Hermits: life and spirituality

The hermit life comes from the Latin eremus, meaning "desert". This spirituality linked to the desert is a reference to the Bible. After an experience in the desert lasting 40 years for the Jewish people , or Jesus' 40 days in the desert, the human being does not emerge unscathed, and this enables him or her to draw closer to God and advance on the path of holiness.

A passage from the Book of Exodus tells us about life in the desert, which is a little like the life of a hermit: "Then the Lord said to Moses: I am going to rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not. On the sixth day, however, when they prepare what they bring in, let it be twice as much as they gather on the other days. So Moses and Aaron told all the Israelites, “At evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt;" ( Exodus 16:4-6)

Hermits are also found in various religions, among Buddhists, Muslims and other Christians such as the Orthodox. The hermitical life is a particular vocation of the consecrated life. Among Catholics, it is supervised by the Vatican to avoid the dangers of asceticism.

What is the hermit's life?

"Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3, 2-3).

A hermit's life is an ascetic life far from the world. It's about turning completely to God. St. Jerome tells us that the first hermit lived around the year 230: St. Paul of Thebes. 

Today, the eremitical life is back in vogue, but this ascetic life needs to be supervised to avoid falling into the pitfalls that abound. In a text, the Holy See has spelled out some essential rules for the proper conduct of this particular life:

• "Orderly organization of day and work."
• "Do not flee from the world."
• "A life punctuated by the liturgy of the hours."

How does one become a hermit?

Discernment

The life of a hermit is characterized by strict withdrawal from the world, great solitude and a contemplative religious life. A religious vocation requires considerable discernment. The same is true, but in greater depth, to be sure of making the right choice. Discernment with a spiritual guide is very important.

The Carthusian monks

The Carthusian mon ks, the order founded by St. Bruno , live in a community, but each in a small individual house. Carthusian monks live individually, but can meet up at specific times set out in the rule, such as Sundays for walks and recreation, during which they can talk freely in pairs.

Where to live as a hermit?

It's very difficult to know exactly how many hermits there are in France, but some regions, such as the south of France, are home to more hermits than others. The hermit life has come back into fashion in recent years. It's important to remember, however, that it's not a question of fleeing the world and its difficulties.

Pray to the saints with Hozana

The saints are examples for us all, and we can be particularly touched by a saint. Hozana invites you to discover some of the saints and their spirituality. You can join these prayer communities free of charge.

• A community invites you to pray with the poems written by Saint Thérèse, the little Carmelite nun from Lisieux.
• A novena invites you to discover another community dedicated to St. Therese.