Wisdom of the Desert
In this slim volume, which was originally published in 1904, James Hannay describes the virtues that shaped the lives of the earliest monastics. These virtues, which begin with "being crucified with Christ" and "being dead to the world," are essential to an understanding not only of the desert monastics themselves, but also of the many monastic movements that would follow throughout the centuries. In language very reminiscent of the new monasticism, Hannay repeatedly emphasizes that despite all the mythology that surrounds their lives, these saints were indeed ordinary people with ordinary struggles. We would be wise to examine these virtues and submit our lives to them as we seek to live faithfully in the abandoned, desert places of the American empire.The Hidden TreasureOn Being Crucified with ChristBeing Dead to the WorldHow We Ought to Return Good for EvilOn Charity to SinnersOn HumilityOn DiscretionOn the Necessity for StrivingOn FastingOn PovertyOn ObedienceOn Avoiding the Praise of MenDuring the fourth and fifth centuries, thousands of Christian men and women withdrew to the deserts of Egypt and Palestine. In these remote locations, they led lives of rigorous discipline and solitude. Their techniques of prayer, spiritual direction, discipleship and stories have provided inspiration for many Christians to this day.The Wisdom of the Desert, first published in 1904, was written in an attempt to appreciate the religious spirit of these first Christian monks. It is a collection of stories and sayings compiled from the literature of the desert life, organized and interwoven into an overview on the thoughts, lives and doctrines of the early desert Christians.