Catholic Hermits: What a Catholic Hermit is to Do and Be

In my effort to improve my doing and being as a consecrated Catholic hermit of the 21st century, I'm renewing myself to the understanding of the fundamental citations set forth by the Church as to what constitutes eremitic (hermit) life.  I simplify the topic to:  What a Catholic hermit is to Do and Be."

The basics, the fundamentals, purported by the Catholic Church as to what constitutes eremitic life are found in The Catechism of the Catholic Church, under the heading, Consecrated Life of the Church, sub-heading Eremitic Life,  920 & 921.  

The content begins with, "Without always professing the three evangelical counsels publicly..."  While I've written about this crucial point in the past, it bears reminding that until the latter part of the 20th century, hermits did not publicly profess the three evangelical counsels in the way that an introduced canon law states as meaning those hermits, along with an agreeing bishop, choose to profess the necessary vows of poverty, obedience, and celibacy as CL603 provides, with the bishop then acting as director of the hermit who also remains as a hermit in that diocese.  

Otherwise, hermits through the centuries and continuing in this current century, professed their vows privately, not always involving a bishop but usually with a spiritual director--priest, religious order superior, monk, or if a bishop as director, the hermit would not be linked to a specific diocese and the profession would not be a matter of canon law.  

If one is called by God to the eremitic life, one must discern which of the two--privately or publicly--one is called to profess the three evangelical counsels.  (If one is a religious order monk or nun and discerns later on a call to the eremitic life, the process is handled through the religious order superior, for the person is already in the consecrated life of the Church, but as a consecrated "religious."  Approval to live as a hermit would or would not granted by the superior without need for repeating the profession.)

After these discernments and processes are completed, the hermit begins to live the eremitic life--the do and the be aspects.  The Holy Trinity--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--will guide the hermit along with the spiritual director (or if a bishop may be whom the bishop designates to direct the publicly professed hermit--usually a diocesan priest.)

Then, regardless if privately or publicly the evangelical counsels are professed, the hermit may also offer vows that have been prayerfully considered, composed, and hopefully discussed with the hermit's spiritual director.  The life of the hermit thus begins in earnest.  The doing and the being aspects come to fruition daily, nightly, and evolve over time.  God determines time, of course, whether we are hermits or not; but the hermit enters into this life with the desirous expectation that it will be for as long as the hermit lives on earth.

(There are instances in history of hermits who are called out of the vocation by God in one manner or other, to perform some other purpose that God wills.  And of course, there are some hermits who, like any person in the consecrated life of the Church and in Holy Orders as well, have discerned wrongly, or through circumstance otherwise realize or is realized for them, that they are no longer suited to, or have not or will not, uphold the evangelical counsels and vows.)

Now to the main point of my exercise in renewing self to what the Church has set forth as basics of what a consecrated Catholic hermit--simply put--is to "do" and "be, segment by segment as written in 920 and 921.

"...hermits 'devote their life to the praise of God and the salvation of the world...'"

I'm going to pray and ponder, meditate and exam my days and nights, in consideration of what I'm doing and being regarding devoting my life to praising God and in what ways devoting my life to the salvation of the world.  Already I know this will cause me to more deeply delve into the Gospels as a most perfect Rule of Life.  

However, I will be open to whatever the Holy Spirit inspires in me of insights as to how or what other is desired of my in praising God.  I will strive to be attune to and listen to the Holy Spirit and my guardian angel as to what role I as a consecrated Catholic hermit must do and be in the salvation of the world.  

Praying for the salvation of souls comes to mind immediately.   But I am going to take the time the dear Lord gives me to pray, consider, listen, and be aware of nuances in what more His Real Presence might instruct.  I am also counting on my late spiritual father to reach through the thin veil to me, to guide in whatever ways.  Through the Scriptures and spiritual reading I will also remain alert in this focus of devoting my life to the praise of God and the salvation of the world.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Please pray with me, if you are a hermit or not, that I will learn and grow in this focused exercise, and then share with you and whomever else might be reading this blog, some practical and holy answers.  

Catholic Hermit, Again, on How to Become a Catholic Hermit

Readers continue to be interested in how one becomes a Catholic hermit.  This post I will repost as it is one of the most repeatedly sought and read of my blog posts.  I hope it helps those discerning a call to what I have found over these nearly 17 years to be a most rewarding, yet challenging, vocation in the Consecrated Life of the Catholic Church.  (This is a repost from a July 2016 repost of the original post from March 2015.)

How to Become a Catholic Hermit

Someone again has inquired within the past day as to how to become a Catholic hermit.  I written about this process previously, but the basics may be found in The Catechism of the Catholic Church and in the institutes of the Church.

I am posting the requirements which are also, for those in the United States, on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Of course, the first and foremost way to become a Catholic hermit is to receive the vocational call from God.  

Of course, the first and foremost way to become a Catholic hermit is to receive the vocational call from God.  This call can be discerned with the help of one's spiritual director/father, one's priest, one's bishop--but mostly through much prayer and in daily trial practice in living out gradually the aspects of living the eremitic vocation as outlined in the sections 920 and 921 of The Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Certain terminology and labels that from time to time are suggested online, simply are not at this time mentioned in any Church documentation nor authorized by the Vatican nor could be designated as official by an archbishop, bishop, priest, or by a hermit himself.  These include unauthorized designations such as "lay hermit" or "dedicated hermit" [or "independent hermit"--not that terms determine the quality or lived vows and professions of a hermit, regardless]. 

As anyone can read from the Church documents, all Catholic hermits are consecrated Catholic hermits whether or not privately or publicly professed (the latter under CL603, a fairly recently added proviso to the eremitic vocational tradition).   

A main requirement for all desiring to become a Catholic hermit remains professing the three evangelical counsels and striving to live the eremitic vocation as set forth in sections 920 and 921 of The Catechism.  All Catholic hermits, having either professed their vows privately or publicly, must include the three evangelical counsels.  Hermits are but one of several vocations designated as being consecrated--specifically listed in Church documents as being part of the Consecrated Life of the [Catholic] Church.

Hope this re-posted blog from March 2015 helps the inquirer with the factual Church parameters of how to become a Catholic hermit.  You may wish to search my blog for the proceeding and preceding posts written in that month and year, for I set out the facts, citing the various documents of the Church including some more arcane texts that took a bit of research but are out there. I do think that as Scripture tells us, we ought not get too caught up in semantics nor in hair-splitting.  

Especially for those of us with vocations in the Consecrated Life of the Church or in Holy Orders, we are to progress from living under the law; Jesus and the Apostles call us time and again to live by the Spirit.  Yet, for those who feel more secure or yet need the parameters of laws, we do honor and value the laws of the Church for the obvious reasons that we have secular laws, as well.

 Above all, when considering becoming a Catholic hermit, do know that the Lord gives the call for any vocation.  Pray and listen, discern with your priest or spiritual director (religious priest, bishop, etc.), and practice living the eremitic life as part of the discernment process. Go easy; avoid extremism.  Yes, the eremitic vocation is a process to be lived and discerned over our lifetime.

Now, for the post taken from this blog site, written in March 2015:

"Every now and then, the nothing Catholic hermit reviews the below-cited institutes of the Church.  This reference helps to reflect more seriously, to live more conscientiously, and to accept the great responsibility of what the Catholic Church requires and expects of those called to and in the Consecrated Life of the Church.  

"The consecrated life of the eremitic is of direct consequence, obviously, to all Catholic hermits--each of whom profess vows including the three evangelical counsels (celibacy, poverty, obedience) even though not always are the evangelical counsels professed publicly. 

"All Catholic hermits must profess the three evangelical counsels according to the institutes of the Church in The Catechism of the Catholic Church [cited below].    

From The Catechism of the Catholic Church: 

III. THE CONSECRATED LIFE

914 "The state of life which is constituted by the profession of the evangelical counsels, while not entering into the hierarchical structure of the Church, belongs undeniably to her life and holiness."⁴⁵³

Evangelical counsels, consecrated life

915 Christ proposes the evangelical counsels, in their great variety, to every disciple. The perfection of charity, to which all the faithful are called, entails for those who freely follow the call to consecrated life the obligation of practicing chastity in celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom, poverty and obedience. It is the profession of these counsels, within a permanent state of life recognized by the Church, that characterizes the life consecrated to God.⁴⁵⁴

916 The state of consecrated life is thus one way of experiencing a "more intimate" consecration, rooted in Baptism and dedicated totally to God.⁴⁵⁵ In the consecrated life, Christ's faithful, moved by the Holy Spirit, propose to follow Christ more nearly, to give themselves to God who is loved above all and, pursuing the perfection of charity in the service of the Kingdom, to signify and proclaim in the Church the glory of the world to come.⁴⁵⁶

One great tree, with many branches

917 "From the God-given seed of the counsels a wonderful and wide-spreading tree has grown up in the field of the Lord, branching out into various forms of the religious life lived in solitude or in community. Different religious families have come into existence in which spiritual resources are multiplied for the progress in holiness of their members and for the good of the entire Body of Christ."⁴⁵⁷

918 From the very beginning of the Church there were men and women who set out to follow Christ with greater liberty, and to imitate him more closely, by practicing the evangelical counsels. They led lives dedicated to God, each in his own way. Many of them, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, became hermits or founded religious families. These the Church, by virtue of her authority, gladly accepted and approved.⁴⁵⁸

919 Bishops will always strive to discern new gifts of consecrated life granted to the Church by the Holy Spirit; the approval of new forms of consecrated life is reserved to the Apostolic See.⁴⁵⁹

The eremitic life

920 Without always professing the three evangelical counsels publicly, hermits "devote their life to the praise of God and salvation of the world through a stricter separation from the world, the silence of solitude and assiduous prayer and penance."⁴⁶⁰

921 They manifest to everyone the interior aspect of the mystery of the Church, that is, personal intimacy with Christ. Hidden from the eyes of men, the life of the hermit is a silent preaching of the Lord, to whom he has surrendered his life simply because he is everything to him. Here is a particular call to find in the desert, in the thick of spiritual battle, the glory of the Crucified One.

[Emphases added for reflection and consideration.]

"Thus, the consecrated life of the eremitic is of direct consequence, obviously, to all Catholic hermits--each of whom profess vows including the three evangelical counsels (celibacy, poverty, obedience) even though not always are the evangelical counsels professed publicly. 

"All Catholic hermits must profess the three evangelical counsels according to the institutes of the Church in The Catechism of the Catholic Church [cited below].    

"Some Catholic hermits profess the three evangelical counsels under the added proviso of CL603. However, it seems that the semantic of "publicly" may be confusing due to the word "publicly" used per the added proviso of Canon Law 603. Perhaps the current coinage of the term "public profession" is due to CL603 stating that the evangelical counsels be professed publicly in the hands of the diocesan bishop." [See Canon Law 603, cited for review and consideration in the in my series of blog posts on this topic, posted in March 2015.] 

I close with this additional thought for the reader who wanted to know how to become a Catholic hermit.  The private and public professions of vows of consecrated Catholic hermits are simply two prongs, now, of the eremitic vocation.  

Catholic Hermit: How to Become a Catholic Hermit, Pt. 6

~ Some Considerations, Conclusion

• There is no mention of the hermit having a "Superior" in either The Catechism of the Catholic Church or in Canon Law 603.  The latter does state that the hermit who publicly professes the three evangelical counsels into the hands of the diocesan bishop, is to live his or her proper program of living under the diocesan bishop's direction. Thus, the hermit's director is by [church] law to be his or her bishop.

• The three evangelical counsels include the avowal of obedience.  It is presumed that all Catholic hermits would be obedient to their spiritual directors, their bishops, their religious order superiors (of hermits belonging to a religious community or order), the pope, Scripture, and God.  Traditionally and in prudence, one is not to indiscriminately obey--such as errant spiritual direction.

• No reference is made either in the institutes of the Consecrated Life of the Church: The Eremitic Life, nor in canon law as to a hermit adopting the title of  "Sister" or "Brother."  A publicly professed hermit's bishop may approve such for his hermit.  The consecrated Catholic hermit may have been given that title if currently affiliated with a religious order.  If a person has been in a religious community that is no longer existing or has not been approved by the Holy See, it may be questionable to retain their usage.  

• If a consecrated Catholic hermit who has publicly professed the evangelical counsels into the hands of the diocese bishop and is recognized by [church] law [per CL603] commits a crime such as slander, libel, sexual or other offense punishable by the criminal justice system or involves litigation, is the bishop and the diocese liable as well as the individual hermit?  It is unknown if there current cases being litigated. 

• What action or resolution occurs in the case of a Catholic hermit who professes the evangelical counsels publicly into the hands of the diocesan bishop  and whose proper plan of life is directed by the diocesan bishop, does not fulfill the proper plan of life as directed by the bishop?  If the hermit does not remediate, is the consecrated hermit stripped of his or her consecration, and is this then made a matter of public record?

• A consecrated Catholic hermit who professes the evangelical counsels and lives the eremitic life in accordance with the institutes of the Catholic Church (but not with the proviso of CL603) commits  a crime such as slander, libel, sexual or other offense punishable by the criminal justice system or involves litigation, he or she would be solely liable.

• What action or resolution occurs in the case of a consecrated Catholic hermit who professes the evangelical counsels and lives the eremitic life in accordance with the institutes of the Catholic Church (but not with the proviso of CL603) does not fulfill the hermit life as set forth in the institutes?  Does the hermit's spiritual director, superior, or bishop intervene?  If the hermit does not remediate, is the hermit somehow stripped of his or her consecration since it was not publicly professed nor recognized by [church] law?

• Perhaps, in the above mentioned situation, such cases are part of, if not the primary reason, for the addition and inclusion of CL603 into the canons of the Catholic Church in the 20th century.   Perhaps there was a concern for those consecrated Catholic hermits who may not have lived their eremitic life in a proper or conscientiously responsible manner (and who also may or may not be in an approved religious community or order) ?  It would conceivably be more difficult for bishops to monitor or reprove such hermits--either on their own, with spiritual director, or even in a religious community or order. 

• While there have been past interpretation and initiation of various facets other than church law or the in the church's institutes as to what constitutes a proper plan of eremitic life, a bulk of the interpretation derived from a guidebook for hermits, written in the 1990's by a religious sister employed by a diocese in the United States.  Many of these suggestions came from rules and historical writings and traditions extant from the early desert abbas and ammas, as well as from hermits and anchorites of the Middle Ages.  These practices and traditions, as well as what was written in that particular diocese's guidebook are not mandated nor required by the universal Catholic Church.  [In fact, a phone conversation in 1999 with the vocations director of that diocese verified that the religious sister was no longer in their employ, and the diocese had withdrawn the guidebook indefinitely until further investigation into the content.  The diocese was no longer publishing nor taking responsibility for its contents.]

• Married hermits:  Both parties need to agree to their marriage rights being dissolved and with the choice to enter consecrated life and to choose celibacy.  This may occur if they are older and the high calling and purpose of the married state of life is fulfilled so that the required Evangelical Counsels (poverty, obedience, celibacy) of the consecrated state of life could be met.  [St. Nicholas of Flue is an example of a married man who became a hermit.  Briefly:  His wife agreed to his call to hermit life, regardless the recent birth of their tenth child. Although some family and neighbors criticized the decision, he left the family home to live the eremitic life in a hut in the Swiss Alps.  He became prominent as a contemplative and also prophetically helpful to Switzerland and is now a patron saint of that country.]

• Not all bishops agree to receive the vows of hermits, divorced with or without nullification of marriage.  Some bishops do not agree to receive vows of hermits for a variety of reasons.  At this time, Catholics professing vows and entering the consecrated life of the Church as hermits yet not by the CL603 proviso, are not restricted by bishop approval or disapproval; but also they are not recognized by church law as a diocese hermit.  Of course, it is a good idea for consecrated Catholic hermits under any form of valid profession, to communicate with his or her bishop as to his or her eremitic profession and life.]

• Age of hermits:  Nothing is written the institutes of the Church or additionally in CL603, regarding the age in which a Catholic could profess the evangelical counsels and be consecrated in the eremitic life.  The traditional and historical precedents are that hermits ought to have lived long enough to have suffered much, advanced in prayer, and have enough life experience in to fully engage in and endure the rigors of solitary life as a consecrated Catholic eremitic. 

• Rule of Life:  Again, adopting an individual rule of life is not stipulated per se in the institutes of the Catholic Church or CL603 per the consecrated eremitic life. However, history and tradition of eremites who successfully and heroically lived a holy hermit life, as well as prudence and wisdom, suggest that determining and being true to a rule of life is a positive inclusion.

• Profession of  Hermit Vows:  This actually should be clarified as "Profess the Evangelical Counsels" (poverty, celibacy, obedience).  There is no mention in the church's institutes of Consecrated Life, sp. the Eremitic Life, of "vows" as distinctive of or from avowing to live the three evangelical counsels.  In CL603, there is the stipulation that the professing of the evangelical counsels is to be confirmed by vow or other sacred bond.  It is assumed that "vow" means by definition:  a promise, a solemn commitment, etc.  "Sacred bond" is not specified but probably extends from the vows and rites of the anchoritic traditions, rule of life, and avowal ceremony of the Middle Ages.  In such instances, the hermit or anchorite would take as a tangible sign of their professing the evangelical counsels and avowing--promising--to live the eremitic life, such items as a crucifix, a tunic, a Bible, and/or ring, for women a veil, or for men to have hair tonsured and for women to have hair shorn.

• Future of Consecrated Catholic Hermits:  It remains to be seen in what ways the proviso of Canon Law 603, over time, will shape or shift the historical and traditional path of hermits in the Church.  CL603 contains a notable addition to the stipulations for consecrated Catholic hermits as stated in the institutes of the Church per the Consecrated Life: Eremitics.  CL603 states that the hermit is "recognized by [Church] law as one dedicated to God in consecrated life if he or she publicly professes in the hands of the diocesan bishop the three evangelical counsels, confirmed by vow or other sacred bond and observes a proper program of living under his direction."  It would seem, a hermit who is recognized by church law, ipso facto bears a certain status, or legal credibility, that the traditional and historical hermits do not bear.  In today's Church, this is no small matter, and it seems that bishops and future hermits will desire this proviso.  In time, it may become the norm for consecrated Catholic hermit profession.  Would, then, the historical and traditional hermits, or those who do not profess the evangelical counsels per the added stipulations of CL603, need to be "grandfathered in"--as in some provision proclaimed by the Church hierarchy in order to not to jeopardize or negate their avowed professions and lived eremitic lives--as hermits in the Consecrated Life of the Church?  Such considerations will be dealt with, no doubt, as time passes, precedents set (as they tend to be set no matter if advised), and possible new church laws or additions to existing laws, are set (as laws, also, tend to be set in increasing numbers, in the secular world as well as the Church).

Note:  In these blog posts that attempt to clarify the truth and facts of what is officially church-documented and/or law of the contemporary, consecrated Catholic hermit profession and life, this consecrated Catholic hermit has slipped at times in referring to the professing of the evangelical counsels as professing "vows" as if the vows include other promises.  

Per CL603, as is specifically stated, as well as in the institutes of the Church per stated, the avowal refers to the three evangelical counsels. However, the stipulations of the consecrated eremitic state of life in the Catholic Church as well as the additional stipulations of CL603, do not include detailed specifics or definitions, thus the tendency for what can become interpretations, inventions, inclusions, variations, and eventually precedents.  

Precedents set may over time be welcome and positive; or they may negatively impact or alter the basic truths and facts of the eremitic consecrated life. Thus it seems critically important to know the truth and facts of whatever Church documents, but particularly, for hermits, the state of Consecrated Life in the Catholic Church.

Now to attempt a summation of this and the previous five blog posts.  For those discerning a call to the eremitic life in the Catholic Church or who have already professed the evangelical counsels as a consecrated Catholic hermit and are striving to live the life as Church documents stipulate--what seems advisable is to prayerfully and carefully read and ponder each stipulation, path, and provision.  If already a consecrated Catholic hermit, renew in the heart the professions no matter the form of avowed profession.  

Be clear on the three evangelical counsels and the specific stipulations in The Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Consecrated Life: The Eremitic Life.  If one has been approved by the diocesan bishop to take the Canon Law 603 option, be clear on the additional stipulations.

Reflect upon one's progress and short-comings in living out the life of stricter separation from the world, in the praise, prayer, and penance of the hermit vocation.  Learn by reading the writings and lives of Catholic hermits from early centuries onward.  Follow a daily horarium [term meaning "the hours" used nearly exclusively by the Catholic Church for the daily schedule of those in the consecrated life] that is filled with lectio divina (Divine reading) and prayer. Be obedient to one's spiritual director, regardless of his or her position and title.  

Above all, love, support, and respect other consecrated hermits who strive daily to fulfill their profession of the evangelical counsels and eremitic plan of life, for the hermit life is considered as one of the most challenging of the states of consecrated life in the Catholic Church.  

Remain faithful to Christ and His Church in all matters, as well as to one's consecrated profession. Take seriously the eremitic vocation and what it entails.  To be a consecrated Catholic hermit, whether by private or public profession, is a serious matter, a challenging spiritual path, a humble life, but also a great honor.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love one another, for God Is Love!  Remain in His Love!  

Catholic Hermit: How to Become a Catholic Hermit, Pt. 3

Some Considerations ~

To iterate , the eremitic life is of direct consequence and concern, obviously, to all Catholic Church hermits--all of whom have professed their vows which must include (or could simply state) the three Evangelical Counsels which are celibacy, poverty, and obedience.  

The two previous posts cited the appropriate institutes and law as to licit and credible options for Catholic hermits whose adherence to the requirements of the Church, and for some, also CL603, are thus living in the state of the consecrated life of the Church.  [See The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Section 3, Parts 914-921; and Can. 603, §1 and §2.]  

Also note that the Church is comprised of three categories: Hierarchy, Laity, and Consecrated Life.  [See The Catechism of the Catholic Church: Article 9, Paragraph 4. Christ's Faithful - Hierarchy, Laity, Consecrated Life, 871-873.]  Of these, those in the Consecrated Life may derive from either the hierarchy or the laity.  

Thus, those in Holy Orders, or Hierarchy, such as priests and bishops, may be called to consecrated life, as in priest hermits or priest religious brothers.  In fact, there are and have been bishops, cardinals, and Popes in the Consecrated Life of the Church as hermits and/or religious brothers (monks).  To do so, of course, requires for a bishop to no longer actively, publicly as recognized by Church law, fulfill his episcopal office.  Even so, such priest or bishop hermits derive from the Hierarchy.  And, those in the Consecrated Life of the Church (hermits, consecrated virgins, widows, religious brothers and sisters) may also derive from the Laity of the Church.  

In practice, those of the Hierarchy (priests, bishops, cardinals or even a Pope) who enter/s the Consecrated Life of the Church are not referred to or do not to refer to themselves as hierarchy hermits, hierarchy brothers or hierarchy monks--even though they are derived from the Hierarchy.  Neither are or do those of the Laity who enter the Consecrated Life of the Church referred to as or refer to themselves as laity hermit, laity virgin, laity widow, laity brother/monk, or laity sister/nun--even though they are derived from the Laity.  (This is true for hermits whether or not their vows include the proviso of CL603.)

Thus, Catholic hermits who by their vows and life in accordance to the institutes of the Church have entered into the Consecrated Life of the Church are Church.  By professing the required three evangelical counsels (celibacy, poverty, obedience) and fulfill the conditions of hermit life as delineated in The Catechism in pertinent section cited, they are no longer married or single laity.  For example, marriage vows do not include celibacy and poverty; obedience is to be husband to wife and wife to husband.  

Of course, all Catholic Christians (whether of the Hierarchy, Consecrated Life, or Laity) are to be obedient to God, to the Church, to the Word of God, to Hierarchy, to Superiors--all according to one's state in life.  (As Christian children, we are to be obedience to our parents; as Jews and Christians, obedient to the Ten Commandments, etc.)

What is cited in The Catechism of the Catholic Church and in the proviso of CL603, and by virtue and fact of the specific vows required of each state of life in the Church, should suffice to explain why consecrated Catholic hermits (and also the consecrated virgins and widows) are part of the Consecrated Life of the Church--although they have derived from the Hierarchy or the Laity.  

Likewise, consecrated Catholic hermits (virgins, widows, religious brothers and sisters) are not the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church, as in Holy Orders of priests and bishops.

The options for Catholics to enter into the Consecrated Life of the Church as a hermit are either for those in the Hierarchy or for those in the Laity to discern, receive, and accept a call from God to the eremitic life.   

The Catholic priest or bishop, or lay person (including priest, brother, or lay person, who is currently a religious brother or sister in a Catholic Church-condoned religious order or community), may aspire to the consecrated state of life as an eremite.  He or she then must fulfill the requirements in profession of vows and manifest the eremitic life in accordance with the cited specifics in The Catechism of the Catholic Church, of the institutes of the Consecrated Life of the Church.  And, if the aspiring hermit requests and a bishop agrees, then he or she must fulfill the additional provisions in Canon Law 603. 

Catholic Hermit: How to Become a Catholic Hermit, Pt. 2

Via CL 603

The following is the added proviso to what are the institutes of Consecrated Life in the Catholic Church, per the eremitic life.  Canon Law 603 [cited below] provides an option for a consecrated Catholic hermit.  

Canon Law 603

Can. 603 §1.  In addition to the institutes of consecrated life, the Church recognizes the eremitic or anchoritic life by which the Christian faithful devote their life to the praise of God and the salvation of the world through a stricter withdrawal from the world, the silence of solitude, and assiduous prayer and penance.

§2.  A hermit is recognized by [Church] law as one dedicated to God in consecrated life if he or she publicly professes in the hands of the diocesan bishop the three evangelical counsels, confirmed by vow or other sacred bond and observes a proper program of living under his direction.

[Emphases added.]

CL603 has some additional requirements beyond what all consecrated Catholic hermits must live per the institutes of the Catholic Church.  [See previous post for Consecrated Life in the Church, and specifically The Eremitic Life, 920, 921.] CL 603 requires the Catholic hermit to publicly profess the three evangelical counsels [celibacy, poverty, and obedience] in the hands of his or her diocesan bishop.  

Note that the hermit under CL603 proviso must live what is ostensibly determined to be a proper program under the diocese bishop's direction.  

Research reveals that in current practice (de facto), many diocesan bishops delegate their direction of said hermit to a priest, deacon, or other designee. 

(In these cases, it is presumed that the diocese bishop who received the hermit's professed counsels and who recognized by [Church] law, the hermit's profession, is yet ultimately responsible by church law (de jure, if term technically applicable to church law) for the direction of said hermit.  It is also assumed per church law re. the office of bishop, that when a diocesan bishop of legal record is replaced by another bishop, the hermit must then live the determined proper program under the incoming bishop's direction.)  

Canon Law 603, while more recent, is a viable, additional provision to the institutes of the Church per consecrated, eremitic life, for the Catholic man or woman discerning and/or called by God to the consecrated life of the Church as an eremitic.  For some bishops and hermits, it may be a preferred provision for various reasons, not mentioned here.