Discerning a hermit vocation

[Mary Child]

Does anyone know of any good hermit colony or Laura in the US? I want to become a hermit but I am not sure where to begin searching or discern. Who to ask? I preferred to live among other hermits like in a colony or Laura. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

God Bless,

Mary Child

[Orans]

Bethlehem Hermitage, in Chester, NJ, is a laura of diocesan hermits:

Bethlehem Hermitage in Chester, New Jersey

Hermit Life (bethlehemhermitage.com)

 

Carmelite women hermits also in Chester:

THE HERMITS OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL (wordpress.com)

Hermits of Carmel | Karmel St. Elia Seligenthal (karmel-seligenthal.de)

 

Monastic Family of Bethlehem, of the Assumption  of the Virgin, and of St. Bruno:

BETHLEEM.ORG : THE HOUSE OF BREAD IN THE DESERT

Welcome | Monastery of Bethlehem New York

[Mary Child]

Thank Orans for these informations. I will look into it. Have you visited any of this hermitages? 

 

[Sponsa-Christi]

The Hermits of St. Mary of Carmel are religious Sisters who live a very eremitical way of life: https://www.hsmcmn.com/

[Mary Child]

Thanks Sponsa-Christi!

[Guest]

On 8/4/2021 at 1:52 PM, Sponsa-Christi said:

The Hermits of St. Mary of Carmel are religious Sisters who live a very eremitical way of life: https://www.hsmcmn.com/

Lovely website - thank you for posting.

[Orans]

On 8/3/2021 at 11:33 AM, Orans said:

Bethlehem Hermitage, in Chester, NJ, is a laura of diocesan hermits:

Bethlehem Hermitage in Chester, New Jersey

Hermit Life (bethlehemhermitage.com)

 

Carmelite women hermits also in Chester:

THE HERMITS OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL (wordpress.com)

Hermits of Carmel | Karmel St. Elia Seligenthal (karmel-seligenthal.de)

 

Monastic Family of Bethlehem, of the Assumption  of the Virgin, and of St. Bruno:

BETHLEEM.ORG : THE HOUSE OF BREAD IN THE DESERT

Welcome | Monastery of Bethlehem New York

I don't know why the links I posted didn't show up as links.

I'm reposting them here -from a different browser- that seems to be a little more "link friendly"

 

1.- Bethlehem Hermitage in Chester NJ

https://www.bethlehemhermitage.com/

https://www.bethlehemhermitage.com/hermit-life.html

 

2. Carmelite women hermits also in Chester -the are OCarm:

https://carmelsway.wordpress.com/

 

3. Monastic Family of Bethlehem, of the Assumption  of the Virgin, and of St. Bruno:

https://english.bethleem.org/

https://www.monasteryofbethlehemnewyork.com/

 

 

[Bonkira]

There is the Holy Family Hermitage in Ohio with the Camadolese hermits.

[mariepaix]

I would not recommend the Monastery of Bethlehem at all.  They have been investigated by the Vatican for Spiritual abuse and have cultish qualities that have damaged many sisters.  They even had a Polish sister who I knew when I was there who committed suicide.  She poured gasoline all over herself and lit a match and burned to death.  The sisters hid it for years and lied about it to everyone, even her family.  There are many testimonies online from former sisters who suffered because of the abuse.  You can go to the lenversdudecor dot org website to read them.  A former Brother who spent 24 years at Bethlehem compiled a large dossier which he took to the Vatican and is on this website.   They present an image to the world that is completely false.

[cruciatacara]

Just be a little careful when referring to a community by a simple name like 'Bethlehem' as there are several communities using that name. The one in Chester, NJ is not the same as the French one. so it would be good to clarify. As for the one in Chester, NJ, my friend lived with them for 2-3 months and found it to be a lovely place with really wonderful hermits living there. At the time she was there, she experienced no abuse, nor even witnessed anything like that.

I am not saying they don't have their own problems, but I would just hate gossip to ruin the reputation of a place if the facts weren't presented clearly and with evidence. And let's try not to confuse different communities with the same or similar names. 

[mariepaix]

Thank you for the clarification as it can be confusing. In my post I am referring to the Monastery of Bethlehem and the Assumption and St. Bruno.  It's the order whose foundation began in France and was started by Sr. Marie. Unfortunately the information concerning this order is in French so other countries where they have a monastery are unaware of the many abuses that have taken place. There are many sisters who left and are still trying to recover from their experience there.  

[mariepaix]

https://gloria.tv/post/8xLg7gS9pNdjALUWdnfad4SRW. 

[cruciatacara]

8 hours ago, mariepaix said:

https://gloria.tv/post/8xLg7gS9pNdjALUWdnfad4SRW. 

This makes my point completely. The Monastic Sisters of Bethlehem are a totally different community than the laura of hermits who live in Chester, NJ at the Bethlehem Hermitage. So I just want to make sure that when a community is discussed, the whole name is used, so as not to confuse others who might think that the name Bethlehem refers to another community.  Thanks for posting that link to clarify.

[GraceUk]

I've  been looking up some information on hermit vocations. Although this way of life wouldn't appeal appeal to me I was interested to read the replies.  I thought Carthusian nuns were hermits but on their website it says they are not. Because they take their meals in common and have community prayers. 

[mariepaix]

When I was with the Monastery of Bethlehem and the Assumption of the VM and St. Bruno we used the term 'semi-eremetical'. We followed the horaire of the Carthusians somewhat. Their sleep is divided since they get up in the night to pray then return to bed whereas We didn't do that.  We had some daily offices in common at Church and one meal together on Sundays and feast days. There was also the walk together on Sundays.  The rest of the time was spent in solitude, as much as possible.