First Book of Lent: The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

In Orthodox Christianity there is a strong tradition of conducting more intense spiritual reading during Lent. While I am generally reading a few pages a day of something spiritual during the rest of the year, I really try to put in the extra effort and read a lot more scripture and patristics during the fast. I find returning to the basics to be especially helpful and nothing is more basic (or potentially more advanced!) than the sayings of the Desert Fathers, in this case as translated by Sr. Benedicta Ward, the famous Anglican nun and scholar who has a strong focus on the east. I have read this book before, as I am sure many of you have, but it contains such a strong gospel centered message that I do not think I could ever read it often enough. For those of you who have not read this volume, it contains anecdotes and teachings from the ancient Coptic monks of Scetis and the surrounding areas, including of course Anthony the Great, Basil the Great, and many others. The selections are generally very short, and very useful as they each contain an important lesson or parable related to living the Christian life in an uncompromising way. It is true that many of these stories relate extreme asceticism which of course in this day and age we would not dare practice, but even these are still useful as they inspire us to follow our relatively easy rule of fasting and prayer. If you think reading your evening prayers is difficult, try standing in the form of a cross all night waiting for the dawn of Sunday. These stories are at the very roots of Orthodoxy and show that our faith is one of monastic traditions. I will leave you with a few samples:

"AbbaEuprepios said, 'Knowing that God is faithful and mighty, have faith in him and you will share what is his. If you are depressed, you do not believe. We all believe that he is mighty and we believe all is possible for him. As for your own affairs, believe with faith in him about them, too, for he is able to work miracles in you also."

"Abba Zeno said, 'If a man wants God to hear his prayer quickly, then before he prays for anything else, even his own soul, when he stands and stretches out his hands towards God, he must pray with all his heart for his enemies. Through this action God will hear everything that he asks."

There were also Desert Mothers. My favorite is Mother Theodora.

"She also said that neither asceticism, nor vigils, nor any ind of suffering are able to save, only true humility can do that. There was an anchorite who was able to banish the demons; and he asked them, 'What makes you go away? Is it fasting?' They replied, "We do not eat or drink.' 'Is it vigils?' They replied, 'We do not sleep.' 'Is it separation from the world?' 'We live in the deserts.' 'What power sends you away then?' They said, 'Nothing can overcome us, but only humility.' 'Do you see how humility is victorious over demons?"

You can purchase this volume here.