Category: Poland

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Two false hermits of history

from Heritage Daily (UK), an article about an early modern era false prophet, professed hermit — and con artist. Article title: “Treasure hoard associated with hermit conman found in Świętokrzyskie Mountains.” Summary: A treasure hoard associated with Antoni Jaczewiczar, a notorious hermit, conman, and false prophet, has been discovered in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains in south-central Poland.
URL: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/05/treasure-hoard-associated-with-hermit-conman-found-in-swietokrzyskie-mountains/151928

from Bangor DailyNews, an article about a 1920s con man presenting himself as a hermit to justify his disappearances. Article title: “The mysterious ‘Hermit of Monson’ may have smuggled opium out of Maine in the 1920s.”
URL: https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/05/06/piscataquis/jim-whyte-hermit-of-monson-legend-joam40zk0w/

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Sr. Miriam, Polish hermit-nun

The Aleteia website features an article on Sister Miriam of the Cross, a Polish Carmelite hermit-nun who has not spoken for 16 years. Sister Miriam writes of her silence in a universal way:

“Is not the vow of silence against human nature? I pose this question to myself, too. Without a doubt, silence is so hard for our nature, also for me. However, human social life is possible thanks to a certain dialectic of silence and speaking, contemplation and engagement, breaking free from worldly desires and enjoying the world, etc. Therefore, the role of silence in interpersonal communication, in relationships, seems crucial and actually necessary for obtaining some harmony. It is communication that takes place within the human spirit, where mindfulness, gentleness, attentiveness to the other, warmth, and respect originate. There is a close correlation between silence and speaking, as all is born out of silence.”

URL: https://aleteia.org/2018/04/20/this-hermit-nun-hasnt-spoken-for-16-years-but-heres-what-she-tells-us/