The Evangelical revival in Scotland encouraged both much stricter conditions being placed on admission to Holy Communion and the maintenance of traditional discipline within the established church. … Lesser transgressors could be ordered by the kirk session to stand before the congregation for up to three Sundays, sometimes wearing sackcloth, and publicly acknowledge their sins before ‘being subjected to a “rant” from the minister’.
Nothing like a good rant from the minister!
The god one can point to is an idol, and the religiousness that one can point to is an imperfect form of religiousness.
Concluding Unscientific Postscript
One of the things that I struggle with is the desire to be heard. Yet most of the time, as soon as I start speaking, I am extremely sorry for having said anything. And I end up kicking myself for speaking at all.
Here is some advice from Walter Hilton:
And to sum up: inasmuch as you believe you can bring profit to your fellow Christian – in particular, spiritual profit – you should say what you can, if he will listen; and in all other cases keep silent as much as you can, and in a short time you will not have much of a crowd to bother you. That is how it seems to me.
One of the major parts of the Medieval anchorite vocation was the space and the time to read. So reading as a vocation!? In a time when books were rare and few people could read, the anchorite went into their anchorhold to read. The books were controlled by their spiritual director. But the advice is simple: if in doubt, read.
So the following from Speculum Inclusorum via Hermits and anchorites in England, 1200–1550.
And so, if your taste for prayer or delight in meditation decreases, immediately seek out some edifying reading, the profit of which exceeds all estimation, since it offers a mirror of all vices and virtues, clearing distractions from the mind, attracting and enticing all virtues to the soul, and also sundering it from all vices, by a kind of assault on the reason, and by the urging of fear, as well as of love. …
And so, you recluses, by edifying reading of this kind, ‘Look to your vocation.’
I have included a new warning sign on the sidebar. Just in case you mistake me for someone qualified or with authority.
The carthusian Sign of the Cross: in making the Sign of the Cross, whether upon oneself or things, the thumb and the first two fingers are fully extended, and the remaining two fingers are bent upon the palm of the hand. The Sign of the Cross of the Carthusians, is made reverently, slowly, with majesty; their gesture describing a uniquely large cross, from forehead, to waist, with their hands brushing the outside of each shoulder, left to right shoulder. It is important to make it well.
Quies
… a large cross with the thumb and with the two fingers, from above the forehead down to the breast.
Ancrene Wisse
So … I like to research stuff! I like to be led by fancy. I like to compare how different people or groups look at the same problem. So here is some of the research on Anglican solitaries I have done via official documents.
A single consecrated person or a solitary is a person who considers her or himself to be called by God to dedicate themselves by vow or promise and live a consecrated life without living in a community with a specific leader and rule. This autonomous vowed life is an authentic Christian vocation.
Guideline of the ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR ANGLICAN RELIGIOUS LIFE IN AUSTRALIA
I am struck by the reference to “vow or promise”. The “fuller document” from the Church of England does not make that distinction. I would be interested in the difference between the two and why the above felt it needed to be expanded. I assume (in my ignorance) that the above is based on an earlier version of the one below.
There have always been some who believe that they are called by God to dedicate themselves by a vow and to live as consecrated celibates, whose primary concern is to build up the body of Christ in unity and
A Handbook of the Religious Life, The Advisory Council for Religious Communities
love, though without living a community life and a common Rule. This autonomous vowed life has been recognised in the Eastern and Western Churches from earliest times as an authentic Christian vocation. Because it is not a life lived in community according to the norms of the Religious Life, it does not come within the normal scope of the Advisory Council; but since it has some similarities to the situation of Religious living under vows, bishops and others have frequently referred cases to the Council.
The above, which was published in 2021, has a much fuller understanding. It is a vow to celibacy for the upbuilding of the body of Christ. It is a peculiar relationship between the individual and their bishop (or the bishop who receives the vow). It is interesting that it does not mention a rule of life as necessary.
Anyway, just saying!
This day (liturgically) last year was a complete disaster. I think Holy Week last year was about as low as I have been.
This year has been a little different but I still feel the absence of people.
Yesterday I sat outside and read some Thomas Merton. I have not read any Merton for a long time – maybe a year or so. I used to be in love with him and the type of freedom that he proclaimed.
Well, yesterday, when I sat and read him, I was somewhat disappointed. I found him very restrictive. And, at times, very old fashioned. Maybe it is because he was Roman Catholic? Or maybe because he embraced vowed monastic life? I was struck by how his writings are rather simplistic in that all the questions are answered by obedience. Very Benedticine! There is a sense, in my present state of mind, that for him life is about surrendering your will and by that becoming your true self.
Anyway, I was struck by how life moves on and changes. The things of primary importance yesterday, are no longer at the front of the line.
I wanted to comment on John 15. Maybe more like asking some questions without any answers.
What does it mean to “abide” in Jesus? Is that the same as the resolution that Kierkegaard speaks about? Is it an action rather than an attitude?
I will look these up and think about them a little more.
a fool and his prayer book 