Eucharistic Chapel in Richard's hermitage.
I had an opportunity on Saturday to drive to Coatesville and to visit the only hermit whom I know, Richard Withers (pictured here at the front door of his hermitage). Joe Bradley (left), Francesco Zampetti and I enjoyed lunch with Richard.
His hermitic life is different from those who live in an official religious community like the Carmelites. That is, any bishop can officially accept a person as a "hermit" provided he or she fulfills certain criteria. Richard is a hermit under the direction of the Archbishop of Philadelphia.
The criteria require Richard to sacrifice earning income, to live simply and to pray for the rest of us. Richard has only a modest part-time job. But there is more to his life than prayer. He is very handy and has restored the modest house he lives in. It had been destined for demolition.
Sometimes such individual hermits, while still living alone each in a separate dwelling, join together in a small group called a Laura. Richard has a hope that at least one other hermit will take up residence in the duplex that is his dwelling. But each of them will have his own small house with individual chapel and kitchen, etc.
Richard was an urban hermit for some years in a working class neighborhood in Philadelphia. He found the small community that surrounds his present dwelling to offer opportunities for more quiet and prayer.
Thank you, Richard, for giving us witness that God blesses your life and thank you for praying for us to give our own witness, too.
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