Members of the Diocese of Harrisburg please pray for our Flower of Carmel Heritage Spring Fundraiser!

Immediate financial support is needed by the Flower of Carmel Hermitage to continue Sister’s Hermit vocation and increase the number of Hermit Sisters in the Harrisburg Diocese. The Consecrated Hermits do not receive financial support from the Diocese but are under the Bishop’s authority and guidance. Time is growing short and the continuation of this prayerful and holy life is necessary in this spiritually and physically sick world.

Our financial goal for this event is $20,000. Can you help? Donate below.

We will be keeping you in prayer as we prepare for this event. If you have a special prayer request submit it HERE.

Catholic Focus Interview

Recently Sister Mary Catherine Rose appeared on Holy Family Radio’s Catholic Focus program to discuss the life of a hermit and the upcoming fundraiser event on May 24th. Listen to the interview below.

The hermit lives life in union with Jesus, the Christ. Following Him in a life of prayer without ceasing, to the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Living Flame of Love. Giving herself totally to Jesus, her beloved spouse, seeking transformation, into himself, to be led into the mystical marriage of union with God. Through Him, with Him, and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to be another humanity and become a healing flame of love through our prayers and sacrifices for world and Holy Mother Church. Offering her life for the sanctification of priests and salvation of the whole world. She is of one mind and heart with the Bishop of Rome and the whole church.

Essentially, the hermit lives a life Eucharistic, in that it remains a hidden life, veiled under the appearance of silence and solitude. A life of service to God and her fellow man, living the Gospels, the beatitudes in her daily life. Seeking total submission to the Will of God, all done in Love and Charity of heart. Giving thanks, praise and Glory to God, in her waking, and in her sleeping, she seeks to follow the model of our Mother Mary and prompting of the Holy Spirit as handmaid Of the Lord.

Similarly, in the way of our father Elijah, she answers the call deep within her heart: “With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of Hosts.” 1 Kings 19:10 With our Mother Teresa of Jesus she says: “God does not give Himself wholly to us until we give wholly to Him.” Like Saint John of the Cross: The Father spoke one Word, His Son, and the Word he always speaks in eternal silence, and in silence, you will hear Him. She chooses the better part, like Mary our Mother in the silence and solitude where we hear and learn to do His Will. “Do whatever he tells you.”

A message from Sister Mary Catherine Rose

I thought you might like to hear good news, regarding the hermit’s and the progress of a Laura of hermit sisters, so here we go.
A little update from my hermitage to you all. I am pleased and happy to say that a generous family has donated a small piece of land for us to start our colony of hermits according God’s timing. We have the plans and the land layout done and the perk test on the property was approved, so as you can see we are moving forward to the next step. The local bishop is supporting us in forming a Laura, a colony of hermits living on the same land in their own hermitages following their own plan of life approved by the bishops — in the silence of solitude, alone with God — and coming together on Sundays and Feast days for Vespers and a common meal and recreation. He said: “I welcome (a Laura); it would be a blessing for the Diocese and a powerhouse of prayer.” The name of the Laura would be: “Hermit Sisters of Saint Sharbel”. He is our patron, teacher and protector.

On to the next step.

What is the next step? We need your help and donations in order to proceed with this project. Since we are not supported by the Diocese we are in dire need of funds to cover expenses for the development of this property. The estimated need for this project is $2 million.

Additionally we need the funds to continue to support our day to day living costs. Would you prayerfully consider helping us with a donation either one time or monthly? We will be posting our progress and keeping all of you informed. We ask for your prayers as we move forward and be assured of ours.

I now have a question for each of you. IS HE CALLING YOU to help build this future colony and support Sister, her daily expenses, and her vocation of prayer without ceasing for God, Holy Mother Church, and you?  Now is the time to answer the call.  We can’t do it without you.

We are consecrated, canonical Hermit Sisters in the Diocese of Harrisburg.

Hermits are called by God to a life of strict separation from the world and assiduous prayer and penance in the silence of solitude, alone with God—in reparation for their sins and the sins of the world. Their lives are devoted to the praise and glory of God and the salvation of the world.

As consecrated Hermit Sisters, we publicly profess the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience into the hands of our local bishop. We live our individual Plans of Life which have been approved by our Bishop. We are recognized and governed by the Church under Canon 603.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (#921):
“(Hermits) manifest to everyone the interior aspect of the mystery of the Church, that is, personal intimacy with Christ. Hidden from the eyes of men, the life of the hermit is a silent preaching of the Lord, to whom he has surrendered his life simply because he is everything to him. Here is a particular call to find in the desert, in the thick of spiritual battle, the glory of the Crucified One.”

Like Carmel and the first hermits we follow a life of prayer, silence, and intimacy, alone with God, we practice penance, fasting, sacrifice and acceptance of sufferings all of which we offer to the Lord for the salvation of souls.

We seek also, by the grace of God, to give witness to the Gospel by living out faithfully the teachings of Christ and His Church in simplicity and poverty of heart and to practice the Beatitudes in a spirit of love, joy and thanksgiving.

In humility, and with sincerity of heart, we make intercession before our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. We pray for God’s continued grace and mercy upon the whole world. We seek to imitate Mother Mary in her life of prayer and contemplation with total submission to the Will of God by our endless YES. Our charity is also expressed through hospitality.

The title “Sister,” traditional habit, veil, profession ring and crucifix, were granted to us by the bishop in witness to our public profession of the evangelical counsels.

Our day is balanced with prayer, work and recreation, all done within the confines of the hermitage and guided by the Holy Ghost. Our life is nourished by daily Mass, Divine Office, meditation, Rosary, scripture, spiritual reading, and study within our chapel and private cells. A time of recreation may consist of walking the grounds. Fridays are set aside as days of commemoration of Our Lord’s Passion. Sundays and Holy Days belong to God, and as such, no work is done; they are spent in prayer and recreation.

Guided by the Holy Ghost, each Hermit Sister uses the gifts God gave her to build the Kingdom of God here on earth. We assist women interested in the eremitical vocation and provide spiritual direction and counsel.

The local bishop is supporting us in forming a Laura, a colony of hermits living on the same land in their own hermitages — in the silence of solitude, alone with God — and coming together on Sun-days and Feast days for Vespers and a common meal and recreation. He said: “I welcome (a Laura); it would be a blessing for the Diocese and a powerhouse of prayer.” The name of the Laura would be: “Traditional Hermit Sisters of St. Joseph and Mary.” St. Joseph is our patron and protector; and, Mary is our model and our Mother.