La solitude des ermites. Enquête en milieu alpin

The Solitude of the Hermits. An Investigation in the Alpine Regions - Were hermits really alone ? To answer this question, the author examines the different significations given to the term solitudo in a number of hermitical and monastic rules and describes the alpine landscapes where the hermits lived, as depicted in hagiographic and other texts from the High Middle Ages to the fifteenth century. It may be deduced from this study that hermitism can best be defined by the characteristic choice of arid and inhospitable retreats rather than by the fact of living alone. For various reasons of a psychological order, monastic rules prohibited total isolation, considered as a source of egotism, pride, and acedia. Indeed, in practice, the hermits often had one, if not several companions, novices, or servants. Moreover, the truly saintly attracted so many visitors that meditation, silence, and prayer were disturbed and endangered. The choice of solitude thus implies a quest for an equitable balance between consecration to the service of God alone and charity toward one's neighbor.Santschi Catherine. La solitude des ermites. Enquête en milieu alpin. In: Médiévales, n°28, 1995. Le choix de la solitude. Parcours érémitiques dans les pays d'Occident, sous la direction de Odile Redon . pp. 25-40