's necessarily more significant than Love, because we're a fallen race, and to destroy sin by rendering from it truth joy and love, is the greatest Glory of God. If the conversion of a sinner is so joyous, how much more regarded is the ONE who converted that sinner. Anyone can stress social, psychological, spiritual, religious, moral, devotional aspects of life. The Government does that, the Church does that, all religions and sects do that. But if it doesn't render God's Mercy from those who hear it, then it's meaningless, accept to the one's who are faithful to it. BUt Jesus and His Church Came to save sinners not the righteous alone. Even Jesus endured the doctrinal and moral and political stress of his own peoplethat literally nailed him to the cross, but his call was greater than the law. His call was to love God his Father, and love us to save usfrom sin.

It's terrible that those discerning religiuos/priestly vocations undergo so many pressures and stresses from others.May God give us all, the grace to endure and love each other in order to render His Mercy always. Blessed are those who have continual conversions of the heart, mind, and body, as suppose to those who've "never" done anything so wrong on earth ( 1 John 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. ). Blessed even more is He and those who cause conversions because of Him. Blessed are those who rejoice in God's Mercy and the willful and joyful conversions of sinners.

The foundation and constitutions of the Hermits of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was blessed and approved by the Church, they have provoked much conversions to souls who've met them. They have converted even more so by their tender prayers and loving sacrifices for the world than by their words and wisdom of the things of Heaven and the things of earth.

I don't assume that I won't suffer much if I have a "calling" to this holy place, but I feel like I'd be able to persevere. The disciplines of the life are enough to provoke interior mortifications. And although each hermit and every person is unique in their thoughts and in their personal mission/calling, I think it's each of our Christian duty to win each other with Love always, and if we can't than we can atleast die in Love. Our Lord converted ALL sinners in ALL of TIME by His Loving Death than by His 3 years of public preaching and refuting of lesser laws and by healings and miracles. Doesn't that make anyone just want to die out of love for each other? I would hope that to LIVE a sacrificial life in any vocation is worth more than wanting others to live a sacrificial life for you. In other words, it's beautiful that people (non-believers, believers, philanthropist, atheist, etc) look with respect on the sacrifice of Jesus, the priests, the nuns, and Christians for the world's intercession and redemption, but it's more beautiful if we could share it with them and if we could strengthen each other. Contemplatives pray for people, yes, but their prayers are meant to bring out the sacrificial love capable in each soul that will render true and victorious conversion!......


I may not have much experience in religious life, or have been committed to one faithfully. But the Love of God is written in all hearts, and it can't be denied when it is proclaimed. I did mean well with this post reply, so I hope no one takes offence...but that they rejoice with me in my hopeful discernment, and I encourage others to get to know the Hermits of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for the Mercy God has shown them and those who know them.

Edited May 17, 2010 by Mary Veronica

[Nunsense]

[quote name='Mary Veronica' date='17 May 2010 - 11:29 PM' timestamp='1274102965' post='2111835']
I just got back from a two week visit with the Hermits of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Chester, New Jersey. I'm going back soon to enter as a postulant. even though pretty much anyone can walk in and have their personal thoughts about this particular eremitical life, I'd like to be someone (who hopefully might be called there) to put in some good thoughts:

Anyone who feels like they've been discerning forever or have journeyed long, will show me the compassion and hope that I thirst for [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif[/img]. so I've been discerning for three years now. I like to say that I was first a Marian Devotee of ST. Louis de Montforts' works, and I will always be to my last breath!then I entered the Poor Clare Colettine order for 1yr and 3 months.then I entered the Discalced Carmelite order for 4 months.

although the contemplative orders had similarities (apart from their unique charism,ie: Franciscan, Carmelite) I found it hard to devote myself wholeheartedly to both their charism because I didn't yet have a personal calling. what I did have was a desire, but not a "calling."from what I've observed from the stories of our saints handed down to us, a calling is ultimately very personal and it can take many journeys to find it. but once it's found than it doesn't matter so much WHERE one is, but WHAT that one does at the moment. hopefully what we do according to our calling, is good and fruitful, whether others who are standing in the same place with us are not called to act in the same way. just like St. Teresa of Avila, Lucia from Fatima, Mother Teresa,St. Francis they all found their calling fruitfully: St. Teresa had to leave her original community to live the Primitive Rule as a Discalced Carmelite because of God's calling (not just because of interior inspirations) which was so ingrained in her that not even the most prudent and wise oppositions could stop her. and the fruit is manycontemplative vocations and saints faithful to the Primitive Rule.

Likewise with Lucia of Fatima, who was not originally a Discalced Carmelite but a Sister of St. Dorothy for over 20yrs, which was a beautiful testimony that she entered Carmel (with papal approval) seeing that she had longago seen the vision of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with the Child Jesus and the Scapular--I'm not sure why she didn't enter Carmel first, but GOODNESS who can refute the fruits of her journey.
And with Mother Teresa who was a Sister of Loreto before she heard the "call within a call" from the poor.
And St. Francis who became everything perfectly (merchant, chivalric soldier, a beggar, a preacher, a saint etc) but he was called to start the "Friars Minor" to rebuild God's Church, even though God revealed to Him in the beginning that the Order would suffer disunity, but would produce many saints and last to the end of the world.

well anyway, I think I might find my calling here at the Hermits of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. yes, there are trials here and in every foundation of the Church. the trials might be small or grave or nothing at all,depending on the individual who encounters it-especially if that individual is called to encounter it and to persevere by Grace. in other words, as for the psychological aspects of the life, that is the founder's call and may it be her salvaton, BUT it is not in the constitution approved by the Church to take on her mentality. the life itself calls for the fidelity of each individual hermit, and if they should fail, then God forgive them and may He forgive us for the many infidelities we have, and May God Be Blessed for His loving fidelity to us, and may we learn by His Grace to be faithful to Him even in times when we are judged as unfaithful.

If it is true that the heaven rejoice exceedingly over one sinner who converts than over the countless just who are already converted, then what's in the"conversion" that seems to hold it's prominence over "fidelity?" it has to be mercy. God's Mercy is Love, but it's necessarily more significant than Love, because we're a fallen race, and to destroy sin by rendering from it truth joy and love, is the greatest Glory of God. If the conversion of a sinner is so joyous, how much more regarded is the ONE who converted that sinner. Anyone can stress social, psychological, spiritual, religious, moral, devotional aspects of life. The Government does that, the Church does that, all religions and sects do that. But if it doesn't render God's Mercy from those who hear it, then it's meaningless, accept to the one's who are faithful to it. BUt Jesus and His Church Came to save sinners not the righteous alone. Even Jesus endured the doctrinal and moral and political stress of his own peoplethat literally nailed him to the cross, but his call was greater than the law. His call was to love God his Father, and love us to save usfrom sin.

It's terrible that those discerning religiuos/priestly vocations undergo so many pressures and stresses from others.May God give us all, the grace to endure and love each other in order to render His Mercy always. Blessed are those who have continual conversions of the heart, mind, and body, as suppose to those who've "never" done anything so wrong on earth ( 1 John 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. ). Blessed even more is He and those who cause conversions because of Him. Blessed are those who rejoice in God's Mercy and the willful and joyful conversions of sinners.

The foundation and constitutions of the Hermits of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was blessed and approved by the Church, they have provoked much conversions to souls who've met them. They have converted even more so by their tender prayers and loving sacrifices for the world than by their words and wisdom of the things of Heaven and the things of earth.

I don't assume that I won't suffer much if I have a "calling" to this holy place, but I feel like I'd be able to persevere. The disciplines of the life are enough to provoke interior mortifications. And although each hermit and every person is unique in their thoughts and in their personal mission/calling, I think it's each of our Christian duty to win each other with Love always, and if we can't than we can atleast die in Love. Our Lord converted ALL sinners in ALL of TIME by His Loving Death than by His 3 years of public preaching and refuting of lesser laws and by healings and miracles. Doesn't that make anyone just want to die out of love for each other? [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/sadder.gif[/img] I would hope that to LIVE a sacrificial life in any vocation is worth more than wanting others to live a sacrificial life for you. In other words, it's beautiful that people (non-believers, believers, philanthropist, atheist, etc) look with respect on the sacrifice of Jesus, the priests, the nuns, and Christians for the world's intercession and redemption, but it's more beautiful if we could share it with them and if we could strengthen each other. Contemplatives pray for people, yes, but their prayers are meant to bring out the sacrificial love capable in each soul that will render true and victorious conversion!......


I may not have much experience in religious life, or have been committed to one faithfully. But the Love of God is written in all hearts, and it can't be denied when it is proclaimed. I did mean well with this post reply, so I hope no one takes offence...but that they rejoice with me in my hopeful discernment, and I encourage others to get to know the Hermits of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for the Mercy God has shown them and those who know them.
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I don't know much about the Hermits of OL of Mt Carmel but spent two months next door at the Hermits of Bethlehem. Father Romano, the desert father of the Bethlehem hermits, donated the land to the Hermits of OL of Mt C. They use the same driveway but you go straight ahead for the Bethlehem Hermits or turn right for OL of Mt C Hermits. If you happen to stop by next door at Bethlehem for any reason, give my best to Father Romano please. I heard from him recently but will always be grateful to him for his kindness while I was there.

I do wish you well in your journey and will pray for you. I hope that in addition to the trials you describe, you also experience the joy of God's love and the peace that comes from the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

May Our Lady watch over you and keep you close to Jesus always.