History of the TraditionHistory of the Tradition

From Scripture to John MainFrom Scripture to John Main

““If you study the history of If you study the history of spirituality or the spiritual life of spirituality or the spiritual life of

the Church, you will find that the Church, you will find that each time that there is a each time that there is a

spiritual renewal in the Church, spiritual renewal in the Church, the desert fathers are present.” the desert fathers are present.”

(Irenee Hausherr)(Irenee Hausherr)

““Meditation is the missing Meditation is the missing dimension of much Christian dimension of much Christian life today. It does not exclude life today. It does not exclude

other types of prayer and other types of prayer and indeed deepens reverence for indeed deepens reverence for

the sacraments and scripture.” the sacraments and scripture.”

(Laurence Freeman)(Laurence Freeman)

“ “If Christianity cannot recover its If Christianity cannot recover its mystical tradition and teach it, it mystical tradition and teach it, it should just fold up and go out of should just fold up and go out of business, it has nothing to say.” business, it has nothing to say.”

((Fr Bede GriffithsFr Bede Griffiths) )

BackgroundBackground

““Plagues teeming with untold mischief have Plagues teeming with untold mischief have come upon the churches. The primary come upon the churches. The primary

offices have become marketable. Excessive offices have become marketable. Excessive wealth, enormous power, and luxury are wealth, enormous power, and luxury are destroying the integrity of the Church.” destroying the integrity of the Church.” (St John (St John Chrysostom ‘Chrysostom ‘Homilies in Ephesus’)Homilies in Ephesus’)

““their softly nurtured flesh draped only in their softly nurtured flesh draped only in heavy jewelry.”heavy jewelry.”

Desert Fathers and MothersDesert Fathers and Mothers

““DoDo not model yourself on the behaviour of not model yourself on the behaviour of

the world around you, but let your the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new behaviour change, modelled by your new

mind.” mind.” (Romans 12:2) (Romans 12:2)

““as a shipwreck from which each individual as a shipwreck from which each individual man had to swim for his life.” man had to swim for his life.”

(Thomas Merton)(Thomas Merton)

St AntonySt Antony

St Paul of ThebesSt Paul of Thebes

Qualities of the DesertQualities of the Desert

SilenceSilence

““Be still and know that I am God”Be still and know that I am God”

““But the Lord was not in the wind…not in the But the Lord was not in the wind…not in the earthquake….not in the fire: and after the earthquake….not in the fire: and after the

fire a still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:13)fire a still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:13)

Solitude Solitude

““During this time he went During this time he went out one day into the hills out one day into the hills

to pray and spent the to pray and spent the night in prayer to God.” night in prayer to God.”

(Luke 6:12)(Luke 6:12)

“ “But when you pray, go into But when you pray, go into your room, shut the door, your room, shut the door, and pray to your father, and pray to your father,

who is there in the secret who is there in the secret place; and your Father place; and your Father who sees what is secret who sees what is secret

will reward you.” (Mat 6,6)will reward you.” (Mat 6,6)

The Desert Fathers and MothersThe Desert Fathers and MothersSilenceSilence

“ “ Once Abba Macarius, after he had given Once Abba Macarius, after he had given the benediction to the brethren in the the benediction to the brethren in the

church at Scete, said to them: ’Brethren church at Scete, said to them: ’Brethren fly!’ One of the elders answered him ‘How fly!’ One of the elders answered him ‘How can we fly further than this, seeing we are can we fly further than this, seeing we are here in the desert?’ Then Macarius placed here in the desert?’ Then Macarius placed his finger on his mouth and said ‘Fly from his finger on his mouth and said ‘Fly from

this’. So saying he entered his cell and this’. So saying he entered his cell and shut the door.”shut the door.”

SolitudeSolitude

““A brother in Scetis went to ask for a word A brother in Scetis went to ask for a word from Abba Moses and the old man said to from Abba Moses and the old man said to him, "Go and sit in your cell and your cell him, "Go and sit in your cell and your cell

will teach you everything.“will teach you everything.“

Amma Syncletica said:, ‘Many live on the Amma Syncletica said:, ‘Many live on the mountain and behave as if they were living mountain and behave as if they were living amongst the uproar of a city, and they are amongst the uproar of a city, and they are lost. It is possible while living amongst a lost. It is possible while living amongst a crowd to be inwardly solitary, and while crowd to be inwardly solitary, and while living alone to be inwardly beset by the living alone to be inwardly beset by the

crowd.crowd.

AttentionAttention

““Be alert, be wakeful” (Mark 13:33)Be alert, be wakeful” (Mark 13:33)

““I tell you this: unless you turn around and I tell you this: unless you turn around and become like children, you will never enter become like children, you will never enter

the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matt 18:1-4)the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matt 18:1-4)

EvagriusEvagrius

““When attention seeks prayer it When attention seeks prayer it finds it. For if there is finds it. For if there is

anything that marches in the anything that marches in the train of attention it is prayer; train of attention it is prayer; and so it must be cultivated.”and so it must be cultivated.”

““There was another spiritual There was another spiritual man about whom we have man about whom we have read. While he was praying read. While he was praying one day a viper crawled up one day a viper crawled up to him and seized his foot. to him and seized his foot.

He did not so much as lower He did not so much as lower his arms until he finished his his arms until he finished his

customary prayer, and he customary prayer, and he suffered no harm whatever suffered no harm whatever from thus loving God above from thus loving God above

his own self.”his own self.”

AttentionAttention

ScriptureScriptureDetachmentDetachment

““Therefore I bid you put away anxious Therefore I bid you put away anxious thoughts about food and drink to keep you thoughts about food and drink to keep you

alive, and clothes to cover your body. Surely alive, and clothes to cover your body. Surely life is morelife is more

than food, the body more than clothes.” than food, the body more than clothes.”

(Matt 6,25)(Matt 6,25)

““If anyone wishes to be a follower of mine, he If anyone wishes to be a follower of mine, he

must leave self behind.” (Luke 9:23)must leave self behind.” (Luke 9:23)

Scripture Scripture Few WordsFew Words

““In your prayers do not go babbling on like In your prayers do not go babbling on like the heathen, who imagine that the more the heathen, who imagine that the more they say the more likely they are to be they say the more likely they are to be

heard.” heard.” (Matt 6:7-8)(Matt 6:7-8)

Prayer of the tax-gatherer – “O God, have Prayer of the tax-gatherer – “O God, have mercy on me, sinner that I am.” mercy on me, sinner that I am.”

(Luke 18: 10-14)(Luke 18: 10-14)

The Desert Fathers and The Desert Fathers and MothersMothers

““They asked Abba Macarius, ‘How should one pray?’ They asked Abba Macarius, ‘How should one pray?’ The old man replied, ‘There is no need to lose The old man replied, ‘There is no need to lose

oneself in words. It is enough to spread out the oneself in words. It is enough to spread out the hands and to say, ‘Lord, as thou wilt and knowest hands and to say, ‘Lord, as thou wilt and knowest

best, have mercy.’ If the battle is fierce, say, best, have mercy.’ If the battle is fierce, say, ‘Help!’ He knows what is suitable for you and he ‘Help!’ He knows what is suitable for you and he

will take pity on you.”will take pity on you.”

““A single word in intimacy is worth more than a A single word in intimacy is worth more than a thousand at a distance.” thousand at a distance.” (Evagrius - Pareneticus).(Evagrius - Pareneticus).

CassianCassian

““If I am boiling over with a multitude of different If I am boiling over with a multitude of different distractions….I will cry out in my need: ‘O distractions….I will cry out in my need: ‘O

God, incline unto my aid; O lord, make haste God, incline unto my aid; O lord, make haste to help me.”to help me.”

““You should, I say, meditate constantly on this You should, I say, meditate constantly on this verse in your heart…You should not stop verse in your heart…You should not stop

repeating it when you are doing any kind of repeating it when you are doing any kind of work or performing some service or are on a work or performing some service or are on a

journey. Meditate on it while sleeping and journey. Meditate on it while sleeping and eating and attending to the least needs of eating and attending to the least needs of

nature.”nature.”

Cloud of UnknowingCloud of Unknowing

““Take a short word…and fix this word fast to Take a short word…and fix this word fast to your heart, so that it is always there come your heart, so that it is always there come

what may. It will be your shield and spear in what may. It will be your shield and spear in peace and war alike…With this word you will peace and war alike…With this word you will

suppress all thought under the cloud of suppress all thought under the cloud of forgetting.”forgetting.”

““So if you are to stand and not fall, never give So if you are to stand and not fall, never give up your firm intention: beat away at this up your firm intention: beat away at this

cloud of unknowing between you and God cloud of unknowing between you and God with that sharp dart of longing love.”with that sharp dart of longing love.”

EvagriusEvagrius

““If the flask is left standing for a little while, If the flask is left standing for a little while, the scum sinks to the bottom and the the scum sinks to the bottom and the

water becomes clear and transparent. In a water becomes clear and transparent. In a similar way our heart, once it is restful and similar way our heart, once it is restful and

steeped in profound silence, can reflect steeped in profound silence, can reflect God.”God.”

The Desert Fathers and Mothers The Desert Fathers and Mothers

““A brother came to Abba A brother came to Abba Pastor and said: ‘Many Pastor and said: ‘Many distracting thoughts come distracting thoughts come into my mind, and I am in into my mind, and I am in danger because of them. danger because of them. Then the elder thrust him Then the elder thrust him out in the open air and out in the open air and said: ’Open up the said: ’Open up the garments about your chest garments about your chest and catch the wind in and catch the wind in them. But he replied: ‘This them. But he replied: ‘This I cannot do.’ So the elder I cannot do.’ So the elder said to him:’ If you cannot said to him:’ If you cannot catch the wind, neither can catch the wind, neither can you prevent distracting you prevent distracting thoughts from coming into thoughts from coming into your head.” your head.”

PrayerPrayer

Evagrius Evagrius

““If you wish to pray then it is God you need. He it is If you wish to pray then it is God you need. He it is who gives prayer to the man who prays.” who gives prayer to the man who prays.”

““At times just as soon as you rise to pray you pray At times just as soon as you rise to pray you pray well. At other times, work as you may, you achieve well. At other times, work as you may, you achieve nothing. But this happens so that you will seek still nothing. But this happens so that you will seek still

more intently.more intently.

“ “The Holy Spirit takes compassion on our weakness, The Holy Spirit takes compassion on our weakness, and though we are impure he often comes to visit and though we are impure he often comes to visit us. If he should find our spirit praying to him out of us. If he should find our spirit praying to him out of

love for the truth he then descends upon it and love for the truth he then descends upon it and dispels the whole army of thoughts and reasonings dispels the whole army of thoughts and reasonings

that besets it. ”that besets it. ”

Scripture Scripture

““Set your mind on God’s Kingdom and his Set your mind on God’s Kingdom and his justice before everything else, and all the justice before everything else, and all the rest will come to you as well” (Matt 6,33)rest will come to you as well” (Matt 6,33)

““How blest are those who know their need of How blest are those who know their need of

God; the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs” God; the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs” (Matt 5:3)(Matt 5:3)

Desert Fathers and Mothers Desert Fathers and Mothers

“ “Abba Lot went to see abba Joseph and he said to him, Abba Lot went to see abba Joseph and he said to him, "Abba, as far as I can, I say my little office, I fast a little, I "Abba, as far as I can, I say my little office, I fast a little, I

pray and meditate, I live in peace and as far as I can I purify pray and meditate, I live in peace and as far as I can I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?" Then the old man stood my thoughts. What else can I do?" Then the old man stood

up and stretched his hands toward heaven; his fingers up and stretched his hands toward heaven; his fingers became like ten lamps of fire and he said to him, "If you will, became like ten lamps of fire and he said to him, "If you will,

you can become all flame.“you can become all flame.“

““It can happen that when we are at prayer some brothers It can happen that when we are at prayer some brothers come to see us. Then we have to choose, either to interrupt come to see us. Then we have to choose, either to interrupt our prayer or to sadden our brother by refusing to answer our prayer or to sadden our brother by refusing to answer him. But love is greater than prayer. Prayer is one virtue him. But love is greater than prayer. Prayer is one virtue amongst others, whereas love contains them all. “amongst others, whereas love contains them all. “(John (John

Climacus)Climacus)

EvagriusEvagrius

““Happy is the monk who views the Happy is the monk who views the welfare and progress of all men with welfare and progress of all men with as much joy as if it were his own.”as much joy as if it were his own.”

““A monk is a man who considers himself A monk is a man who considers himself one with all men because he seems one with all men because he seems constantly to see himself in every constantly to see himself in every

man.”man.”

St Anthony had prayed to the Lord to be shown to St Anthony had prayed to the Lord to be shown to whom he was equal. God had given him to whom he was equal. God had given him to

understand that he had not yet reached the level of understand that he had not yet reached the level of a certain cobbler in Alexandria. Anthony left the a certain cobbler in Alexandria. Anthony left the

desert, went to the cobbler and asked him how he desert, went to the cobbler and asked him how he lived. His answer was that he gave a third of his lived. His answer was that he gave a third of his income to the Church, another third to the poor, income to the Church, another third to the poor, and kept the rest for himself. This did not seem a and kept the rest for himself. This did not seem a task out of the ordinary to Anthony who himself task out of the ordinary to Anthony who himself had given up all his possessions and lived in the had given up all his possessions and lived in the

desert in total poverty. So that was not where the desert in total poverty. So that was not where the other man’s superiority lay. Anthony said to him, ‘It other man’s superiority lay. Anthony said to him, ‘It is the Lord who has sent me to see how you live.’ is the Lord who has sent me to see how you live.’ The humble tradesman, who venerated Anthony, The humble tradesman, who venerated Anthony,

then told him his soul’s secret: ‘I do not do then told him his soul’s secret: ‘I do not do anything special. Only, as I work I look at all the anything special. Only, as I work I look at all the

passers-by and say, ‘So that they may be saved, I, passers-by and say, ‘So that they may be saved, I, only I, will perish.’only I, will perish.’

Cloud of UnknowingCloud of Unknowing

““He considers all men his friends, and none He considers all men his friends, and none his foes.”his foes.”

““Moreover, the whole of mankind is Moreover, the whole of mankind is wonderfully helped by what you are doing, wonderfully helped by what you are doing,

in ways you do not understand….Yet it is the in ways you do not understand….Yet it is the easiest work of all when the soul is helped easiest work of all when the soul is helped

by grace and has a conscious longing.”by grace and has a conscious longing.”