So, What Is a “Solitary” Anyway?? by Sr
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Christmas in Kajo Keji A3 a diocesan edition of Bethlehem Diocesan Life episcopal news Vol. 1 No. 10, December 2010/January 2011 ~ diobeth.org monthly So, what is a “Solitary” anyway?? By Sr. pAtriciA MichAeL hAUZe solitude but with the people in interces- As I have explained earlier, I live your heart. The thought or pull becomes On the 28th of September, the Eve of sory prayer, counsel and service. By tra- fi rst, and most important of all, a life of stronger and stronger as time goes on. the Feast of Saint Michael and All An- dition, the latch was always off the door prayer, constant intercessory prayer, as You may fi ght against that urging, but it gels, the Rt. Rev. Paul V. Marshall, bish- and the poustinik’s priority at any time well as keeping the four daily offi ces as becomes so strong that you are overcome op of the Diocese of Bethlehem, received was his neighbor’s need. At times the laid out in the Book of Common Prayer. by it and accept it. That is God’s call to my fi nal vows of profession as a Solitary poustinik would be expected to come I live a life of obedience to God and the your heart. Listen to it. The other part to in this diocese. During this ceremony, I out with a public “word from the Lord” church and my immediate superiors: My understanding the call is very important accepted a ring. The romantic notion is for the community. bishops, Paul V. Marshall and John P. as well: if that urging takes you to a closer that this is a “wedding” ring. For me, it is So, to explain further, I am not a Croneberger; my boss, the Rev. Canon walk with God, follow it. If not, then it is much more. For me it represents a band hermit. Also, each Solitary’s vocation Andrew T. Gerns; my spiritual director not of God. Prayer is the key. Each one of of commitment, a completed circle of a is unique to that person’s calling. Al- and, as best I can, to those around me. us has a vocation. God has a plan and a time of testing, struggle, learning, fall- though I live alone, I do not live an I live a life of chastity, seeking God’s di- path for us all and God walks with each of ing and getting up. The metal represents isolated life, having no contact with vine love—in all things, places and ways us and provides all the tools along the way. strength in faith. The ring is made of the outside world. I live and work in the and living modestly and humbly without We only need to listen and remain open to silver and is engraved with words from world. I am the parish administrator at desiring to place worldly goods before the prompting of the Holy Spirit. the Jesus prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ Have Trinity, Easton where I have spent the God’s will. And, I live a life of stability This may be more than you need or Mercy on Me”. The ceremony of a fi nal last eight years testing my vocation and by remaining still in the knowledge that want to read, but it is for me just a small profession for me is a confi rmation of where I have been formed as a servant I serve as God wills, not how I desire. I nugget of information that encapsulates the life that I have been living for many in this community. I am a spiritual direc- tie all of these vows together with study. who I am and what I do. And so, I con- years as a true and living promise of my tor and companion other souls on their I read and study the Rule of Saint Bene- tinue to pray for all of you, my brothers “Yes” to Christ. It is the realization of to- journey through life. I am an associate dict every day as well as my own Rule of and sisters in the Diocese of Bethlehem tal immersion into a life of prayer, chas- of the Community of Saint John Baptist Life which was approved by Bishop Paul. and throughout the world. Amen. tity, obedience and stability to what God in Mendham, New Jersey, where I lived, I read about the has and continues to set before me. worked, learned and discerned my call to lives of the saints and those who with So, what is a solitary anyway? religious life. My home parish is Trinity, Bethlehem where I’ve been a member wisdom, courage People often come up to me and ask for 25 years and where I grew, matured and faith have gone “what order” am I from. I say that I’m a and was nourished spiritually. And al- before us. And I “Solitary” and the next question is always, though I am “set apart” from the world, read from other “A what?” I tell them that I am a vowed I take care of the day-to-day just like sources those books religious in the Diocese of Bethlehem. everyone else. I do have “down” time: I and articles that are Some have heard me say that I have go grocery shopping, I go out to eat and spiritually enrich- always liked the Russian translation of I spend time with my family and those ing to my own path. the word solitary: “being with every- close to me. I watch television, blog and With all of these body.” Russian people called “poustinik- yes, I am on “Facebook”. I fi nd that Face- vows now fi rmly in ki” were drawn from all walks of life to book is a great way of keeping up with place as the tools for poverty and solitude on behalf of oth- family, friends, the diocese, other vowed my daily living, I go ers. They normally would move to a hut religious throughout the world and the out into the world away from the town and live in solitude, prayer needs of each. Still, I am in my to serve, encourage but not isolation. The poustinik lived in vocation, not “of” the world. This means and pray. that I do not place worldly goods (or I try What is it like to be not to) before the will of God and I do called? not always socialize as others do unless A very dear soul I fi nd it is in keeping with my vocation asked me at my re- as a spiritual companion. What defi nes ception, “How do all of these seemingly “worldly” activi- you know you are ties as part of my vocation is that I am being called? The in constant prayer. Everything I see, ev- most simple ex- ery action and reaction, every detail of planation I could creation, each person on the street, each give, is “It begins word that is spoken is kept in prayer and with a thought”. I I commend all of these into God’s safe add that it is as if and loving hands. some one or some What does a solitary do? thing is pulling at Sr. Patricia Michael poses with an icon of Saint Michael, the Archangel. 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A2 diocesanlife December 2010 It is right and Advent speaks to us of a good and joyful thing always and longing, darkness and hope everywhere to heart’s fearful dark places that we try so Lord, and come, that by Thy protection give thanks. hard to ignore most of the time, and to cry we may be rescued from the threatening Always and Always Everywhere out, “Stir up your power, Lord, and come.” perils of our sins.” Advent begins with the idea that his- “Threatening perils of our sins.” Un- By BiShop pAUL V. MArShALL tory is going somewhere, to its fulfi llment less and until we understand that it is Advent, those precious four weeks in Christ. For us that provokes longing. business as usual in the human commu- before Christmas, speaks to us in many Longing nity that defi les our life, unless and until ways. I often fi nd it helpful to think of it we commit ourselves to change, to mak- Hope is what in terms of darkness, longing, and hope. To enter the deep longing of Advent ing straight in the desert a highway for is to know something of the longing of God, there is very little that Christmas, separates the believer Darkness God’s ancient people, who knew bond- that God, can do for us.