This year I decided to try something different. I stayed in New Jersey and went to the Hermits of Bethlehem for five days of solitary silence. When I arrived I was given an Igloo cooler with some plastic containers. Each day, around 1 PM, they would ring a bell to let us know that we could come to the kitchen to pick up our meals: dinner, supper, and breakfast for the next day. We would take the food back to our individual hermitages, which had a small refrigerator, microwave oven, and hot pot. Each hermitage was a small cabin consisting of a small “work” room that had the refrigerator, microwave and hot pot, a rocking chair, end table and a wood burning stove. There was a small bathroom, and then there was the small bedroom -- nothing more than a bed, desk and chair with a closet to hang your clothes. One end of the bedroom was the “oratory” which had a hardback chair, an altar, and since I am a priest, a tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament.
The plan for each day was simple. The bell rang at 7 AM to start our day. At 8 AM we met at the chapel for daily Mass. The Mass was simple, but very noble -- chanting in Latin the common parts of the Mass. After receiving Holy Communion we spent 20 minutes in silent thanksgiving before the final prayer and blessing. Then it was back to our individual hermitages, only leaving again to pick up our food at 1 PM. It was up in the woods, so you could go for a walk, but it had to be alone: no talking with others was permitted. It was a time to be alone with God. I read all four of the Gospels, one each day, spending a lot of time silently in front of the tabernacle reflecting on God’s Word. Of course I also prayed the Rosary, and the Liturgy of the Hours. I will admit, it was a challenge to be silent for 5 days.
The Hermits of Bethlehem were started by Fr. Eugene Romano, a priest for the Diocese of Paterson. He served as a parish priest for 18 years, but felt God was calling him to greater silent solitude. In 1997 Bishop Rodimer, of Paterson, canonically erected the Hermits of Bethlehem to a Laura (which is what you call a colony of hermits) of Consecrated Hermits of Diocesan Right. Fr. Romano is now elderly and in a nursing home. There is one priest hermit, and six women hermits. There was also a young man who just started the discernment process for joining them. I think they have a total of 12 hermitages, so the empty ones they make available to people would like to make a retreat for a week or weekend.
It was a remarkable experience for drawing close to the Lord.