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.
