THE BLOG RESTS

 

Father Bede Griffiths, Catholic priest

and

one of his Sannyasinis (Indian style renunciate nun)

    Over the last decade, I have just loved researching the saints, writing about them and about the hermit life, and I have always looked forward to writing each post, despite the many hours of real work that each one entails. It has been a labor of love.

    It was not my idea to start this blog, however. A friend of mine from my Vedanta days encouraged me to write it, but I think she probably envisaged something more contemporary and argumentative - and specifically something that would generate some type of income.

    I subsequently learned, however, that an automatic income would only come through "monetizing" my blog, which would allow advertisements chosen by this platform to be displayed over my blog, and I could not bear the idea.  First of all, advertisements are ugly. They do not match the aesthetics I have chosen for this publication. They offend my eyes and diminish whatever message I choose to offer in the midst of the verbiage.

    Instead, I chose to request donations, leaving it to the discretion of the reader as to what they could afford, but only a very few of my many readers ever donated - except for one lovely woman who said she lived in Ireland, who donated, then became enraged when she understood that I do not support Donald Trump. Why someone in the U.K. would be so invested in an American political figure is beyond me, but she felt that my disapproval of him was a personal affront against her. She became highly offended, and told me off furiously. None of this made any logical sense to me, but this is the condition of our world at this moment.

    Readers should donate, in response to the incredible amount of work that goes into unique and well-researched posts, as well as for the sake of simple Christian charity. But  I imagine that people have grown accustomed to getting many things for free on the internet, and I am not oblivious to the fact that the disparity of income in our country, though the worst of all the industrialized nations, is increasing in severity all the time. Many folks are scrabbling, just to survive. If I can help them survive in a serene way, this influence of serenity is part of what I want to incorporate into all my public dealings.

    Although I am not focused on contemporary news and politics, if I have anything to say on those topic, I will say it on Facebook under the moniker of "The Occasional Hermit," since the newsy posts will, fittingly, disappear in time to make room for newer items in the feed. See my Facebook page for those kind of topics, with the exception of weighty topics of more longstanding import.

Blessed Virgin Mary

Our Lady of Ocotlan

    One thing I learned from my decades of meditation is that where you place your mind's eye is where you take yourself, and if you concentrate on God, you get God.  That's all there is to it. If you concentrate on the other guy, you're going to get him. It's like driving a car. You have to look out the windshield in front of you to get yourself where you are going, while only glancing through the other windows on occasion to ensure that no one is about to crash into you, or vice versa.

    I am not giving up the blog entirely. Sometimes it will be necessary to warn people off dangerous religious fads and to correct the record when a conspiracy theory is floated about, say, the Pope, for instance, at which time I may return here and put in my two cents worth. But it can't be a daily thing. I have other things to do.

Our Lady of Sorrows

    I have quit this blog a couple times in the past, and came back to it eventually because the work of getting to know the various saints I have researched has been interesting to me. I loved the whole process of becoming more familiar, and drawing closer to a life of holiness that I could use as an example for mine.

    The research and the writing of these blogs, combined with the complexity of keeping myself physically alive, have taken up so much of my  time that I have not been able to finish the books I have started, so I am going to focus on those books until I get at least ONE finished and edited. Occasionally, I will return to this blog.

    If this blog had helped me support the hermitage, that would have been a different matter and, to be fair, I had no way of knowing whether or not it would do that.  Now that I know that it will not, it is time to reassess.

Saint Kinga of Poland

Relative

    I am conducting a review of the blog entries I have posted over the last decade and removing many of them, especially those that relate to "current" events, and relegating them to the "unpublished" category. 

    I remind everyone that posts about the saints are my intellectual work product and belong to me. While you are welcome to make note of factual material, such as birth and death dates, you may not copy the blog post for any purpose. If you would like to quote from my work, you may contact me in the comment section of this blog and we can discuss.

    I will still be available to moderate the comments on the blog, though I don't expect there will be many. The donate button (below my photograph at the top of the right column) will remain in hopeful active status.

    Saint Adela of Normandy

Relative

    Obviously, my primary occupation is my contemplative life, but, other than the occasional article written for this venue, I will be continuing work on my books and my haiku poetry. In addition, I have resumed a painting career that I left behind when I began to go blind. I have managed to keep the vision in one eye (thanks be to God!) and I am slowly learning how to paint in mono-vision, with no depth perception! 

    When I have a decent number of paintings available for sale, I anticipate creating another blog for those things and will also announce it here. The painting blog MAY be combined with the author blog for my novels, but I have not yet decided. 

    As always, you may contact me through my Facebook page. You can put a comment on any of my posts, but if you want to send me a private message, I will always take a look at my message requests, eventually.

    The donation button remains active, though a bit dusty and rusty.

    Thank you for reading. I wish you the very best, and God bless you all. You are in my prayers.

Silver Rose

MY GRANDFATHER, SAINT EDGAR "THE PEACEFUL" KING OF ENGLAND, AND A HOST OF OTHERS

 

SAINT EDGAR "THE PEACEFUL"

KING OF ENGLAND

My 33rd Great Grandfather

Born 7 August 943 - Died 8 July 975

Patron Saint of Kings and Widowers

MY 33RD GREAT GRANDFATHER

When I have a rough day, and my pain is ratcheted up and I feel like complaining, I often glance at the saint of the day to find that the Catholic world is celebrating at least ONE illustrious ancestor of mine.  Often, MORE than one is involved, which can be overwhelming to meditate upon, or even to write about, but I feel oddly supported by the numbers. (More about that later.)

Typically, as in today's saint, that ancestor has some weighty responsibilities and, comparing mine to his or hers, can help put things in perspective.

As it happens, today's calendar has quite a few of my relatives, as well as some favorites like Macrina "The Elder," known as one of the Desert Mothers and an example to me. But I can't write about them all just now because it is 11 p.m. and I am going to try to do this post quickly so I can at least make an effort to get into bed.

PEACEFUL UNIFICATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF TRADITIONS

One thing I particularly appreciate about this grandfather is that he was so successful in unifying the English realm that it never devolved back into the handful of minor kingdoms such as East Anglia, Mercia, Northumberland, Wessex, York, etc., etc. When crowned, he became king of a cohesive kingdom.

In these days of much talked-about divisiveness between the two major parties in the American political scene, I feel that we could certainly use the gifts of someone like Edgar the Peaceful.

Also, the ritual of coronation, as well as the oath taken during it, began with Edgar's coronation and continues to this day.

His division of the kingdom into "shires" also persists to present time. He had a steady hand when it came to government.

SAINTS SOMETIMES "RUN" IN A FAMILY

Edgar's mother was Saint Aelfgifu (aka "Elgiva") wife of King Edmund I "Atheling" of England, but her saintliness must have been more a matter of DNA than any nurturing she could have given him because she died the year after he was born. I can't tell you how many times I have wished that some of this wonderful DNA had been passed down to me!

(See my blog of May 18, her feast day, for more information,)

Upon the death of his mother he was sent to be raised by Athelstan, the Ealdorman of Mercia, and his wife, Aelfwynn.

Edgar's great grandfather was Alfred the Great, and it is through him that ONE of my lines of descent traces to that sainted king. I am actually descended from two of Alfred's children with his wife, Saint Ealhswith.

All these sainted ancestors could be confusing if they were not recorded in history and in my family tree. I will often write their names and relationships in my calendar on their feast day and meditate on various aspects of their lives, asking for special intercession from my "royal rellies!"

With regard to these royal families, they are often recognized as saints through their support of monastic institutions. Other families, such as Therese of Lisieux, are extremely devout, with a mystical bent, and THIS is what gets passed down through the ages.

MONASTIC REFORMS AND GROWTH

Beginning when he is about 14, he is declared the king of the Mercians and begins a period of monastic reforms, which I find remarkable for someone so young, but we have to remember that most young monarchs had people around them "advising" them to one degree or another. In Edgar's case, he had Saint Dunstan, previously exiled by the prior King. Edgar brought him out of exile and kept him close thereafter. We can see Dunstan's hand in Edgar's rehabilitation of The Church and its monastic institutions during his reign.

Saint Dunstan was very popular for quite some time. Apparently, there is some story about how he bested Satan, and I need to try and read up on that little tiff! It is bound to be educational and/or inspiring. I know little to nothing of Dunstant at the moment, but clearly I need to repair that deficit!

Under Edgar's rule, the monasteries had to be rebuilt because a great number of them had been sacked by the Vikings. As usual, some of the aristocratic classes become resentful of resources going toward this work, as well as the land that was given over for that purpose.

Even the saints get pushback when one is trying to do something holy and good! Something to remember when we try to establish some holy work or intention and even the church hierarchy objects or just stands in the way! Humans are the same, no matter WHAT institution they occupy. Some are holy. Some are not.

PROGRESS FOR FEMALE MONARCHS AND A SOAP OPERA

Another thing I really like about his is his appreciation for women in positions of power. Up until this point, women were not usually given any at all....always just an appendage of some husband or other.

He officially crowned his wife Aelfthryth "Queen of England," a real first.

The problem, though, with Edgar's - ahem - appreciation of the fairer sex is that supposedly he could not "keep it in his pants."  He was accused of having an affair with a nun named Wulfthryth (aka Saint Wulfthryth of Wilton.)  OTHER SOURCES say that she was his lawful wife but was "put aside" and banished to the nunnery. She bore him one son.

Then, at some point, Edgar had sent Ethelwold to "check out" Aelfthryth (my ancestor queen), but the messenger fell in love and married her himself. He conducted a subterfuge wherein he told King Edgar that she was terribly ugly. Later, he was murdered. We are guessing it was arranged by Edgar.

It is all very tawdry and complicated, as these royal marriages could often be in those days.

As usual, I have to leave this most interesting saint for another day when I have time to read up on him.

THE INNER LIFE

In my case, most of my work has to do with the inner life of a solitary monastic. I don't know that there is much to recommend him as far as Edgar is concerned, when it comes to inspiration, anyway. I can certainly appreciate his steadiness in government and devotion to the monastic orders, albeit probably Saint Dunstan's influence that pushed that forward. He was certainly a staunch advocate for women in power, to the degree allowed in those days.

With an ancestor like Edgar, I will often ask for intercession to be endowed with qualities of strength, courage, devotion to duty, and that sort of thing.

THE MYSTICS AMONG US

At the suggestion of a holy friend, I joined a Facebook group for "Catholic Mystics" recently. There were only a few available, and except for one they were small and most had not had a post in several YEARS. I was left with ONE, essentially, and, sure enough, today when I checked out what was going on, some woman had posted a blatantly political meme about gender identity, objecting to it and saying that God does not make mistakes. This was a reference to some things that are happening in the political realm these days.

We live in an era where politics has infected and taken over Christianity. It is terribly sad. I joined that group because I had been looking for some spiritual companionship with others of like mind, but apparently there is none to be had. I got pushback when I objected to the political nature of that post, but several people were on their high horse about this topic. The "holier-than-thou" attitude is hard to take. It is a huge turnoff, and I will most likely leave that group.

Don't get me wrong. I am far from ignorant about politics. I make it a point to read up and get acquainted with what is going on so that I can be a responsible voter. I just don't want to see this in my prayer time, when I listen to a homily, or when I am spending time in a group that is supposedly about the mystics.

I am also not in favor of stomping around the world trying to get non-religious people to conform to my ideas of religion. THIS is exactly why the separation of church and state is hugely important. Jesus said to evangelize. He didn't say that our salvation depended upon political measures.

Mother Tessa Bielecki warned me about this when I was corresponding with her from my Hindu convent 30 years ago, where I had read about the mystics and had resolved to leave and become Catholic. She told me that I would not find the mystical life in the parishes and, for the most part, she was right.

I remember the last time someone brought the Eucharist to my apartment, 2 or 3 years ago. Instead of discussing the readings of the day, she was enthused about Donald Trump, and was thanking God for HIM. It was very upsetting.

I have to pray to my ancestor, Edgar the Peaceful, for him to intercede for me to be endowed with the strength necessary to continue this solitary path without yearning for any company on it. I pray to be flexible, though, and welcome whatever God wills and allows.

The only company I need is that of The Lord and no other, so I must be satisfied with Him and just know that He is always with me and that all my lovely ancestors and other relatives, cousins, and inspiring friends, are watching after me from Heaven. I embrace them in spirit.

Of course I realize there are others like me in the world today. I know of a few "city hermits" in Arizona and in other states. Most hermits do not adopt this monastic journey permanently. In less than a year, I will have been living this way for 20 years. Can you imagine? Two decades like this. It has not ended up as I imagined it might, but it is not awful. I am aware of the company of the Divine. I just need to be better established in it.

Even hermits have to do some work to survive. I have monthly social security from more than 33 years of working, but I hope to start painting again one day soon and make some money to get caught up with bills. I have made some crocheted scarves and ponchos to sell at a local store, if possible, as well as some earrings. Of course, the novel is progressing, though slowly. I have always been more interested and inspired by ART than by writing, and that has not changed, but I just hope to become a little FASTER with it than I am at present. We will see how it goes. I sometimes wonder if other people are going to be interested in what interests me. We shall see!

In the meantime, I ask you to please donate to my wish list on Amazon in order to get nourishing food, vitamins and supplements into the house. I have some expenses coming up and could use the help.

Also, have had some deterioration of the bones in my feet, which is quite painful and which was made worse by the Birkenstocks I was wearing, so I had to get rid of those and buy another style by a different manufacturer. Whenever I have to buy shoes, it comes out of my food money, leaving me short for the month.

PRESS THIS LINK FOR WISH LIST

Thanks so much for your company along my journey. I know there is a handful of you who read my blog and I hope that SOMETHING in all of this keeps you inspired to continue down the holy road.

God bless us all

Silver Rose

SAINT ADELA OF NORMANDY - MY SHARED ANCESTOR WITH QUEEN ELIZABETH II

 

Saint Adela of Normandy

(abt. 1066 - 8 March 1137

My 25th Great Grandmother

Patron saint of poets and writers!

I am really enjoying the few snippets of video I have seen about the celebration of Queen Elizabeth's remarkable Platinum Jubilee that began in earnest this week. Incredibly, she has been queen 2 years longer than I have been alive and has steadfastly served her country since she vowed to do so in her early 20's.

Her ascension to the throne, as most people know, was a fluke she could not have anticipated, because, were it not for the fact that her uncle David was such a lounge-lizard and Roue', Elizabeth's father would never have become King and she would not have thereafter become Queen at his untimely death. 

Edward VIII ("David") and Wallis Simpson

On vacation in 1937

Uncle David (Edward VIII) could not bear to carry out his kingly duties and abdicated the same year he took the throne. As long as he remained king, he was not allowed to marry the twice divorced Wallis Simpson, who shared his love of the finer, more leisurely benefits of royal life. 

David (Edward VIII) enjoyed parties, gorgeous clothing, food and cocktails, and everything rich and sumptuous. He would have none of that disagreeable "duty" and "service" that come with a royal title, though he wanted to retain all the honorifics for himself and Wallis, which the royal family and Parliament would not allow. In fact, it was specifically announced that Wallis would NOT be granted the "HRH" that the wife of a monarch, even a former one, would typically get.

Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII

I mention all of that business with Elizabeth's uncle to highlight just how remarkable has been Elizabeth's steadfast devotion to the British people and to her duties. You know, some people do not bother to think about everything she had to give up in order to become queen. They see the family jewels and pomp and circumstance and imagine that she is just sucking it all up and enjoying herself, but I defy anyone to tell me that they would enjoy giving up their freedom in order to do a ceaseless round of formal events, rain or shine, ill health or well. The woman is much older than I am and I can barely get a daily shower, while she is handling a really full schedule!

Of course, the Queen has people to clean, make the meals, and keep the household running. I won't dismiss those facts, but in order to do the work that she does I would also have to have at least as many servants as she has, so I don't begrudge it to her one bit.

Elizabeth and I are very distant cousins, thanks to those folks from the British Isles who were descended from the nobility but were the "second sons" who did not inherit the titles and land. The prospect of owning land was not something that many people in the British Isles could have any hope of doing, so when it became possible for some to come here and actually grab some land, with its attendant resources, those who had the means and nerve to do so, came here to try their luck.

My ancestry hails back to some of those folk who settled in Jamestown in the very early years of this country's history, and that is how I came to be Elizabeth II's 20th cousin, once removed! MANY people in the U.S. can say the same, as a lot of years and generations have passed since my aristocratic ancestors came here - plenty of time for lots of progeny!

(It is worth noting, for the genealogy buffs among us, that the European "noble" cousins intermarried frequently so that my shared ancestry with Queen Elizabeth II is from more than one line, all of which have been documented in various history books, marriage and birth records. I have this in common with many of my friends, here in the U.S., due to the "second sons" mentioned earlier.)

So - Saint Adela of Normandy is also on my mind just now because, as is my habit, I try to bring in thoughts and meditations on my saintly ancestors, when possible, in order to get through my day. I wonder if cousin Elizabeth also gives thought to her saintly ancestors in order to get through HER day, the implications and responsibilities of which are far greater than mine!

Adela was a daughter of William the Conqueror and, although a married female, she was involved in politics throughout her life. I suspect this is partially due to her father's great renown. Likely, some of the glow from his reputation and power would reflect a bit on her.

The young saint married when she was but 15 years old, and her husband was more than twice her age, but by all accounts, it was a good marriage. When he was fighting in the Crusades, she acted as regent on his behalf, taking care of his duties in his absence.

Count Stephen II of Blois

Her husband abandoned the Crusade the first time around, and she continued to berate him for it, even during lovemaking, which is rather funny. Eventually, she convinced him to return to that war and he died in it.

They had at least 7 children. I am descended from their son William (Guillaume) and her majesty, Elizabeth II, is descended from a different one. The line of descent is circuitous. Or she may be descended from another child of William the Conqueror. The fact is that we have SEVERAL mutual ancestors, as mentioned before.

Her Royal Highness

Elizabeth II

Queen of England

My 21st cousin, once removed

Official platinum jubilee photo

Despite her advanced age, HRH Queen Elizabeth manages to convey a spritely mien in the photos and videos I have seen of her appearances during her jubilee celebrations.

I would not mind imitating my cousin and having some sort of assistance here at home. Today I nearly lost my mind trying to locate the medic alert bracelet that I ordered for my next door neighbor. I had already spent hours on the telephone trying to find out where it was. After many attempts to locate it, I had just given up on PHILLIPS LIFELINE. Everyone I spoke with at that company had a completely different story. The last agent told me that the original order had been entered into the computer wrong but that SHE had fixed it and, unfortunately, it had never been sent. That was just a few days ago.

This morning, however, I received a phone message from them telling me that the device had been delivered by FedEx EIGHT DAYS AGO.

I won't bore you to death telling you what I had to do, but suffice it to say that I had to speak to MANY people, at both PHILLIPS LIFELINE and FEDEX and MY APARTMENT MANAGEMENT OFFICE. It took forever.

"The best penance is to have patience with

the sorrows God permits. A very good penance

is to dedicate oneself to fulfill the duties of

everyday with exactitude and to study and

work with all our strength."

St. Peter Damian

It turns out that PHILLIPS LIFELINE had not put her apartment number on the label and that when the FedEx guy got here, he was confronted with at least 70 apartments so God only knows WHICH apartment he dropped it at. FEDEX told me it was the apartment where my neighbor USED to live, so I can just guess that instead of calling the shipper (PHILLIPS LIFELINE) they looked her up via the post office, and the post office has not corrected her address on the public record.

WHOEVER received the package must have eventually given it to the people at the office, but THEY never contact me. It wasn't until I called THEM that the box "turned up" and the apartment manager came and dropped it off to me this afternoon. I was exhausted from all the phone calls!

The most unpleasant part of my day was a clerk at PHILLIPS LIFELINE who has subjected me to his sadistic and passive aggressive hostility several times before. Each time, I ask to speak to his supervisor, and each time he says they will call me back and each time, you guessed it, I do not hear from anyone. He says his name is "Kim." Ah! How I wish I was Queen TODAY. I would have locked him up in the Tower. Absent the power to do THAT, I threw some language at him and hung up.

Tomorrow I pray to do better in all things.

My neighbor subsequently told me I needed to take her to pick up her medication today and I had to explain to her again that I am not able to take MYSELF to my own places of business and, once again, that I am in a lot of pain. I explained to her again that "I am not going to be able to do anything for you other than the phone calls I have been doing."  

I AM working on getting a social worker attached to her case because I am disabled and this woman needs to be able to depend upon someone reliable. The phone calls ALONE are too much for me.  I am not getting any of my business done because it takes so many phone calls and so much time to get just one small thing done for HER. As a matter of fact, she HAS some relatives in this town but they are not available to her. Often, she tells me they have failed to show up. Poor thing sits there all day, waiting for the help that will not come.

But It's not her fault. We simply do not have enough care for all of us old ones in this country.  For some reason, everyone seems to believe that all of the disabled elderly people have family to care for them and the government supposedly picks up all the slack and it is simply not true. NOT. AT. ALL.

I have tried to get this issue addressed by the governor, but I have called her office four times in the last 8 weeks and no one calls me back. If I was my cousin, the queen, I bet they would pay attention to me THEN, wouldn't they? Or would they?  I don't know.

I ask you to pray for me and for my neighbor and also, if you could please take a look at my Amazon wish list, there are some food and supplement items on there I could really use but cannot afford. CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK:

CLICK HERE FOR THE AMAZON WISH LIST

Amazon has my address and will mail to me direct. Fortunately, they already know where I live and my Amazon shipments do not usually get lost. I really need some of  the food items, mostly the nuts and seeds...as well as the supplements. All of those things are very dear and beyond reach for my budget, but they are recommended on the diet that four or five medical personnel have advised me to eat.

Also - in addition to prayers for my neighbor, if you could pray for Nicholas and his family, they are couch surfing at a friends house. They have two children, and one is only 3! The other is 7. The car has broken down. So they are without housing and transportation. Nicholas is a nurse and has recently gotten a new job, but he and his little family are going to need a LOT of help to get back on their feet.

READ ABOUT THE LONG-LOST TURTLE

IN "THE DAILY RECORD"

(U.K. NEWSPAPER)

HERE

As a final note: I was surprised to read an article about a tortoise that was inadvertently put in someone's attic IN A BOX and lived for 30 years in that box without food or water. They just discovered him the other day! Someone went into the attic to clean it out and happened to open the box, and there he was...alive and kicking. Amazing!

Evidently, termite larvae may have kept him going. It is a reminder to me that if I intend to live to 120 and "outlive ALL the bastards," I need to sloooooow down a bit and stop trying to get "everything" done. "Everything" will NEVER be done - especially by a lone gray-haired old hermit lady.  All I will do is wear myself down to the nubbins. Also, I could eat less and live longer. Is it time to simplify EVERYTHING?

I think about my neighbor and how she is not prepared to get her needs met in her final years. Who could anticipate her set of circumstances? She has an ailing body and no family members that are positioned to help her. It gives me pause, as my situation is very similar. My only child died when he was but 40.

One thing I have that my neighbor does not is faith and the assistance of my fellow believers. I have noticed that when folks need help, it is almost always the Catholics that step in and assist. The "cosmic poo-poo" people, with their horoscopes and reiki and crystals are nowhere to be found. My neighbor belonged to one of these type of organizations and went to their activities faithfully on Sundays and other days, but I have yet to see even one of those folks come to her aid. Because of her continuing belief in this philosophy, she is also far too hard on herself, blaming herself for her disintegrating health. I suspect it is because they believe in the "power of positive thinking" and that sort of thing.

But sickness, old age and death happens to most of us. (Death happens to ALL of us, of course!)  We need to be ready for it. Many religious traditions have this 'hard wired" into their spiritual practices, such as meditating on death.

Obviously, I am not going to be obnoxious and force Catholicism on anyone, but I hope to be like Brother Tortoise and endure as an example of Christian charity, if possible. It is a difficult task for me, considering my own poor health and reduced circumstances, but I do my best to stay established in the type of humility necessary.

I thank Brother Tortoise for popping up in my news feed and reminding me of some elementary truths.

God bless you all!

Silver Rose

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