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Desert Fathers and Mothers: Early Christian Wisdom Sayings--Annotated & Explained
Contributor(s): Paintner, Christine Valters (Commentaries by)
ISBN: 1683360265     ISBN-13: 9781683360261
Publisher: Skylight Paths Publishing
OUR PRICE:   $25.19  
Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats
Published: August 2012
Qty:
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Religion | Christian Theology - General
- Religion | Christianity - General
- Religion | Theology
Dewey: 270.2
Series: SkyLight Illuminations
Physical Information: 0.56" H x 5.5" W x 8.5" (0.85 lbs) 192 pages
Themes:
- Religious Orientation - Christian
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:

Timeless and contemplative sayings from the earliest Christian sages of desert spirituality can be a companion on your own spiritual journey.

The desert fathers and mothers were ordinary Christians living in solitude in the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Arabia who chose to renounce the world in order to deliberately and individually follow God's call. They embraced lives of celibacy, labor, fasting, prayer and poverty, believing that denouncing material goods and practicing stoic self-discipline would lead to unity with the Divine. Their spiritual practice formed the basis of Western monasticism and greatly influenced both Western and Eastern Christianity.

Their writings, first recorded in the fourth century, consist of spiritual advice, parables and anecdotes emphasizing the primacy of love and the purity of heart. Focusing on key themes of charity, fortitude, lust, patience, prayer and self-control, the Sayings influenced the rule of St. Benedict and have inspired centuries of opera, poetry and art.

This probing and personal SkyLight Illuminations edition opens up their wisdom for readers with no previous knowledge of Western monasticism and early Christianity. It provides insightful yet unobtrusive commentary that describes historical background, explains the practice of asceticism and illustrates how you can use their wisdom to energize your spiritual quest.


Contributor Bio(s): Paintner, Christine Valters: -

Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, a Benedictine Oblate, is author of Lectio Divina--The Sacred Art: Transforming Words & Images into Heart-Centered Prayer, Desert Fathers and Mothers: Early Christian Wisdom Sayings--Annotated & Explained (both SkyLight Paths) and The Artist's Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom, among other books. She frequently leads retreats and teaches on the wisdom of Benedictine, Celtic and desert ways of praying. A writer, artist, spiritual director, retreat facilitator and teacher, she is the online Abbess of www.abbeyofthearts.com, a global online monastery dedicated to the integration of contemplative practice and creative expression.