Life as a Hermit Isn't as Glamorous as You Might Think w/ Sr. Natalia 

Thank you for understanding me better than I understand myself and for being kind enough to explain to me.

I confirm this to be 100% correct, from this fellow monastic consecrated religious

What do you mean by purity and self control vanishing? Like did you start doing vices or do you just mean you realized nobody else in society thought like you? I live as a hermit and am finishing up university and when I go back after that summer I always realize how nobody else really thinks like me. I was raised old fashioned. Do not drink, do drugs, video games, social media etc and I enjoy working like crazy

@@mrpeter4583 it’s just hard to avoid the vices.

that just means you a fake!

@@tigrisrgn4062 what?

@@LukeShalz being in the actual world exposed you, thats why im saying it just exposed your fakeness, some people think too highly of themselves its called arrogance

XD I think I am already having this problem and I am not fully solitude yet

@@thehermit761 I think the thing to remember when it comes to a godly vocation, is that we should go where we feel the most attraction. We will find temptation everywhere. But we also don't want to place ourselves into an unbearable temptation. I suppose that is where discernment comes in. I think someone would realize fairly quickly after trying life as a Christian hermit if he was called to it or not.

@@keithmayhewhammond5357 Not so sure, I met a former monk at a beach resort. Looked like a wealthy fella, he’s was puffing an expensive cigar and sipping expensive bourbon. 🥃 he spent nearly three decades as a monk, vow of poverty and two years as a hermit. He’s only in his 50’s and definitely seemed to regret losing 25 plus years praying, pledging and then two years as a hermit. Half his life gone before he woke up. He’s now married, seemed very happy and comfortable doing what he really does best. Indulging in earthly pleasures. 😉🙏🏆

@@gregthomas2448 If the story you present is sincere, I would argue it does not part of the same context. I was speaking of a vocation being realized or not realized within a short time. Your example is not someone who realized he had no vocation as a monk, but rather a story of someone who left the practice of religion entirely for heathenism. Regardless of whether someone becomes a monk or married or remains single, there are many examples of people losing their way. The part I find disturbing about the story you present is that you claim the time spent in prayer was a waste. Rather it is the time spent in heathenistic living that is a waste. Nothing comes of it in this life or the next. That being said, there are a lot of questions that come up from the story you give. How did someone who only started a career in his 50's become wealthy? Why would he brag about leaving religious life if he was ashamed of "wasting" 25 years? What actually made him decide to leave and how did he start a career at 50?

@@vivacristorey4363 it’s a true story I met him yesterday in Key West at a resort while I was relaxing with a cigar. He joined me and we shared some details about ourselves. He is in his early 50’s I’m in my late 50’s. I attended Catholic school from pre-k through college. I am hedonistic. When he told me his story I found it strange that someone from such a deep religious group after 26 years would be doing what I do. He seemed sincere and shared his contact information. I’m retired LEO so I looked him up and he’s real. His wife works for a billionaire that everyone on the planet knows. I’m holding back his name out of respect, because I’m pretty sure your community is not large. The guy was polite and interesting. Perhaps since we both had a few drinks we shared to much. He really didn’t disclose why he left the vow of poverty. He certainly shared that he is now happier as a married man. I think he’s a good guy. However, we all have demons. It’s better to know the devil you’re dealing with, than the one you don’t know. Today is 5-5-2024. My story is true and factual. I’m a raised Catholic yet I don’t attend church, I also feel a spiritual connection that doesn’t require me to restrain my earthly desires. I’m quite content. You can call me hedonistic, I call it having fun and enjoying life. Oh and helping people ? I served and protected without passion or prejudice for 30 years, so please don’t question my ethics or morality.

Me too. She's awesome.

I remember reading about Saint Mary of Egypt and I thought she lived her life in extremes - extreme worldliness to extreme holiness. It is easy to think quiet means holy or solitude means piety. It seems like religious life is a continuous effort of refinement. No one ever reaches perfection.

You're a recluse yet you're here on RU-vid. Got it.

What does this mean lol

He was also very heavily criticised by a lot of religious

Thank you for your truthful comment 🌹

Being a monk to escape the temptations of the world and give yourself entirely to the Lord is selfish? Wow how much worse it it to be in the world one foot with the devil and one with the Lord then?

Thanks be to God 🙏🏾🙏🏾

@@learnbibleversethroughpict6027 Thank you and amen!!

Audio went bad, he couldn't upload it.

@@saturdaysolitude7800 Thank you for letting me know. I hope they can re-do it. I was so looking forward to watching it!

You mean living alone in society. Truly living alone outside of society wouldn't make you lazy because you'd have to do everything in order to survive.

That is often a pattern seen through the history of the Church. Also common is for Christians to seek out hermits for guidance. The Benedictine order started when men and women sought out St. Benedict to lead them.

@@jeremysmith7176 Yes and in that way, by being visited, they can be sharing with the world. Also their prayers are of value.

I disagree. We are all connected. Christian hermits are not staying in the desert or the mountain to have a picnic. They are doing it for penance and prayer. It is often the case that God will bring people back into the world to teach. St Anthony of the Desert though remained a hermit his whole life. God brought others to him, but he never sought them out. St Benedict only left his hermit life because God's will demanded it of him. So it really depends. The purpose of being enlightened is to do the right thing regardless of where you are.

@@keithmayhewhammond5357 Thank you. I agree. My question predated my exposure to Christian monasticism so I had stopped asking it but this video reminded me and I thought it would be interesting to hear a monastic perspective on a question I used to ask. Thanks for fleshing it out more though.

@@colmwhateveryoulike3240 Ah I see. I misunderstood your question as a statement. I'm glad you weren't offended by it. God bless.

Well said.

I would never go back out of solitude.

Lol, no.

@@Abn0rMa1iTy Feel invited to laugh out loudly, if you like, but... what does "no" mean? No to what? Do you have better or different knowledge about what hermit life means? You may tell us if so...

It's from the Philokalia. Not a good reading suggestion for someone who is new to the Orthodox faith, though. You can misinterpret a lot of things in there without the guidance of a spiritual father.

A habit.

They don't believe in Immaculate Conception, they are more mystical, and has a different view of the two nature's of Jesus, other that we practically the same I believe

@@wolfthequarrelsome504 Lutheranism, when properly understood, is a reform movement within the Catholic Church. It’s not Protestant in the way the term is usually used.

@@paulthiele3102 but it's not Catholic

@@paulthiele3102 it may have been a reform, but it was a heresy to the Catholic Church and Martin Luther (it’s founder) was excommunicated.

While Luther was correct about standing up against simony and may have intended reform initially, it ended in serious heresies and prideful falls. Lutherans and Catholics have different and opposing teachings. Check out the catechisms, pray and follow Christ on the narrow path.

They are stupid man really.

I think the same way I don't enjoy socializing people are weak I was raised old fashioned no TV, video games, social media etc

Actualy i think that most of western people don t know his point of view abouth this..

He found the good in hermatism.

Society is full of so much sin and bullshit this is laughable