The Desert Fathers

The Desert Fathers and Mothers were Christian men and women who lived in the Egyptian desert in the 3rd and 4th centuries, seeking solitude and a life dedicated to God. They lived as hermits and ascetics, sometimes in small communities, wishing to avoid Roman persecution (which lasted until 313, when Emperor Constantine authorised Christian worship by the Edict of Milan).They are known for their teachings and practices that laid the foundation for Christian monasticism. As opposed to the the Church Fathers, they left only apophthegms (short formulations), rather than extensive writings.

CC0 pxhere

Les raisons d'y croire :

The living conditions of these desert Fathers and Mothers were extremely difficult. Without the slightest comforts, practising asceticism in radical ways and deprivation, they managed to live in great inner peace and even developed great wisdom, which they passed on to their disciples. Without a truly solid faith and the help of supernatural graces, they could not have imposed such conditions on themselves and endured them for a lifetime.

Some Desert Mothers lived in tombs (Syncletica of Alexandria, Alexandra), or in a cell, leaving it only for Mass (Sarah), or tied to a post (Marana, Cyra). There are many examples of mortification: it seems impossible to live like this without God's help.

Even after the end of the Roman persecutions, the Desert Fathers continued their exile in the desert, which proves that they were not hiding there for fear of death. In these extreme conditions, they wished to live a form of martyrdom, for the love of Christ.

One example is Mary of Egypt, who suddenly converted in front of an icon of the Virgin Mary, after twelve years of prostitution. She then became a hermitess in the desert.

Synthèse :

Most of the Desert Fathers and Mothers lived in Egypt, but others lived in the deserts of Palestine and Syria. There were many reasons for their retreat to the desert. Fleeing Roman persecution was one, but it was far from the only one. In fact, they continued to go into exile in the desert, even after the Edict of Milan, seeing isolation in the desert as a new form of martyrdom; a martyrdom they sought with the firm intention of following the example of their leader, Christ, who was also tempted in the desert. They sought to live like him, in total self-denial and asceticism. Their life also included renouncing the world, seen as the place of evil, and living a life of virtue, prayer and study of the texts. Some spoke of "leaving the old man to meet the new man".

Models of humility, they wished to live a hidden life: "If you want to be known by God, be ignored by men" is a famous anonymous quote from a Desert Father, which clearly shows that they did not seek attraction or recognition.

The first Desert Fathers first lived as hermits (anchorites). Although they wished to remain in solitude, disciples soon gathered around them, forming communities, often around sources of water. They later lived as monks (cenobites), leading a life regulated by a set of rules or precepts. Gradually, they formed churches, where they celebrated mass with the hermits around them. The community also enabled them to care for the sick.

They cultivated a garden to support themselves, and sometimes made baskets or mats from rushes to sell in town and raise money. Some copied manuscripts, like Evagrius Ponticus. The rest of the time, they studied the Scriptures, prayed fervently and meditated on passages from the Bible.

The most advanced in the spiritual life were Fathers (abbas) and Mothers (ammas), whom monks and nuns came to consult. The first and most famous of all is Anthony of the Desert (or Anthony the Great). Born around the year 250, he led a hermit's life from an early age and went into exile in the desert when he was thirty. He was followed by many disciples. Some of them are also Fathers of the Church, insofar as they left some writings. These writings, known as the Apophtegmas (from the ancient Greek apophtegma, sentence, precept), are words in the form of short dialogues or stories that aim to enlighten the human soul and spirit in order to help them grow spiritually. These are often short, easy to remember and meaningful, and reveal a fine knowledge of the human soul, especially as their authors were steeped in the Scriptures and sought to live out brotherly love. The Desert Fathers taught only what they themselves lived and, often, rather than giving instructions, the teachers were content to set an example, being masters in the exercise of inner, silent listening, and of practising mercy with their brothers and restraint in the use of judgmental words.

Although he never lived in the desert for any length of time, Athanasius of Alexandria (supported by the Fathers from the start of his turbulent episcopate) is considered a Desert Father. The same is true of Cyril of Alexandria and Gregory the Theologian. Others remain famous, such as Saint Pachomius the Great, who founded nine monasteries at the same time as Anthony the Great. Among the best known are Paul of Thebes, John Cassian, Macarius the Great, Isidore of Pelusium, Epiphanius of Salamis, Evagrius Ponticus and John the Little. We know the names of a few women too: Theodora, and Melania the Elder, who was consulted at length by Evagrius Ponticus before he went into exile in the desert, then Melania the Younger, Saint Synclaetica, Sarah, Mary the Egyptian, Photina, Anastasia, Eusebia, Pelagia and many others. Many of the monks and nuns who had a reputation for holiness and wisdom became the spiritual father (abba) or mother (amma) ofthe small communities who followed them. The individual Desert Fathers and Desert Mothers are mostly known through The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, which included 1,202 sayings attributed to twenty-seven abbas and three ammas. The women lived in exactly the same way as men: as hermitesses or in communities.

Camille Mino di Ca was recently baptised and converted at the age of 50. Passionate about conversion stories and the lives of saints, she writes for Hozana and other media. She writes in a variety of forms, including biography, drama, poetry and song.

Aller plus loin :

The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection (Volume 59) by Benedicta Ward (Translator, Foreword), Liturgical Press; Revised edition (January 1, 1984)

En savoir plus :

The Way of the Heart: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers by Henri J. M. Nouwen, HarperOne; Reprint edition (September 22, 2009)
The Sayings and Stories of the Desert Fathers and Mothers: Volume 1; A–H (Êta) (Volume 287) (Cistercian Studies Series) by Tim Vivian, Kathleen Norris, et al. Liturgical Press (March 15, 2021)