Archdiocese of Seattle's Practice With Lay or Non-Canonical Hermit Vocations

[[ Sister Laurel, which diocese supports non-canonical or lay hermits by recognizing them at Mass? You wrote about it fairly
recently but I forgot the diocese. If someone wants to be a consecrated hermit in that diocese they cannot, but at the same time, the diocese supports eremitical life. I think that argues pretty clearly and strongly that one can be a Catholic AND a hermit without being a Catholic Hermit via c 603!! That's especially so since it is unusual to allow some kind of commissioning of lay hermits during Mass, don't you think? I appreciated your explanation of how some canons apply to lay persons in the Church and then additional canons apply if/when one is consecrated. I really had never heard what that meant before; it's not as negative as it had first sounded, but it raises a question for me. As I am a layman and can live many different vocations by virtue of that baptismal identity, am I freer than those with vocations defined by additional canons?]]

Thanks for your question and observations. I have made a similar point recently, though not in such a focused way, so yes, thanks! The Archdiocese is that of Seattle and it is, indeed, an unusual step to let lay hermits dedicate themselves or otherwise recognize lay (or non-canonical) hermits in this way. As you say, it indicates that one can certainly be a Catholic AND a hermit even if one is not a Catholic Hermit who lives this vocation in the name of the Church. I think it also, therefore, puts an end to any arguments that a Catholic living as an isolated individual and insistently calling oneself a Catholic Hermit or a consecrated hermit must also (upon learning this is a serious misuse of canonical and theological categories and language) consider oneself "illegal" or "leave the Church" if one is to remain a hermit. Those kinds of hysterical assertions may make good theatre or vlog posts supporting or encouraging some imagined victim role, but they are entirely out of touch with reality in the Catholic Church.

Your next question is quite good and I can only give you a general answer. As a lay person you are entirely free to pursue many vocational paths to live out your lay vocation. (This is my preferred terminology for distinguishing the canonical and non-canonical aspects of this vocation; I see it contrasts with your own.) The lay vocation itself is Sacramental and canonical; it is entered through reception of the consecration of baptism and confirmation and it is defined and governed in terms of rights and obligations by canon law -- though most of us don't think of our lay lives as being defined this way. 

Still, the requirements we must maintain to be a Catholic in good standing are certainly canonical. These are found in Book II, The People of God (from laos or λαος for People), cc. 224-231 of the (Revised) Code of Canon Law. Even so, as you say in your question, generally speaking, except for your lay vocation per se, the pathways you may be called to and/or choose in order to live out this vocation are likely non-canonical because you are called to live your Catholic Christian vocation in the midst of the world. Also, yes, we could say that you have greater freedom to do whatever and go wherever you personally discern God is calling you to. This is what it means to have a secular vocation (another term we are learning to have much greater esteem for)!!!