Anchorites and Anchoresses

[Andruschak]

I am not sure if this is the proper forum for this question, as it deals with history. Or maybe not.

There used to be a class of Religious known as Anchorites (male) and Anchoresses (female). They asked to be walled up in a Church for the rest of their life in a small room with 3 windows. Any history on how widespread this practice was, and when it came to an end?

Thank you, and apologies if this is not the proper forum, and I’m sure the Moderator can figure out the correct one

 

[DesertBrother]

I am not sure if this is the proper forum for this question, as it deals with history. Or maybe not.

There used to be a class of Religious known as Anchorites (male) and Anchoresses (female). They asked to be walled up in a Church for the rest of their life in a small room with 3 windows. Any history on how widespread this practice was, and when it came to an end?

Thank you, and apologies if this is not the proper forum, and I’m sure the Moderator can figure out the correct one

Here’s something:
newadvent.org/cathen/01462b.htm

You might also be interested in the “stylites” who spent their days perched atop tall pillars:
newadvent.org/cathen/14317b.htm

 

[Dale_M]

You might also be interested in the “stylites” who spent their days perched atop tall pillars:

This must have posed a bit of a problem when bathroom needs arose.

Andruschak, I am not sure that anchorites are entirely a thing of the past. I think a person called to that life can work out the details with their bishop.

 

[Titus]

I know that the theologian and philosopher Julian of Norwich was an anchoress. She lived in the 14th century, and yet her message remains potent to this day. She lived a remarkable life in which she experienced her visions of God during a long and painful dying experience (she actually survived, so it wasn’t truly a dying experience).

I also know that they often had cats as company. Just popped in to my head.

 

[Cloisters]

I wanted to be an anchoress myself, attached to my parish church which had a saintly pastor. He said he’d love to have me there, but would fear for me because of the neighborhood. I also asked my bishop, and he said most anchorites were further along in their spiritual lives.

“Walled in Light,” a book about St. Colette of Corbie (foundress/reformer of the Poor Clare Colettines) was an anchoress, and fought Our Lord’s command to go reform the Poor Clares. A funny read, how He managed to convince her of her true vocation.

Cloister Outreach is proposing the Tower Hermits of St. Simeon Stylites, for which we have had one inquiry, which is miraculous considering it usually takes about 6 months to a year for anyone to inquire after the website’s been published.

cloisters.tripod.com/towerhermits/

Blessings,
Cloisters