Hermits..

[Lilsheep88]

Why do they take vows of isolation? For what purposes? As Michael Voris said… Heaven is a community of saints, not a private 1on1 dinner party with Jesus… How can they carry out love of neighbour if they are secluded from the rest of the world? Why do they do what they do? I understand that some of them do this to make up (to pray) for the sins of the world and intercede for the rest of us… Im thinking it is also a way to isolate one self from the evil influences of the world until the second coming…there are some hermitages in italy that only have one monk living in them. But would there be any other purposes for this social withdrawal? Im thinking something along the lines of spirtual awakening via meditation but this is sounding comparable to buddhism

 

[Anathama_Sit]

Why do they take vows of isolation? For what purposes? As Michael Voris said… Heaven is a community of saints, not a private 1on1 dinner party with Jesus… How can they carry out love of neighbour if they are secluded from the rest of the world? Why do they do what they do? I understand that some of them do this to make up (to pray) for the sins of the world and intercede for the rest of us… Im thinking it is also a way to isolate one self from the evil influences of the world until the second coming…there are some hermitages in italy that only have one monk living in them. But would there be any other purposes for this social withdrawal? Im thinking something along the lines of spirtual awakening via meditation but this is sounding comparable to buddhism

Greetings Lilsheep88,

I do not think that the hermits take vows of isolation, I have never heard of them doing so. I do know that they do separate themselves from the world, some do so in the manner that you describe. Eremetical life is a vocation, a calling. It may look very wierd to someone looking at it from the outside.

They are not socially withdrawing in the sense that you may be thinking of. The highest purpose that anyone can fill is that they grow closer in Union with God. Eremtical life is all about this, growing closer to God in Union with Him. They care much about the world and the people in the world. The closer we grow to God, the closer we grow to others. You cannot help but love people more as your love of God increases. The hermits do pray for the world and such, but they have been called by God to live apart from the world, for reasons known to God and perhaps to them alone.

I know the answers could probably be a bit longer, but I am a bit tired to go any further than this. Hopefully this will go some way in answering your question.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[bmullins]

Why do they take vows of isolation? For what purposes? As Michael Voris said… Heaven is a community of saints, not a private 1on1 dinner party with Jesus… How can they carry out love of neighbour if they are secluded from the rest of the world? Why do they do what they do? I understand that some of them do this to make up (to pray) for the sins of the world and intercede for the rest of us… Im thinking it is also a way to isolate one self from the evil influences of the world until the second coming…there are some hermitages in italy that only have one monk living in them. But would there be any other purposes for this social withdrawal? Im thinking something along the lines of spirtual awakening via meditation but this is sounding comparable to buddhism

Meditation is not just a Buddhist thing. We Christians have our own forms of meditation and contemplative prayer that should be embraced and used. While I agree in a sense that it’s difficult to carry out love for neighbor, we also must realize that our community of saint’s transcends just this physical world. To be devoted to a life of personal prayer service to God can lead to great things for all of us, not just for the person out there ‘alone’. They are still a part of the body of Christ and their prayers and petitions are helping each of us. If we believe that God is who we say He is, then it would be nothing for Him to personally give the solitary monk in the mountains the prayer request for one of us without the monk even knowing us.