It’s not often that one reads a book by a hermit monk. I purchased this book from the book store at the Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina, California. It is a delightful read for the person who enjoys meditative writings. Reflective prayers and poetry, many in haiku style, are written like a prayer journal with 114 separate entries. The author uses expressive language to highlight the beauty of what it is to live in close relationship with the Divine. The content includes references to many spiritual concepts: the Incarnation, the Holy Trinity, the love of God, and what it means to have a heart for God.
One of the mysteries that people debate, what it is to talk with God in an interactive voice, is presented in the form of a prayer written directly to God. We are allowed a few glimpses into the monk’s thought life. I enjoyed reading these reflections in the evening as a way to end my day on a positive note. It was comforting and a blessing. I am not of the Catholic tradition, but it didn’t matter.
The Hermit Monk’s perceptions enhanced the book’s message. Bits of the Hermit Monk’s life and history are included. He was a theology student at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky during the time of Thomas Merton’s hermitage. If you have read Seven Storey Mountain
Note: The Hermit Bird is a species of thrush noted for its pleasant song. It is a bird not readily seen, thus an apt symbol of God the Father dwelling in unapproachable light, who gave us the sweet song of Divine Revelation in Jesus. #71.
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