The Desert Tradition: St Antony and St Simeon Stylitis

The Hermits of Bethlehem

These videos tell something of the vocation of the solitary from different angles. I especially recommend the EWTN film "In Praise of the Desert", after which any article by me would be superfluous. Instead, I shall remind you of the treatise of St Peter Damian on "The Dominus Vobiscum" which gives the reason why a hermit in his cell should read the responses in the Divine Office, even when he is totally alone. He tells us that the unity of the Church is not something we create ourselves, the result of ur own efforts, merely an expression of our own limited feelings, but is a gift of the Holy Spirit. We are united by the Spirit to Christ in the Eucharist, and hence we are united to all who are "in" Christ, because he cannot be separated from his body. A hermit, who is dedicating his life to loving God with al he has and is, also comes to love the whole Church as Christ loves the Church; and, like Christ, he includes in himself all Christ's members. A hermit is never more united to the whole Church than when he is alone wth God who is the true Source of Christian unity. It is a gift brought about by the Eucharist