The Hermit’s Way of Life in the Local Church

In 2017, Michael Finkel published a book with a provocative title that became a surprise best-seller. It was The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit. The book told the story of Christopher Knight, a young man who one day, without telling anyone, simply wandered into the central Maine woods and decided that he would live there, on his own, indefinitely. Though skillful in many ways, he could not feed himself adequately in the woods, so he began to steal food from nearby camps and homes. Local folks began whispering about a mysterious person that no one had ever seen whom they called the North Pond Hermit. This went on until a deputy sheriff caught him stealing items one night – 27 years after our hermit had first ventured into the woods.

We can debate as to how “true” a hermit Christopher Knight was, but the success of the book reflects the fascination many people feel with those who choose a solitary life. The popularity of books such as Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, May Sarton’s Journal of a Solitude, and Anthony Storr’s Solitude (many, many more examples could be named) show how this fascination has been strong in our secular culture for generations. In the Catholic Church, the twentieth century saw a renewal of interest in the vocation to live a more solitary life as hermits. Catholics such as Charles de Foucauld, Catherine de Hueck Doherty and Thomas Merton witnessed to the enduring power and fruitfulness of the hermit life. Continue reading “The Hermit’s Way of Life in the Local Church”

An Open Letter To My Beloved Church

To all Catholics, and all people of good will: May grace and peace be yours from the Father, through the Son, in the unity of the Holy Spirit!

I am an autistic Catholic priest.

My unusual identity gives a particular twist to how I am called to live out my priesthood. In the ancient world, one of the images used to describe the priest was pontifex, Latin for bridge-builder. We still use this term when we refer to the Pope as the Supreme Pontiff. The role of the priest was seen as building a bridge between divinity and humanity. Since Jesus Christ, by His Passion, Death, and Resurrection, reconciled us to the Father in the Spirit, He became known as the true High Priest, the ultimate bridge-builder between God and humanity.  All Catholic priests, from that time on, have been given a share in His work of bridge-building. Some exercise this in parish ministry. Others serve as hospital or prison chaplains. Still others dedicate themselves to specific groups of people who are in need of shepherds and bridge-builders. Continue reading “An Open Letter To My Beloved Church”

Such a Deal!!!

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

 

In last Sunday’s episode from The Adventures of Abraham, we found him sitting in the shade of a tree near his encampment as the day is growing hot.  He sees three men nearby, not coming to him but on a journey elsewhere. Abraham runs to the three men, practically begging them to give him the honor of allowing him to give them food and drink. Abraham knows well that a journey in the hot sun could be perilous.  They would need food and water to survive.  Abraham provides the nourishment.  His guests in turn, promise him that he and his wife Sarah, in spite of their advanced years, would have a son by this time next year.

In this Sunday’s episode, two of the men move on.  The third, now revealed as the Lord, decides to tell Abraham the purpose of this journey.  The people of Sodom have been accused of serious sins.  The Lord means to find out if the accusations are true and then to pass judgment on Sodom. Continue reading “Such a Deal!!!”

Catching Up

This blog post has three purposes.

First of all, with due apologies to Mark Twain, I wish to affirm that the reports of my death are somewhat exaggerated!  I remain alive, reasonably well, and a priest of the Diocese of Portland who officially “retired” as of July 1. Continue reading “Catching Up”

Transition Time

This will not be a typical post either in length or in topic.  Rather, this will serve as a quick update as to what is happening with me now.  I haven’t been able to do my usual posts for a couple of weeks, and it may be another week or two before I can resume.  This is to fill all of you in on why this is the case.

The reason is rather simple.  I’ve been in the midst of a move. Continue reading “Transition Time”