Category: Christian Hermit

The one thing the genuine hermit abhors is attention.

As an anonymous Camaldolese hermit put it,

“Our solitary life is not only a renunciation of the artificiality of a mundane existence based on appearance and efficiency, but it hides us from the eyes and the acquaintance of others in such a way that we live truly concealed in complete anonymity.”

Celebrity Hermits

In some circles hermits are revered, which can easily become a stumbling block for them. It is hard to be a celebrity and be humble. And so genuine hermits prefer to be hidden. Thus they wear no special habit (a habit is special clothing worn by monks, nuns, and clergy).

Don’t Advertise

This is the reason why I don’t use my full name. I use my hermit name, brother Jay Paul, so as not to draw attention to myself in real life. I only share this as an example to other would be hermits. Don’t advertise. Be humble. Be hidden. Don’t draw attention to yourself.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

In my life, I never tell anyone I am a hermit. And nobody asks. If they don’t ask, I don’t tell. And I don’t do anything to draw attention to my hermit life. I just avoid people when possible, but I am friendly when I do interact. I am not antisocial, I am pro-solitude. There is a difference.

I don’t need recognition, so I don’t need authorization. God called me to be a hermit, that is good enough for me.

_______
Note: Camaldolese is a Roman Catholic religious order, based on the Rule of St. Benedict.

The three evangelical counsels are the traditional vows which all monastics make. They are chastity, poverty, and obedience. Let’s look at each, but from a non-Catholic viewpoint.

Chastity

The Oxford English Dictionary defines chastity as “the state or practice of refraining from extramarital, or especially from all, sexual intercourse.” This would include refraining from masturbation.

Poverty

Poverty is different from destitution. Poverty, rightly understood, means living minimalistic and simply. Not having more than you really need. As Paul and Karen Fredette write, “The hermit vows to live with only the barest necessities, witnessing to the joy of having little and desiring less.”

Obedience

Obedience is a little more tricky. For it usually means absolute obedient to a man, usually a bishop. With all the abuse scandals in the church, this is usually not wise. But here I take it to mean obedience to God and one’s Plan of Life.

So these are the three evangelical counsels. However, again departing from the Roman Catholic position, I do not make vows to follow them, but rather I make resolutions that I dedicate myself to following. For Jesus said, “But I say, do not make any vows! (Matt. 5:34 NLT).

Prayer of Dedication

When you are ready to make the commitment, pray the following with sincerity:

Dear heavenly Father, I dedicate my life to the Lord Jesus Christ through a life of chastity, poverty, and obedience. Lord God, give me the wisdom and strength to fulfill my resolution. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I am an Episcopalian, but there is wisdom in what the Roman Catholic Church says about hermits in Canon 603.

§1 Besides institutes of consecrated life the Church recognizes the eremitic or anchoritic life by which the Christian faithful devote their life to the praise of God and salvation of the world through a stricter separation from the world, the silence of solitude and assiduous prayer and penance.

§2 A hermit is recognized in the law as one dedicated to God in a consecrated life if he or she publicly professes the three evangelical counsels [i.e. chastity, poverty and obedience], confirmed by a vow or other sacred bond, in the hands of the diocesan bishop and observes his or her own plan of life under his direction.

Breakdown

A hermit devotes their life to
1. The praise of God
2. The salvation of the world

Through
1. A stricter separation from the world
2. The silence
3. Of solitude and
4. Assiduous prayer
5. And penance.

A hermit is recognized if they publicly profess, by a vow or other sacred bond, the three evangelical counsels
1. Chastity
2. Poverty
3. Obedience

And so
1. Observes his or her own plan of life
2. Under diocesan bishop’s direction.

Since weekly attendance at Sunday Eucharist is part of my Plan of Life, I thought others might wonder, “What Denominations celebrate the Lord’s Supper every Sunday?”

Rev. Chris Probert of Christ Church in la Manche, Normandy, answered this very question, saying, “Roman Catholics, Orthodox, most Anglicans, many Lutherans, less commonly so among more Protestant communities.”

I would add the Moravian Church, the Reformed Church in America, and many churches within the United Church of Christ. You would have to check with your local church.

Requirements to participate also vary. In the Episcopal Church baptism is the only requirement. In the Roman Catholic Church you have to be a member of the Church, in a state of grace, and have fasted one hour before receiving Communion.

As Paul and Karen Fredette point out, “There are as many ways of being a hermit as there are people doing it.”

Therefore I can’t really tell you how to be a hermit. I can only share my own spiritual path, hoping something will inspire you.

Withdrawing from the world was a process for me. I became more and more out of touch with social fads, trends, and interests. Sports held no interest for me, and politics was filled with lies and deceit.

But the more I withdrew from society to be alone with God, the clearer my vision became, and the more peaceful I felt. So go where the peace is, for that is where you will find the Prince of Peace.

I am now seven years into my solitary journey. There are a few things I have learned on my way.

The first is to create a Plan of Life. This is a basic outline of your daily life, prayer time, and practice of the spiritual disciplines. I have shared my own on this website, hopefully it will be helpful.

Being a hermit is a calling. Rachel, Hermit of the Diocese of Nottingham, writes:

“The call to hermitage is often a gradual realisation, a growing affinity with solitude, a desire to know God in the ordinariness of simply being alive.”

Introverts

First, being an introvert and being a hermit are not the same thing. Being an introvert is one’s temperament, not one’s calling. You are born an introvert, you are called to be a hermit.

Vocation

Second, being a hermit is a vocation. That is a distinct calling from God to come away from the world and be with him alone. This is not something a person chooses, but is a response to an inner urging of the Holy Spirit. If you’re called to be a hermit, you will know it. No one has to tell you.

Pursuit of God

Third, the most important part of the vocation of the hermit is the pursuit of God. Solitude may have some value in itself, but for the Christian hermit, the whole point is to know God in the depths of ones inner being. It is to be alone with the Alone.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defined a hermit as “one that retires from society and lives in solitude especially for religious reasons.” A Christian hermit seeks solitude in order to be “with Christ” (Col. 3:1-3).

The English word “hermit” is based on the Greek word eremos, meaning desert or wilderness. From this we get the Latin word eremite. The practice of being a hermit is called eremiticism.

Solitude is the defining spiritual discipline for the hermit. The difference for a hermit is the extreme solitude he or she seeks. No contact with people except upon necessity. I avoid all contact except for Sunday church.

Personally, I am married and have a cat, so I am not completely alone. But I spend most of my time in my cell. A cell is what hermits call their prayer room. The whole house is my heritage.

There are a number of married hermits. But as Paul and Karen Fredette warn, “Too much togetherness can destroy the original inspiration of solitude, silence, and independence that marks a genuine eremitical life.”