St. Francis's Rule for Hermitages
....."And they are not to permit anyone to enter the cloister where they reside. And they are not to eat there. And those brothers who are the mothers must strive to keep people away and, in obedience to their minister, let them keep their sons from everyone so that no one can speak with them.
St. Francis's hermitage was a cave. Their devotion to prayer was such that they did not want to be distracted from it.
....."And they are not to permit anyone to enter the cloister where they reside. And they are not to eat there. And those brothers who are the mothers must strive to keep people away and, in obedience to their minister, let them keep their sons from everyone so that no one can speak with them.
And the sons are to speak with no one, except their mothers and their minister and their custos,* when he wishes to visit them with the blessing of the Lord God.
And whenever they agree it is time to do so, the sons are to exchange roles with the mothers. And let them seek to observe all the above with most careful attention." --The Rule for Hermitages
*A minister is a local superior; a custos is a regional, provincial superior.
St. Francis's hermitage was a cave. Their devotion to prayer was such that they did not want to be distracted from it. 
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