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.”
Keeping the Commandments
If a man does not possess great humility in his heart and in his body and does not use moderation in all things and submit to reproval and constrain himself in everything and keep his death before him day after day and renunciation of the material world and renunciation of all fleshly things, he cannot… Read More ›
Pray without Ceasing
Some of the monks who are called Euchites went to Enaton to see Abba Lucius. the Old man asked them, ‘What is your manual work?’ They said , ‘We do not touch manual work but as the Apostle says, we pray without ceasing.’ The old man asked them if they did not eat and they… Read More ›
Pyoterius is Taught Humility
St. Basil told the story of a virgin living in a monastery who pretended to be an idiot possessed of a demon, and was considered by everybody to be so misguided that no-one would even eat with her. Her chosen way of life was to be found always in the kitchen, where she carried out… Read More ›
Antony on Virtue
St. Antony of Egypt reminds us of one of the lessons we can learn as we meditate on Our Lord in the manager at Bethlehem. “Let none of us, therefore, desire to acquire things for himself, for what profit is there in acquiring these things that we cannot take with us? Why do we not… Read More ›
“Mary needs Martha”
“A brother went to see Abba Silvanus on the mountain of Sinai. When he saw the brothers working hard he said to the old man, ‘Do not labor for the food which perishes.(John 6:27) The old man said to his disciple, Zacharias, give the brother a book and put him in a cell without anything… Read More ›
Wisdom from the Desert: An Introduction
When the Oblate website was created part of the site was set aside for the sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. The reason is the sayings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers instructive and we are encouraged to read them by St. Benedict: “What book of the holy catholic Fathers does not resoundingly summon… Read More ›
“If thou wilt thou shalt be made wholly a flame.”
Abba Lot came to Abba Joseph and said: “Father, according as I am able, I keep my little rule, and my little fast, my prayer, meditation and contemplative silence; and according as I am able I strive to cleanse my heart of thoughts: now what more should I do?” The elder rose up in reply… Read More ›
Warmth in the Cold
God is a fire that warms and kindles the heart and inward parts. Hence, if we feel in our hearts the cold which comes from the devil – for the devil is cold – let us call on the Lord. He will come to warm our hearts with perfect love, not only for Him but… Read More ›
Macarius on Humility
Abba Macarius told this tale about himself, “When I was a young man in my cell in Egypt, they took me and made me the cleric for the village. But I didn’t want that and fled to another neighborhood. There I was joined by a devout secular who shared with me the labor of the… Read More ›
Enlightenment and Stability
“Where shall I look for Enlightenment?” the disciple asked. “Here,” the elder said. “When will it happen?” the disciple wanted to know. “It is happening right now,” the elder said. “Then why don’t I experience it?” the disciple asked. And the elder answered, “Because you do not look.” “But what should I look for?” the… Read More ›