Lenten Study 2023: Recluses, Hermits & Anchorites (2)

St. Conrad of Piacenza: Hermit (1290-1351 A.D.)

Conrad was born of a noble family in Piacenza, Italy. He married a nobleman's daughter and resided in his own birthplace. The story of his conversion began with an incident. One day, he went on a hunting trip. He had lit a fire but it went out of control. The fire burned a neighboring cornfield and forest. To pay for these damages, St. Conrad had to sell all of his property and other possessions. It was this incident that led him to to change his way of life. He got what was left of his possessions, gave it to the poor, and became a Franciscan tertiary and a hermit. St. Conrad lived a life of great austerity. His wife also decided something similar and entered the Poor Clares (the second order of the Franciscans). Through that hunting accident, the couple from Piacenza experienced a turning point in their life and was converted to seek a life of prayer, penance, and service to others, rather than one of comfort and richness.

Growth in holiness and sanctity

Because of his austere religious practices, Conrad obtained a reputation for sanctity. Large crowds were attracted by his holiness. St. Conrad had to move to Noto, in Sicily, Italy. It was here that he lived for the next thirty years in St. Martin's hospital, and in a hermitage founded by a fellow nobleman. His last years were spent in a grotto of Pizzone, outside Noto, where he died and was buried.

A miracle-worker

Numerous miracles were reported at the tomb of St. Conrad of Piacenza. Because of prayers answered and these miracles, Conrad's sanctity was approved by Pope Paul III (1534-1549). Although his feast is not found in the General Roman Calendar, the Franciscans traditionally celebrate it every February 19. St. Conrad of Piacenza lived well the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi as a member of the Third Order Franciscans. After a life committed to prayer, penance and service to the sick, he died at the age of 61 years old in 1351 A.D.

Next story in this post on recluses, hermits and anchorites is the life of St. Nicholas of Flüe, the patron of Switzerland. St. Nicholas is honored by Swiss Protestants and venerated by Swiss Catholics.

St. Nicholas of Flüe: Hermit (1417-1487 A.D.)

Nicholas was born on the Flüeli, a fertile plain near Sachseln, Obwalden (Unterwalden) Canton, Switzerland, on March 21, 1417. He comes from a family of Swiss farmers, and at an early age belonged to a group of lay people called "the Friends of God" - those who live ascetical lives of prayer and service to others. As an adult, Nicholas served in the army. In 1447 A.D., he married Dorothea Wissling - a farmer's daughter from whom he sired ten children.

An active political life

Nicholas fought with the forces of Obwalden in the war with Zurich in 1439 A.D. He was a captain in the occupation of the Turgau in 1453 A.D. Although he consistently refused the position of governor, he served as magistrate and councilor for Obwalden. As a father, husband, farmer, military leader, member of the assembly, councilor or judge, Nicholas was always a person of complete moral integrity.

Answering God's call

In 1467 A.D., at the age of 50, with his wife's consent, (and after twenty years of married life), he answered God's call to the eremetical life, and lived in a cell or cottage at Ranft, near Sachseln (not far from his home). For 19 years, he lived without food or drink, subsisting only on holy Communion from the chapel at Ranft.

A holy man involved in Swiss history

St. Nicholas (known affectionately as Bruder Klaus) became known for his holiness and wisdom. He was consulted by a constant stream of both leaders and common folk from all walks of life. He was responsible for the inclusion of Fribourg and Soleuse in the Swiss Confederation in 1481 A.D. (after independence had been won from Charles the Bold of Burgundy). He was also instrumental in the prevention of civil war when Switzerland's leaders could not come to an agreement. After a week of intense suffering, he died on his cell in Ranft, on March 21 (the same day he was born), at the age of 70, with his wife and children at his deathbed. He was immediately hailed as a patriot and a saint. St. Nicholas of Flüe was an outstanding religious figure in Swiss history. His cult was approved in 1669 A.D.; canonization in 1947 A.D.

Lenten Study 2023: Recluses, Hermits & Anchorites (1)

Introduction

The gospel of Luke is filled with many themes on prayer. In Luke 6:12, we find Jesus withdrawing from the crowd, and going out to the mountain to pray (Luke 6:12). There are three reasons Christ did this: (1) to make a very important decision, (2) to commune in prayer with the Father, (3) and to restore His energies after a tiring ministry with the crowds. This spirit of withdrawing from apostolic activity, and entering into a state of solitude and prayer, is the beginning of a Christian tradition with Jesus setting an example. In the history of the Christian faith, this movement became strong and popular during the early centuries. It began when the persecution of Christians began to wane. Since the Christians were now integrated into urban lifestyles, they were immersed in the vices and sins of the cities. Thus, some faithful Christians felt the call to go into the desert for a solitary life of prayer and quiet. The leader commonly known to have influenced this movement to the desert, was St. Anthony the Hermit, or St. Anthony of the Desert. St. Anthony lived a solitary life for about twenty years. Then, he emerged from solitude and formed a community who wanted to follow his way of prayer and life. He died (as tradition reports) at the very ripe age of 105 years old.

A stage in the Christian life of some saints

There were very few in our Church history who really lived a totally solitary life. The majority who sought God in their way of life often enter into solitude after a conversion experience. They do this to deepen their relationship with God. St. Athanasius made retreats into the desert. St. Jerome did the same. And so did St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil, and St. Gregory Nazianzen. St. Benedict of Nursia led a solitary life or prayer and penance in a cave in Mt. Subiaco, before establishing the Benedictine monasteries that dotted the landscape of Europe. St. Ignatius of Loyola spent a year in retreat at Manresa, where he experienced a spiritual vision that led to the writing of of his Spiritual Exercises, and the establishing of the Jesuit Order. Prayer, but more specifically, prayer in solitude, is one tradition in the life of the Saints. Note what Christ said in Matthew 6:6, "Whenever you pray, go to your room, close your door, and pray to your Father in private" (Matthew 6:6).

The Christian life of the laity

Unlike priests and religious, the lay faithful are more engaged in the world, with a job or profession, building a family and home, growing a business, or having political commitments in public service. Like priests and religious, the lay faithful also are called to remove themselves temporarily from the political, economic or social-cultural noise of their world of life and work. They also discover at some time or another, a deep need to seek God in solitary prayer. This is important since it strengthens their commitments in life and work. They are recharged, so to speak, with the spiritual energies to persevere in the responsibilities of their respective states of life.

Recluses, hermits and anchorites

In the desire to seek God in solitude, one can learn from the wisdom of those who have began early in the history of the Church. These series of blog posts will mention a few recluses, hermits, and anchorites, whose example can inspire (though not necessarily imitate literally) anyone to discover God's presence in a retreat. The blog posts will mention: St. Conrad of Piacenza, St. Nicholas of Flue, St. John of Egypt, Sts. Gundleus and Gwladys, St. Francis of Paola, St. Fiacre, Blessed Julian of Norwich, St. Paul the Hermit, St. Simeon Stylites, and St. Martinian the Hermit.

Description of terms

Recluse
A recluse in the religious sense, is often a monk who lives in a cell or hut of his own, apart from the community, or one who is part of a monastic community that is located far away - like in the mountains of the Monastic Republic of Mount Athos in Greece.

An example of a recluse is St. Theophan the Recluse. St. Theophan is a great Russian mystic of the nineteenth century. He made a translation of the Rule of St. Benedict into Russian. He is also known to have translated the Philokalia - an important collection of writings of the Church Fathers of the East.

Hermits or solitaries
Hermits in the religious sense are those who do not profess the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, but publicly, "devote their life to the praise of God and salvation of the world thru a stricter separation from the world, the silence of solitude and assiduous prayer and penance." (Catechism #920). Those who write about these solitaries and desert hermit-saints, present a description of how they lived in the early Christian eras. Throughout the week, they live and pray alone. Then, every Sunday, these scattered solitaries would make their way to the church where they met for Mass. If any brother was absent, they would go and seek him out, knowing he was sick.

Anchorites and anchoresses
An anchorite in the religious sense, is a person who sets up his hut or cell, outside the walls of a church. The person is thus identified with the church in which he anchors his Christian life. An example of an anchorite is Blessed Julian (or Juliana) of Norwich. She became an anchoress outside the walls of St. Julian's Church in Norwich, England. Many of these anchorites and anchoresses devote their lives not only to prayer and solitude but also to writing valuable spiritual works like translating classic spiritual writings.

A form of witnessing in the Church

When Christians were faced with a very hostile world, the martyrs witnessed to Christ by the very sacrifice of their life. When the Catholic Church was made one of the official religions of the Roman Empire, a new threat soon assailed the Christian faith - the influence of vice and worldly values in the cities. It was the rise of this threat that many Christians in the early centuries became aware that the Christian faith must be purified. The hermits and solitaries provided this witness. The affirmation of eternal life is vital to the Christian soul in the world. The martyrs affirmed this truth by dying; the recluses, hermits, and anchorites affirmed it by living in solitude.

To be continued.

Memorial of Saints (March 6)

St. Colette decided to live a life in seclusion according to the Rule of the Franciscan Tertiary Order. She went into seclusion upon the death of her parents at the age of twenty-two. She however also took time to travel to France and Flanders, founding and reforming convents of the Poor Clares. In her years of work and service in the Church, she was able to found a branch of the Poor Clares called the Colettines (died ca. 1447 A.D.).

St. Chrodegang of Metz became bishop of Metz, France in 742 A.D. He built and restored churches, monasteries, and founded the abbey of Gorze. This may have been the abbey where St. John of Gorze became abbot in 960 A.D. But Chrodegang's greatest achievement was the reform of much of Europe's secular clergy - specifically in Germany, Italy, the British Isles, and the Frankish kingdom (which includes present-day regions of France and Germany) (died ca. 766 A.D.).

St. Fridolin was an Irish priest who went to Gaul and settled at Poitiers (in France). He started to rebuild a church that was destroyed by a Vandal raid and then left for an island in the Rhine River near Coire, Switzerland. On the island, he built a monastery, a convent, and a school for boys. Fridolin was surnamed the "Wanderer" because of his many trips for the mission of the Christian faith (died ca. 650 A.D.).

Sts. Cyneburga, Cyneswide and Tibba were related to one another. Cynesburga and Cyneswida were sisters - daughters of the King of Mercia, probably an Anglo-Saxon kingdom. Cynesburga was married, but her husband rebelled against her father. So she went to Cynesburgecester and founded a convent. Her sister Cyneswide and their relative Tibba (a hermitess), joined Cynesburga in the convent (died ca. 7th century A.D.).

Sts. Baldred and Bilfrid were both monks at Landisfarne in northern England. Baldred was a monk-priest while Bilfrid was a monk-hermit. Bilfrid was an expert goldsmith who bound with precious metals and gems St. Cuthbert's copy of the Gospels. Baldred on the other hand left Landisfarne, and moved to the Scottish border first, before he finally settled in Northumbria. Baldred died ca. 765 A.D. while Bilfrid died ca. 758 A.D.

St. Cadroe was a Scot who studied at Armagh, Ireland. He returned to Scotland and became a teacher of priests. Cadroe then went on pilgrimage to many Irish shrines. He continued to travel until he reached France. While in France, he accomplished many things: he founded a monastery, entered the Benedictines at Fleury, became abbot of Waulsort, and then reformed St. Clement abbey at Metz (died ca. 976 A.D.).

St. Ollegarius became priest of St. Aidan's monastery in Spain. He was made to accept the episcopate of Barcelona, required to attend the First Lateran Council, and appointed papal delegate to preach a crusade against the Moors in Spain. When his diocese was transferred to Tarragona, Ollegarius rebuilt it because it was destroyed by the Moors (died ca. 1137 A.D.).

St. Cyril of Constantinople was a Carmelite. He became prior general of the Order in Palestine in 1232 A.D. He served in this position of leadership and authority until the year of his death (died ca. 1235 A.D.).

St. Agnes of Bohemia was born into a royal family and educated by Cistercian nuns. Because of her wealth and influence, she built a Franciscan hospital, friary and convent, and established clinics for the sick. She entered the Order of the Poor Clares at age 29 and spent 50 years in the cloister (died ca. 1282 A.D.).