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Within the “desert space” of the hermitage, the hermit prays and develops the gifts given by God. The handwork you view throughout this site, like hand woven clergy stoles, represents God’s gifts made tangible as well as, and most especially, the gift of silent prayer in solitude. All hand woven clergy stoles, as well as all other creative pieces listed below, are enfolded in prayer:
- Hand Woven Clergy Stoles: Berith, Emet, Hesed, Messiah, and Ruah Series
- Handmade Sachets
- Handcrafted Soaps
- Handmade Pincushions
- Hand Woven Scarves
- Crocheted Baby Afghans
- Envelopes Addressed in Copperplate Script
- Scripture Note Cards
- Rosary Cases
- Tissue Cases
All are presented to you for purchase. These items represent the creative work of a religious Sister. She lives the eremitic life as a consecrated anchoress within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.
A hermit is financially independent of the diocese within which she belongs. You are invited to view the creative work in hand woven clergy stoles and hand woven scarves displayed and detailed throughout this site. By purchasing these hand woven clergy stoles, as well as the other items, you enable this hermit’s self-support. As you do so, may the gaze of Mary, Our Lady of Tenderness, be upon you. May she lead you, from this moment onward, ever nearer the Heart of Christ, her Son and our tender Savior.
There are varied forms of consecrated life within the Catholic Church. The eremitic or anchoritic life is one of the most ancient forms. An eremite, anchorite or hermit are terms, synonymous in meaning, naming an individual called to this particular form of consecrated life.
This ancient vocation was renewed in the Church following a revision of the Code of Canon Law (Church Law) in 1983.
Canon 603
§1. Besides 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 salvation of the world through a stricter separation from the world, the silence of solitude and assiduous prayer and penance.
§2. A hermit is recognized in the law as one dedicated to God in a consecrated life if he or she publicly professes the three evangelical counsels, confirmed by a vow or other sacred bond, in the hands of the diocesan bishop and observes his or her own plan of life under his direction.
How does one go about explaining a call to hiddenness, silence, solitude, prayer and penance for all people? Each vocation is uniquely personal and rooted in Mystery; namely, God. Love is the beginning, middle, and end of all life in God. Therefore, each vocation is a unique, personal call to love God above all and to love one’s neighbor.
For a hermit, God must be enough. A hermit is called to witness to the primacy of God in all our lives. Pope John Paul II, states: “Men and women hermits, belonging to ancient orders or new institutes, or being directly dependent on the bishop, bear witness to the passing nature of the present age by their inward and outward separation from the world. By fasting and penance, they show that man does not live by bread alone but by the word of God (cf. Mt 4:4). Such a life “in the desert” is an invitation to their contemporaries and to the ecclesiastical community itself never to lose sight of the supreme vocation, which is to be always with the Lord.” – Vita Consecrata 7
Desert solitude and silence are essential to the life call of a hermit. The hermitage provides this “desert space.” Here the prayer (love) of one’s heart, the work of one’s hands and the penance inherent within the eremitic life are offered to God for the spiritual needs of all.
A hermit embraces hiddenness to hold all in her heart; lifting humanity to Christ for His touch of justice, peace and love. The eyes of the hermit’s heart are upon Christ Crucified, to Whom all is given that others may see, love and long for Him as she does.