Saint Amunia - Hermitess

"Hermitess"

by

Silver S. Parnell

Copyright (c) 1996

~ All rights reserved. ~

One of the many saints for whom we celebrate the feast day today is another hermitess about whom we know little. Amunia had been a married woman, but when her husband died, she joined her daughter, Saint Aurea, in her hermitage.

"The Christian of the future will be a mystic or

will not exist at all."

~ Karl Rahner, theologian, priest ~

I have lived as a type of modern hermit for the last 18 years, and I am always keen to hear from other female hermits, as well as read about hermitesses who have gone before us.

Dedicating one's entire life to God in a singular and solitary manner is the original monastic expression. Sometimes, hermits would gather together in a loosely organized group, withdrawn from society to greater and lesser degrees.

This monastic life is common in Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism. Other religions may also incorporate solitary religious people, but I am not aware of those, in particular.

Caves of Cappadocia, Turkey

"I will lead her into the desert, and there

I will speak to her heart."

~ Hosea 2:16 ~

30 years ago, I started keeping the above quote, on a small scrap of paper, in my wallet, eventually losing it when it floated out one day, unnoticed until much later. That was alright, however, as I had memorized it long ago and carried it also in my heart.

Jesus himself was many times said to retreat to a solitary place to pray to his Father "in secret." Many early Christians retreated to the caves, some of which still exist today.

Cave painting, in cave church

What is the purpose of the hermit life? To be alone, in a reverent atmosphere of silence and contemplation upon the Divine is an expression of longing for the experience of union with God and an attempt to sweep aside and leave behind everything that is not Him. Some theologians say that we are already in union with Him but that we have inserted the things of the world into the relationship and thereby ruined the experience of the joy that one feels in communion.

To come to an understanding of our oneness with the Lord, to feel it, recognize it and float on its wings, has been the urgent goal of saints through the ages, and I love to read about each of their individual journeys. At times, while meditating, I paint them, such as my work, at the top of this blog post.

One day, I had hoped to form an alliance with other independent hermits throughout the world, but perhaps it is best that this never materialized. We are meant to be alone, after all. Still, it would be lovely to provide support to other female hermits. It is still a recognized and respected vocation, but because it is mostly women who aspire to it, it is often given short shrift. Even many of our churches have lost track of that mystical thread that originated with Jesus and wended its way through the lives of many saints through the ages.

83 year-old Buddhist hermitess

Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and others share in this holy impulse to be with God, together alone. There are more of us than you might imagine. I encourage everyone to read up on our holy mothers in religion, both those who are still living and those who have passed on to their heavenly reward.

Russian hermitess Agafya Lykova

who lives in Siberia, alone

I remember reading about the "desert mothers" and the "desert fathers" when I was a nun in the Vedanta Convent. My readings of the books we carried in our catalog were my introduction to the Christian monastic and contemplative traditions. It sparked something within me which stayed with me ever since!

It is amazing to me, thinking about how long it has been - 18 years - since I first committed to the solitary life, and how I have continued this life with no earthly support from any religious institution, but with the considerable kindness and resourcefulness of well-wishers, both from my teacher in the Vedanta community and the loving attentions of my circle of Catholic friends who understand the contemplative life of the independent monastic. They are also sympathetic to the limitations of an older woman with multiple disabilities, thanks be to God!

Most of all, though, I feel the continuous blessing and encouragement of our holy mystics who have gone before us. I pray to Saint Amunia and all the other angels and saints, and ask them to intercede on my behalf to the Lord.

I also keep their memory fresh in my mind and heart by reading books by and about them. I would like to share with you some of these volumes.

I have attached a list at the bottom of this blog. It is a very short list because there is much much more. I have only included books I was able to find on Amazon, but if you would like further recommendations of books and websites about the lives of other mystics, please don't hesitate to contact me, and I will be happy to steer you in the right direction.

May the Lord bless us all.

Silver "Rose"

INDEX OF BOOKS ON THIS TOPIC AND RELATED TOPICS:

I recommend these to you and intend to read them again myself, probably on kindle, so I can magnify the text:

Books of Bede Griffiths, Benedictine monk and lifelong friend of C.S. Lewis:

•  Bede Griffiths: An introduction to his spiritual thought
• The Golden String: An Autobiography

Books about the desert fathers and mothers:

• Desert Fathers and Mothers: Early Christian Wisdom Sayings―Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations)
• The Wisdom of the Desert (New Directions) by Thomas merton
• The Forgotten Desert Mothers: Sayings, Lives, and Stories of Early Christian Women by Laura Swan
• The Desert Mothers: Spiritual Practices from the Women of the Wilderness by Mary C. Earle
• In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (Treasures of the World's Religions)
• Praying with the Desert Mothers by Mary Foreman OSB

Books by and about saintly women mystics:

• Revelations of Divine Love (Short Text and Long Text) - Julian of Norwich
• The Autobiography of St. Teresa Of Avila: By St. Teresa Of Avila
• The Prophecies and Revelations of Saint Bridget of Sweden
• Joan of Arc: A Life Inspired by Wyatt North
• Hildegard of Bingen: Scivias (Classics of Western Spirituality
• Hildegard von Bingen: A Journey into the Images
• Hildegard of Bingen's Spiritual Remedies
• Hildegard of Bingen: Scientist, Composer, Healer, and Saint
• A purple flower amidst the mountains: The extraordinary life of Maria Domenica Lazzeri (1815-1848) by Giovanni Brunelli
• Edith Stein: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series) - by Edith Stein and John sullivan
• Edith Stein: The Life and Legacy of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross by Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda
• Catherine of Siena by Sigrid Undset
• Catherine of Siena : The Dialogue (Classics of Western Spirituality) by Catherine of Sienna, Suzanne Noffke, Guiliana Cavallini
• Hadewijch: The Complete Works (Classics of Western Spirituality) by Hadewijh (author) & Mother Columba Hart (translator)
• Madame Guyon: Her Autobiography (condensed & modernized)
• The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary: From the Visions of Ven. Anne Catherine Emmerich
• The Complete Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich (Illustrated): The Lowly Life and Bitter Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Mother
• The Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich (2-Volume Set)
• The Book of Margery Kempe
• The Life of Christina of Markyate (Oxford World's Classics)
• Life of Christina of Markyate
• Mechthild of Magdeburg: The Flowing Light of the Godhead (Classics of Western Spirituality (Paperback))
• Meister Eckhart and the Beguine Mystics: Hadewijch of Brabant, Mechthild of Magdeburg, and Marguerite Porete
• The Life & Revelations of Saint Gertrude the Great
• Gertrud the Great of Helfta: The Spiritual Exercises

Statue of St. Teresa of Avila - in rapture