Editing Anchorite (section)

== Anchoritic life ==
The anchoritic life became widespread during the early and high [[Middle Ages]].{{sfn|McAvoy|2010|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=ceU1Wa_2VZIC&pg=PA96&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false 96]}} Examples of the dwellings of anchorites and anchoresses survive, a large number of which are in England. They tended to be a simple cell (also called ''anchorhold'') built against one of the walls of the local village church.{{sfn|Licence|2013|pp=87–89}} 

In [[Germanic languages|Germanic-speaking]] areas, from at least the tenth century it was customary for the bishop to say the [[Office of the Dead]] as the anchorite entered their cell, to signify the anchorite's death to the world and rebirth to a spiritual life of solitary communion with God and the angels. Sometimes, if the anchorite was walled up inside the cell, the bishop would put his seal upon the wall to stamp it with his authority. Some anchorites, however, freely moved between their cells and the adjoining churches.{{sfn|Licence|2013|pp=123, 120}}

Most anchoritic anchorholds were small, perhaps at most {{convert|12|to|15|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} square, with three windows. Viewing the altar, hearing [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]], and receiving the [[Eucharist]] were possible through one small, shuttered window in the common wall facing the sanctuary, called a "[[hagioscope]]" or "squint". Anchorites provided [[spiritual direction|spiritual advice]] and counsel to visitors through these windows, gaining a reputation for [[Wisdom#Religious perspectives|wisdom]].{{sfn|Licence|2013|pp=158–172}} Another small window allowed access to those who saw to the anchorite's physical needs. A third window, often facing the street but covered with translucent cloth, allowed light into the cell.<ref name=":0">{{cite book|title=The Broadview Anthology of British Literature|editor1-last=Black|editor1-first=J.|editor2-last=Conolly|editor2-first=L.|editor3-last=Flint|editor3-first=K.|editor4-last=Grundy|editor4-first=I.|editor5-last=LePan|editor5-first=D.|editor6-last=Liuzza|editor6-first=R.|publisher=[[Broadview Press]]|year = 2011|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=1t7Hik0KoxgC&newbks=1&pg=PT348&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false 348]}}</ref>{{rp|348}}

Anchorites committed to a life of uncompromising enclosure. Those who considered leaving possibly believed their souls might be damned for spiritual dereliction.<ref name=Warren-1985>{{cite book |first=A. K. |last=Warren |year=1985 |title=Anchorites and their Patrons in Medieval England |place=[[Oakland, California|Oakland, CA]] |publisher=[[University of California Press]]}}</ref>{{rp|page=93}}{{efn|"The cell of enclosure, however, was equated with a prison, into which the anchorite propelled himself for fear of hell and for love of Christ. The eternal punishment of hell might be escaped by the lifetime refusal of escape from the anchorhold. At the same time, union with Christ might be achieved even in this life." {{nowrap| — A. K. Warren (1985)<ref name=Warren-1985/>}} }} Some refused to leave their cells even when [[piracy|pirates]] or looters were pillaging their towns and consequently burned to death when the church was torched.{{sfn|Licence|2013|pp=77–79}} They ate frugal meals, spending their days both in [[Contemplation|contemplative]] prayer and interceding on behalf of others. Their body waste was managed using a [[chamber pot]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Questions comments from the e‑mail |date=2008-06-02 |series=On‑line Q&As |website=The Anchoress online |url=http://theanchoressonline.com/2008/06/02/questions-comments-from-the-email/ |access-date=2008-10-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924152835/http://theanchoressonline.com/2008/06/02/questions-comments-from-the-email/ |archive-date=2008-09-24}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=March 2023}} 

Some anchorholds had a few small rooms or attached gardens. Servants tended to the basic needs of anchorites, providing food and water and removing waste. [[Julian of Norwich]], for example, is known to have had several maidservants, among them Sara and Alice. [[Aelred of Rievaulx]] wrote an anchorite rule book, {{circa|1161}}, for his recluse sister titled ''De Institutione Inclusarum''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wellesley|first=M.|authorlink=Lady Mary Wellesley|date=13 March 2018|title=The Life of the Anchoress|series=''Discovering Literature: Medieval''|website=[[British Library]]|department=Medieval Literature|url=https://padlet.com/discovering_literature/the-life-of-the-anchoress-a66jqru7xj5x3jfo}}</ref> In it, he suggested keeping no housemates other than an older woman, to act as companion and doorkeeper, and a young maid as domestic servant.<ref>{{cite book |author-link=John William Adamson|last=Adamson|first=J. W.|year=1919|title=A Short History of Education|page=75|place=[[Cambridge]], UK |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=9781107696440|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QY0oAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA75&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false}}</ref>

The anchorhold was the physical location wherein the anchorite could embark on a journey toward union with God. It also provided a spiritual and geographic focus for people from the wider society seeking spiritual advice and guidance. Though set apart from the community by stone walls and specific spiritual precepts, the anchorite lay at the very centre of the community. The anchorhold has been called a communal "womb" from which would emerge an idealised sense of a community's reborn potential as Christians and as human subjects.<ref name=":1"/>