Category: Hermit Life

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.