A hermit is one who is unplugged for Christ. He withdraws completely from the world and community life for a time to be alone with God.
Since we are very active Franciscans, it helps to make an occasional hermitage for a couple of days to guard our "assiduous union with God", the first goal of every consecrated Religious. A hermitage is a journey into the loving Heart of the living and loving Trinity.
Catherine de Hueck Doherty, a holy woman of God, promoted the Eastern tradition of the Poustinia (Russian for hermitage). A Poustinik (hermit) goes to be alone with God and His Word in fasting and prayer, not only for his own soul but also for the sake of the Church.
Brothers Michael and Paul supported Shirley Wanchina and her founding of Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth). It is a hermitage-based retreat center right here in Minnesota. Less than two hours from the metro, it contains about 20 hermit-houses surrounded by forest and trails to a quiet lake. The staff is warm and ready to orient newcomers to this ancient tradition of prayer.
We also have two hermitages at Saint Francis Friary, our Spiritual Center in the Northwoods.
A hermit is alone but not lonely. He is in union with the desert fathers and mothers, the communion of saints, the host of angels, and the beauty of creation. A hermitage is a journey into the loving Heart of the living and loving Trinity...
