ithinkjesusiscool Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 Aristotle argues that men and women are created to live in community and in friendship with other human beings. What about hermits and cloistered religious? Can they be happy without sharing friendship with other human beings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentJoy Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 A Benedictine recommended Mother Mary Frances' "And He Called Them Friends" (if I have the title right!) as a way of understanding more about the concept and practice of friendship within religious communities. Even in Carmelite communities, the Sisters are certainly friends, even though they don't necessarily have "personal" friendships (if that makes sense). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blazeingstar Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 Men and women are designed for community. Hermits are a unique breed who find that community in the spiritual realm rather than the physical one. For 99.999% of humanity, we find our community in other people. Cloistered religious often have a very strong community life, one with a deeper understanding of the Communion of Saints than we will ever have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luigi Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 (edited) The lack of socialization/friendship os also one of the penitential/sacrificial apescts of hermit life. They (largely) give up something that is inherently good and necessary. The same as fasting. Edited May 6, 2014 by Luigi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ithinkjesusiscool Posted May 6, 2014 Author Share Posted May 6, 2014 Are you saying that hermits are extremely strog or just rare? The lack of socialization/friendship os also one of the penitential/sacrificial apescts of hermit life. They (largely) give up something that is inherently good and necessary. The same as fasting. Rule of St Benedict: Chapter 49: The Observance of Lent 1The life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marigold Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 I was taught that hermits can go away from regular community because they are always in the presence of the community in their prayer and way of life - they are doing everything for others, including the ultimate Other. From personal experience, I've realised that some hermits and hermit-like people I know think a lot more about others than people who live in society. But at least in our Orthodox tradition it's only once you're quite mature and seasoned that you get to be a hermit because it's very difficult to get to that openness of heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximillion Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 Being a hermit in no way closes one off from the friendship of others........... It is just that the friendship is carried out 'at a distance'. To ask if one can be happy fulfilling the will of God is a little......well, I'm not sure what. God wants us to be happy and fulfilled. If that was not a fulfilling situation then I doubt the person would be living or attempting to live an eremitic lifestyle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice_nine Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 don't cloistered religious live in community? Or is the term synonymous with hermitage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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