Product Description: Written in the fifth century, during one of the most formative periods of christian monasticism in Egypt and Palestine, The Ascetic Discourses show a strong influence of the Scripture, both Old and New, and of Early monastic writers...read more

Product Description: Through the third to sixth centuries, great Christian men and women colonized the deserts of Palestine, Syria and Egypt, shaping the church through their examples of faith and devotion. History now knows them as the Desert Fathers and Mothers and their lives display an unswerving commitment to the love of Christ sorely needed in today’s world...read more

A selection of devotional readings for every day of the year, based upon the anecdotes and sayings of the early Christian mystics know as the Desert Fathers and Mothers, provides insight and inspiration to contemporary Christians who often struggle in metaphorical deserts of their own. Original.

Product Description: Cassian and the Fathers is the initial volume in the series of Novitiate Conferences of Thomas Merton, the classes he presented to young men beginning their monastic life at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky. They contain Merton's insights on important Patristic and monastic figures preceding the time of St...read more

Product Description: The desert will show you what you are and are not made of, what you do and do not need. 'Rachel SrubasChristians are familiar with Matthew's account of Jesus ' temptation in the desert. We are familiar with Jesus ' pithy responses to the devil at the end of those forty days: One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God; Do not put the Lord your God to the test; Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him...read more

Product Description: Founders of Christian eremitism, these heroes of asceticism and virtue earned a reputation as much by their lifestyle as by their writings which have been translated into all languages and distributed throughout the world.

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Product Description: In the late third century, more and more people withdrew to the radical seclusion of the desert so as to live entirely for God under the direction of a spiritual father. Among these "Desert Fathers" one figure is especially preeminent: Saint Anthony the Hermit...read more

Provides a authoritative introduction to the early history of Christianity in an inspirational translation of the stories, meditations, and sayings of the holy men and women who pioneered the contemplative Christian tradition from their North African and Asia Minor retreats. Reprint. 17,500 first printing. (view table of contents)

Product Description: In the fourth century, thousands of men and women fled into the Egyptian desert seeking to recapture the passion of the earliest Christians through lives of prayer and solitude.As records of the wisdom and purity of the "desert fathers and mothers" spread through the Roman Empire, Christians streamed to the caves of these desert hermits, seeking counsel on the interior life...read more

Product Description: The Christian hermits, ascetics, and monks of early history had deep insight into the nature and aspirations of humankind. Drawing on their experiences in the cloisters of the desert they became sought after mentors, teachers, and spiritual guides...read more

Product Description: Words of spiritual counsel from the heart of early Christian monasticism.

This book examines the method of meditative reading encouraged by John Cassian (c. 360-435) in his ascetic writings, the bulk of which are fictive dialogues that purportedly record the instruction he had received from Egyptial Christian monks. This instruction was at its core an interactive experience, depending upon both the discernment of the master and diligent application of instruction by the student. Driver examines Cassian's understanding of the act of reading and suggests the implications of this for Cassian's monastic teaching and it interprets Cassian's method of reading in light of contemporary discussions of reading and the self.

Looks to the desert fathers and mothers of early Christianity as important spiritual sources in times of spiritual upheaval

'Introduces readers to the wisdom of the desert elders in the context of their daily lives, presenting their background (historical, cultural, and religious) and describing the environment of solitude, ascetic disciplines, labor, and interactions with other people that was the source of their wisdom'--Provided by publisher.

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A spiritual guide to overcoming alienation, anxiety, and uncertainty recommends embracing the principles of Christian community and studying the actions and words of the fourth-century Desert Fathers and Mothers.