by Fr. Cornelius Wencel, Er. Cam. (Ercam Editions, 2007)
"The mere choice of solitude is an experience of kenosis and death. The hermit, with his childlike heart, approaches death fearlessly. He accepts it with quiet understanding and patience. He does not try to avoid death, to run away from it, or to forget the inevitable necessity of dying...the hermit is perfectly aware that after each inhalation there comes an exhalation, after a sunrise a sunset, after a blossoming a withering. As a person touching death at every moment of his life, he accepts the necessity of ending his earthly pilgrimage in peace and serenity because he remembers that his death has been transformed by the power of the Resurrection." ~ The Desert: Solitude (36)
Though most of us are not called to the eremitic (hermit) life, the reflections of a good and holy hermit are like distillations from contemplation. They are potent, best taken in small doses, yet quite relevant to us all as Christians, who would benefit from taking at least some regular time during our lives in silence, solitude, and prayer. Without a rhythm of silence and solitude, our prayer life can often be filled with the noise of distraction and anxiety, preventing us from hearing the whispers of the Lord in our hearts.
Fr. Wencel is a Camaldolese hermit living near Cracow, Poland. The Camaldolese tradition is semi-eremitical, with a balance between solitary (eremitic) and community (cenobitic) life. Each monk lives in a cell (little house with a small garden) separate from the others, habitually taking meals alone. Much of his day is spent alone. The community life is reflected in their Rule, Mass and Liturgy of Hours, all experienced/celebrated in common. More can be found on their website.
Returning to the book, The Eremitic Life is full of intense reflections on experiencing "the desert" of solitude, with sections describing the foundations of the eremitic experience, their practice, their service to the world, and their relationship with God. Fr. Wencel offers some beautiful insights into the solitary prayer experience that touches on that horizon between life, death and eternity ~ something we may catch a glimpse of in a beautiful sunset or the brilliance of Autumn but don't always know how to articulate.
I recommend this book for anyone who seeks to explore or better understand the value of time alone with God in daily life, from a hermit's perspective.
C. Pak, Founder
AC USA
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