Category: Spirituality

I think Fr. Stockton hit on a truth. He wrote in an article for the Australia journal Compass Theology Review the following:

“It became clear that there is a natural affinity between certain types of prayer and a certain style of life. There are stages or levels of mysticism where one is alone with God anyway and a person tends to enframe that in a mode of living.”

I think that hits on a deep truth that I have also realized. How.you pray molds how you live. Solitary prayer leads to a solitary life. Nothing could be more normal.

I find that being around people distracts me from the inner stillness, where I can sense the presence of God. It is not a feeling as much as an awareness. Not so much a knowing as a seeing.

Those called and ready to embrace solitude will find that solitude is not so much a discipline as a joy. There is an inner thirst for God, to be in His presence and be aware of His movings. It is a hermit’s greatest honor and their life’s passion.

There has been a lot written on contemplation. But I’m afraid most of it adds more confusion than light.

Here I want to add more light than confusion, and make it simple to understand. In order to do that I might be oversimplifying it. But here we go.

Contemplation is God- consciousness. It is evidenced in stillness, peace, and sometimes ecstasy.

Now just so you know I am not making this up, Thomas Merton wrote, “Contemplation is, above all, awareness of the reality of that Source.” By Source, he means God. And awareness is another word for consciousness.

Hekhalot and Merkavah are from an early form of Jewish mysticism. Hekhalot is the Hebrew word for Palaces and Merkavah Hebrew word for Chariot. Both refer to mystical experiences and visions of the Divine.

This was the mystical tradition that the Apostle Paul would have known and followed. I believe it formed the background for his own mystical experiences as recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 . Let’s read it from an early Jewish mystical perspective.

¹ It is necessary to boast; nothing is to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. ² I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. ³ And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— ⁴ was caught up into paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. ⁵ On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. ⁶ But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, ⁷ even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. ⁸ Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, ⁹ but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

This is ascent into heaven, as recorded by the Apostle Paul, matches perfectly with early Jewish mysticism. And this may have happened during the trance recorded in Acts 22:17-21. Again, let’s quote the relevant part.

¹⁷ “After I had returned to Jerusalem and while I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance ¹⁸ and saw Jesus saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ ¹⁹ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. ²⁰ And while the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing by, approving and keeping the coats of those who killed him.’ ²¹ Then he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the gentiles.’ ”

This was the single most important event in the history of Christianity. For until Paul took the gospel to the Gentiles, the early Jesus movement would have been nothing more than a sect of Judaism. It would never have become a worldwide religion.

Therefore, the very essence of Christianity, it’s very hard, is mystical. Mysticism forms the foundation upon which Christianity stands, and must continue to stand. Which means that we have to call the church back to a spiritual reality, rather than an outward form.

Since I will be referring to Mysticism and quoting from Christian mystics, it might be best to define my terms.

Definition of Mysticism

I can think of no better authority on mysticism than the Anglican writer Evelyn Underhill. In one of her shorter books, she gives the following definitions:

Mysticism is the art of union with Reality. The mystic is a person who has attained that union in greater or less degree; or who aims at and believes in such attainment.

Christian Mysticism

For a Christian mystic, that “Reality” is God as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. My own definition would be that:

Christian mysticism is the study of, pursuit of, and the experience of oneness with God in and through Christ.

What Christian Mysticism is Not

The Christian mysticism I will be referencing has nothing to do with magic, astrology, crystals, alchemy, or the bizarre. Even dreams and visions are seen as suspicious. They are not essential to Christian mysticism, and can even be hindrances.

All are Called

Every Christian is called to this experience of oneness with God. Everyone is called to the mystic way. In fact, I think Karl Rainer might be right, “the Christian of the future will be a mystic or will not exist.”

The one thing the genuine hermit abhors is attention.

As an anonymous Camaldolese hermit put it,

“Our solitary life is not only a renunciation of the artificiality of a mundane existence based on appearance and efficiency, but it hides us from the eyes and the acquaintance of others in such a way that we live truly concealed in complete anonymity.”

Celebrity Hermits

In some circles hermits are revered, which can easily become a stumbling block for them. It is hard to be a celebrity and be humble. And so genuine hermits prefer to be hidden. Thus they wear no special habit (a habit is special clothing worn by monks, nuns, and clergy).

Don’t Advertise

This is the reason why I don’t use my full name. I use my hermit name, brother Jay Paul, so as not to draw attention to myself in real life. I only share this as an example to other would be hermits. Don’t advertise. Be humble. Be hidden. Don’t draw attention to yourself.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

In my life, I never tell anyone I am a hermit. And nobody asks. If they don’t ask, I don’t tell. And I don’t do anything to draw attention to my hermit life. I just avoid people when possible, but I am friendly when I do interact. I am not antisocial, I am pro-solitude. There is a difference.

I don’t need recognition, so I don’t need authorization. God called me to be a hermit, that is good enough for me.

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Note: Camaldolese is a Roman Catholic religious order, based on the Rule of St. Benedict.