Catholic Hermits: Public or Private?

Perhaps on the year anniversary of the angel Beth, my guardian dear, telling me that I had not appreciated or honored the hermit life that God had chosen for me and valued very much, the hermit will not write the word "hermit" in reference to the hermit. Now, of course, I am told by my confessor to use the term "Catholic hermit." So, one obeys.

But in the writing, the use of the "h" word has helped the Catholic hermit to bond with the vocation, to accept it, to not cringe with the sound of the word, as that had been the hermit's immediate reaction when the guardian angel delivered that message. In this past year, the hermit has settled in, values and appreciates this life that God has chosen for me.

There remains an unfinished point of obedience, and that is the confessor telling me to "quote the Catechism " in my writing so that others who might read will understand what he had to clarify once again, for this Catholic hermit: the two forms of consecrated eremitic life in the Catholic Church. It is felt that people interested or praying about this particular vocation, could then pray for God's desire as to which He wills for the individual.

In this Catholic hermit's situation, God made it very clear over the course of a few months, what He willed, and by the decision of the Bishop and also through the hermit's prayer life and greater understanding of which aspect God can better utilize in this soul's given circumstances and environment, as well as--well--just that God knows each soul and knows what He knows is best.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states regarding the eremitic life:

920. "Without always professing the three evangelical counsels publicly, hermits '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.'"

921. "They manifest to everyone the interior aspect of the mystery of the Church, that is, personal intimacy with Christ. Hidden from the eyes of men, the life of the hermit is a silent preaching of the Lord, to whom he has surrendered his life simply because [H]e is everything to him. Here is a particular call to find in the desert, in the thick of spiritual battle, the glory of the Crucified One."

This is simple enough to comprehend. The three evangelical counsels are chastity in celibacy, obedience, and poverty. These professions may be made publicly but not always: they can be private professions.

If public, there is the option to go the way of Canon 603 which more formalizes the profession. This option can be read more in depth in a guide that was compiled by a religious sister about ten years ago and which is being revised. In that guide are collected writings and suggestions for the hermit life, including some revised statutes for the eremitic life by the Bishops' of France, the citation of CL603, and other sundry aides such as possible rites and sample rules of life. This guidebook has been used as that--a guide--in some Dioceses.

Or, if public profession is God's will and the hermit's accepted format for profession of promises or vows, Canon 603 does not need to be utilized or incorporated. If not, the hermit is publicly avowed and consecrated, but not bound by that Canon. Regardless of Canon 603 or not, a public profession is that: public. People know.

If private profession is God's will and the hermit's accepted format for profession, the process is not known to others in general and sometimes not in specific. A priest or Bishop may receive the profession (vows and promises). Perhaps it is between the cleric and the hermit, or perhaps a witness or a few are present. A ceremony may be selected from the above mentioned guidebook of compilations, or the hermit may research and develop a ceremony for this private profession. A token may be used, a type of habit may be selected, a form may be signed and dated. But these would all fall in the realm of that which would be hidden from the eyes of others. It is private.

Since private profession is the path God has chosen for this Catholic hermit, I will share a bit of the "externals", per se. The ceremony included an adaptation of a Medieval anchoritic rite. This was researched by the hermit, and shortened some due to the original lasting for three hours! The hermit's spiritual director (priest) spoke much of the rite, and the hermit read some of the Psalms and gave the responses necessary. The priest then gave a short homily or inspirational challenge message. He incensed the hermit, placed the crucifix about her neck after blessing it, and had that afternoon blessed the hermitage where the hermit lived at that time. The hermit knelt when professing the vows. The priest made formal, verbal reception of the same. One person was present with his baby, but this was not intended. The person just showed up part-way through the ceremony. (The hermit preferred this visitor not be in attendance, but isn't it often that we have our own plans and God surprises us?) The ceremony lasted perhaps 45 minutes. The priest gave the privately consecrated, professed Catholic hermit a large votive candle which was lit as part of the ceremony and avowals. This ceremony occurred in the candlelight of an old monastery chapel, on the night of the death anniversary of the hermit's Confirmation patron: Sr. Josefa Menendez.

The vows (or if the receiving priest wishes to call them promises) are repeated by the hermit each year before the Church altar and Tabernacle, kneeling with the priest standing in front, receiving and then confirming a blessing. There is no pre-planned event, but a simple, private, hidden-to-the-eyes-of-men profession.

There are good aspects to public or private profession and consecration of hermits. If in future the topic comes up as one to write, this Catholic hermit will write of the benefits and good of private profession, since this is this hermit's experience.

Being a publicly or privately professed Catholic hermit does not change the criteria as set forth in the Catechism. In fact, this Catholic hermit notices in this re-reading, that the life of the hermit is a silent preaching of the Lord.... Well, I guess the computer is silent other than the clicking of the keypads.

In the history of hermits in the Church, one can note that most we read about now did not make public profession. Even those in monasteries often professed privately to their abbot or abbess. But those who were and are publicly professed, live by the same criteria as privately professed Catholic hermits, as far as the three evangelical counsels, the stricter separation of the world, the prayer and penance, the life hidden from the eyes of men, in silent preaching the Lord, etc.

This has been helpful to write out in a kind of umbrella format, for this Catholic hermit, for although having the reference materials for several years now, and having made private profession over seven years ago, there was yet some confusion in the past year as to validity and credibility and viability of private or public profession. If one is willed to be a privately professed hermit, then Canon 603 would not utilized.

The spiritual aspects remain the same in either form of consecration, public or private. God provides the graces according to His will and in His timing and way. A privately professed, consecrated Catholic hermit does not receive more graces than the publicly professed, consecrated Catholic hermit based upon the profession being hidden or known. The graces are bestowed by God's omniscience and the poor hermit's needs!