Today, January 17, is the Feast of St. Antony of Egypt. We remember with thanksgiving his life and seek his prayers and guidance for our own lives. His biography, The Life of Antony, was written by St. Athanasius. St. Antony’s…
Category: Desert Spirituality
The Seven Rules of a Monk
These are the seven rules of a monk: In the first place, as scripture says, “Love God with all your soul and all your mind.” Then, love your fellow human beings as you love yourself. Fast from all evil. Never…
St. Macarius the Great on Apophatacism
The following quotation and icon were originally post by Moses at The Burning Bush. Thank you Moses. But if man were to begin to investigate the mind of God and say: “I have discovered something and truly understand it,” the…
Do Not Judge, See Good
Wisdom from Dorotheus of Gaza: The Fathers teach us that nothing is more serious than judging your neighbor. Despite this, such a serious evil is committed even for things, let’s say, of little seriousness. It all begins with vague suspicions…
Entering the Temple of the Heart
If the heart is the most authentic temple of God, the truest dwelling place of God, then it is also our true home. It is the deepest and most authentic part of our humanity, the place of wholeness and integration.…
The Temple of the Heart
Today, February 2, is the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple. The gospel for this feast tells us about Anna, an 84 year old widow, a prophet, who "never left the temple but worshiped there with…
A Prayer for the Journey
MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I…
Feast of St. Antony
Abba Antony said: "I saw the snares of the enemy spread out over the world and I sighed wondering who could ever escape such snares. Then I heard a voice, saying to me: 'Humility.'" Today is the Feast of St.…
With Every Breath
If you really wish to achieve spiritual stillness and to guard your heart successfully, then let the prayer "Lord Jesus, have mercy on me" become one with your breathing, and in a few days you will see how it can…