Desert Wisdom 
Collection of the Wisdom of the Desert Fathers. St.Benedict pointed to the the writings of the early Desert Fathers, specifically mentioning the St. Basil and John Cassian (RB 73:5) as sources for “further perfection.”
Sell your goods, and give to the poor
“At a time of great cold, Serapion meets in Alexandria a poor man who is completely naked. He says to himself: “This is Christ, and I am a murderer if he dies without my having tried to help him.” So Serapion takes off all his clothes and gives them to the poor man, then he… Read More ›
What should I do to please God?
A brother had a question for Abba Antony: “What should I do to please God?” “Listen carefully to what I am telling you,” said the old man.”Always keep God before your eyes, and whatever you are doing, look in the divine Scriptures for your examples, and wherever you are living, don’t be in too much… Read More ›
The Judgements of God
Abba Antony, failing to understand the judgments of God, asked, “Lord, why is it that some die young, and others live to a ripe old age, and why are some incompetent while others abound in all manner of skills, and why are some people unjustly rich while others live in the extremes of poverty?” And… Read More ›
A Soul is the Mirror of the Father
The soul was made in the image of God and came into being likeness, as divine Scripture teaches when it says (God speaking), “I make humanity in our image and likeness” [Gen 1:26]. Thus when he removes the filth of sin that covers it and guards only the pure image when this image is thoroughly… Read More ›
The Meaning of Scripture
Some old men once came to Abba Antony, among them Abba Joseph. Wishing to test them Abba Antony quoted some texts of holy Scripture and began to ask the younger among them what they meant. And each one had something to say. But he replied to them all, “You’re not quite there yet.” Then he… Read More ›
What Does God Seek of Us?
An old man was asked, ‘How can I find God?’ He said, ‘In fasting, in watching, in labours, in devotion, and, above all, in discernment. I tell you, many have injured their bodies without discernment and have gone away from us having achieved nothing. Our mouths smell bad through fasting, we know the Scriptures by… Read More ›
Do not put off Repentence
Remember, O my soul, the terrible and frightful wonder: that your Creator for your sake became Man, and deigned to suffer for the sake of your salvation. His angels tremble, the Cherubim are terrified, the Seraphim are in fear, and all the heavenly powers ceaselessly give praise; and you, unfortunate soul, remain in laziness. At… Read More ›
Choosing the Proper Course of Action
It so happened that a certain brother in the coenobium committed a crime, and when he was condemned by the brothers he fled to Abba Antony. Some brothers who wanted to reform him went after him, and began to make out a case against him because of his crime, even though he denied having done… Read More ›
The Mystery of the Lord’s Day
The Lord’s Day is a mystery of the knowledge of the truth that is not received by flesh and blood, and it transcends speculations. In this age there is no eighth day, nor is there a true Sabbath. For he who said that `God rested on the seventh day,’ signified the rest [of our nature]… Read More ›
The Active and the Contemplative Life
“A person consists of a soul and body, and therefore his life’s path should consist of both physical and spiritual activities — of deeds and contemplation. “The path of an active life consists of fasting, abstinence, vigilance, kneeling, prayer and other physical feats, composing the strait and sorrowful path which, by the word of God,… Read More ›