Category: Spirituality

The three evangelical counsels are the traditional vows which all monastics make. They are chastity, poverty, and obedience. Let’s look at each, but from a non-Catholic viewpoint.

Chastity

The Oxford English Dictionary defines chastity as “the state or practice of refraining from extramarital, or especially from all, sexual intercourse.” This would include refraining from masturbation.

Poverty

Poverty is different from destitution. Poverty, rightly understood, means living minimalistic and simply. Not having more than you really need. As Paul and Karen Fredette write, “The hermit vows to live with only the barest necessities, witnessing to the joy of having little and desiring less.”

Obedience

Obedience is a little more tricky. For it usually means absolute obedient to a man, usually a bishop. With all the abuse scandals in the church, this is usually not wise. But here I take it to mean obedience to God and one’s Plan of Life.

So these are the three evangelical counsels. However, again departing from the Roman Catholic position, I do not make vows to follow them, but rather I make resolutions that I dedicate myself to following. For Jesus said, “But I say, do not make any vows! (Matt. 5:34 NLT).

Prayer of Dedication

When you are ready to make the commitment, pray the following with sincerity:

Dear heavenly Father, I dedicate my life to the Lord Jesus Christ through a life of chastity, poverty, and obedience. Lord God, give me the wisdom and strength to fulfill my resolution. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I am an Episcopalian, but there is wisdom in what the Roman Catholic Church says about hermits in Canon 603.

§1 Besides institutes of consecrated life the Church recognizes the eremitic or anchoritic life by which the Christian faithful devote their life to the praise of God and salvation of the world through a stricter separation from the world, the silence of solitude and assiduous prayer and penance.

§2 A hermit is recognized in the law as one dedicated to God in a consecrated life if he or she publicly professes the three evangelical counsels [i.e. chastity, poverty and obedience], confirmed by a vow or other sacred bond, in the hands of the diocesan bishop and observes his or her own plan of life under his direction.

Breakdown

A hermit devotes their life to
1. The praise of God
2. The salvation of the world

Through
1. A stricter separation from the world
2. The silence
3. Of solitude and
4. Assiduous prayer
5. And penance.

A hermit is recognized if they publicly profess, by a vow or other sacred bond, the three evangelical counsels
1. Chastity
2. Poverty
3. Obedience

And so
1. Observes his or her own plan of life
2. Under diocesan bishop’s direction.

I believe that there are four disciplines that must be in the prayer life of a Christian hermit. They are silence, solitude, simplicity, and surrender

Silence

Silence is both interior and exterior. The exterior silence is to withdraw from sound. To sit in silence and contemplate on the Divine. Inner silence is about stilling the thoughts. About basking in the presence of God.

Solitude

Solitude is the defining discipline for the hermit. It also has an inner and outer aspect. Solitude is to withdraw from society and from people. This solitude is about being alone, without being lonely. Inner solitude is the flight of the alone to the Alone.

Simplicity

Simplicity is a key discipline for the daily life of a hermit. Clutter is an enemy. Simplicity today is called minimalism. It’s about getting rid of the non-essential, and keeping the essential. But it is the path to experience the blessedness of possessing nothing. The key is non-attachment.

Surrender

And the most essential discipline for a Christian hermit is surrender. It is the key to developing a deeper relationship with Christ. “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). The ultimate goal is absolute surrender of heart, soul, mind and body.

So these are the four foundational spiritual disciplines for the prayer life of a Christian hermit. I will talk about them more later. But they are my daily companions.

“There’s happiness in having less.” – Fumio Sasaki

We live in a consumer society. We are told to buy, buy, buy. The more you have, the happier you will be. You don’t want to be a “have not.”

But it is a lie. More does not lead to happiness, but to unhappiness.

I define minimalism as a spiritual practice of reducing your possessions to a minimum. It is also called voluntary simplicity, and it goes back way before the Japanese minimalism wave started in 2009.

Minimalism is more than a practice, it is a mindset and way of life.

Rabbi Hyman Schachtel once said, “Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.”

Like so many things in life, it comes back to the mind. Our mind is our greatest asset and our greatest source of unhappiness. It all depends on how you use it.

Christian mysticism is one of the most misunderstood terms. It is defined in numerous ways. All kinds of crazy ideas fall under the title of Christian mysticism.

The word began within the Christian tradition. Therefore, when we speak of Christian mysticism, it must first and foremost be Christian. That means it must be based upon the life teachings and death of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. That eliminates the lot that calls itself. Christian mysticism.

So let me give you a simple definition I came up with. I think this is both accurate and concise.

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

So they’re three aspects of Christian mysticism. First is the pursuit of the experience of oneness with God in and through Christ. This is the practice of Christian mysticism, also called asceticism.

The second aspect of Christian mysticism is the study of the experience of oneness with God, it and through Jesus Christ. This is what you find in books and numerous teachings on the subject. This is trying to put you to words and experience that is beyond words.

And the third and final aspect of Christian mysticism is the experience of oneness with God in and through Jesus Christ. This is the actual experience. The whole point of the pursuit and the study, should be the attainment of this experience.