Desert Fathers and Mothers

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Articles & Essays by Desert Fathers and Mothers

Article

Desert, Cell, and Tomb

Published March, 2003 • Featured February 2, 2024

“Live as though buried in a tomb…” These wisdom sayings from the Desert Fathers and Mothers encourage us to embrace little and big deaths to self that God uses to renew our spirits.

Book Excerpt from The Desert Fathers

Selected Sayings on "Discretion"

Published March, 2003 • Featured October 12, 2021

Our image of the early desert Christians may be one of rigid rules and over-bearing discipline. Surprisingly, the ammas and abbas were celebrated for discretion—sensitivity and elasticity — in guiding their little communities.