Hermits around the web – Hermitary
news, sites, and pages of interest about hermits and solitude
Vatican News presents an article titled “Pope Leo meets with group of Italian hermits in Rome for Jubilee.” From the article: “Pope Leo meets with a group of hermits in Rome for the Jubilee of Consecrated Life and encourages them to continue living out their vocation, helping the Church and all the faithful rediscover the importance of intimacy with God.”
Hermette Magaine is a web-based site edited by Risa Mickenberg. Hermette intends to express a femme-centric view of life as an urban hermit or solitaire. Check the description of the website: “The underground newspaper for aspiring they/hermits. The premier anti-social network. Published from an undisclosed location.” The magazine is a quirky, humorous, and refreshingly opinionated site providing a gentle take on urban hermit life.
A summary article in History Today about historical hermits, with a refreshingly positive and “friendly” approach. Byline: “Medieval hermits were the agony aunts of their day.”
URL: https://www.historytoday.com/history-matters/friendly-recluse
The popular social media forum Reddit includes a category for the topic of hermits. The category was created in 2012 and has over 6,500 members. The site presents itself “for those who walk the path of solitudel,” duscussing personal solitude, friendship, loneliness, and lifestyle.
Il Fatto Quotidiano (Italy) offers a report on painter-artist Gabriele, who was a “rising artist.” The article summarizes his artistic life:
“In 2006 Gabriele won the ManinFesto competition at the Villa Manin Contemporary Art Center. In 2008 he was among the seven winners of the Terna 01 award and in 2009 he qualified among the finalists of the second round. Thanks to this recognition he exhibited at the Chelsea Art Museum in New York. He has participated in art fairs in Bologna, Verona, Turin (Artissima), Karlsruhe, and the Pulse in Miami. A canvas of Gabriele appears in the Oscar-winning film La Grande Bellezza by Paolo Sorrentino. His works are part of important public and private collections .”
Then, one day, Gabriele gave it all up — and became a hermit. He became Friar Gabriele (Fra Gabriele) and moved to Romita di Cesi, in the province ofTerni in central Italy. Romita di Cesi was originally a medieval Franciscan hermitage, since long abandoned, only refurbished in 1991 by by its only resident, 83-year old Fra Bernardino. The hermitage today serves as a retreat house. Fra Gagriele lives an eremitic life there but regularlyvhelps Fra Bernardino with chores inthe garden and preparing firewood.