The Eremetical life, or, life in the hermitage, is a life of prayer, manual labor, spiritual reading and a seeking of the intimate union with God.

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A person chooses to enter into hermitage, not to get away from the world, but to carry the world in his heart to God.

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Life in a hermitage requires silence because God speaks to us in the silence. Saint John of the Cross once said that "God's first language is silence". Only when we become still and silence not only our bodies and noise around us, but our minds and hearts as well, then will God's voice become clear.

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Prayer is more than just sitting in silence. There are two Eucharistic Holy Hours each day that allows for adoring Jesus, thanking Jesus, asking forgiveness of Jesus for one's own sins and those of others, and, most importantly, simply loving Jesus.

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The Hermit prays the Divine Office (official prayer of the Church) seven times a day. He prays it chanting, out loud, giving it the time and dignity that it deserves. By praying the Divine Office the hermit assists in consecrating time and the world to God. The hermits joins his voice to the choir of the Church singing the continual praises of God.

 

The Friar prays the Angelus three times a day. Daily he recites the Holy Rosary and renews his consecration twice a day. Every hermit knows that he must go to Jesus through Mary, the same way that He came to us. Saturdays is celebrated as a special day in honor of Mary. This is to remind us of hope. Our Lady is the Mother of Hope because on Holy Saturday, while the apostles were mourning the death of Jesus, Mary was preparing for the resurrection. 

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There is no prayer greater than the Holy Mass. When the priest Friar is not out celebrating Mass at a parish or the retreat house, he celebrates the Holy Mass privately for various intentions. The Holy Mass is the greatest prayer than can be offered. So every priest knows that when he is celebrating the Holy Mass he is offering the Son of God to the Eternal Father for the good of God's holy children and for the life of the world.

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Saint Paul tells us "those who do not work should not eat". So it is important for a healthy spiritual life that hermits spend quality time doing manual labor. The "food" hermit's work for is not only the food that sustains the body, but more importantly, the food that sustains the soul, namely; grace, merit and virtue.

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Spiritual Reading, or, Lectio Divina, is an ancient form of praying with the scriptures or some other spiritual book. The hermit feasts upon the Word of God in prayer as he studies and meditates upon the wonderful and amazing things that God has to say to us in scripture. Also, it is important to read good, holy and devout books by saints, doctors of the Church and good solid Catholic theologians. We want to know God so that we may love Him all the more. It is crucial that a hermit spend ample amounts of time reading and reflecting upon the mysteries of God.

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There are different types of hermits. Some maintain a pure contemplative life with no active apostolate. Others have a limited apostolate. Their ministries vary according to the gifts and talents of the hermit. Fr. David Mary is a preacher of retreats, parish missions, confirmation retreats and many other events. When needed, he celebrates Mass at the Retreat Center or will cover Mass and confessions at parishes.