Beginning in the third century, courageous Christians made a heroic choice to renounce their possessions, their families—their whole way of life—and move to the deserts of Egypt, Palestine and Syria. There they offered to God lives of penance and sacrifice, and received from Him deep spiritual wisdom, which they have handed down to us.

As we spend Lent united to Christ in His fast of forty days, we can draw inspiration and guidance from these men and women who left everything to join Him in the wilderness. Their lives and teachings still provide valuable models for us in our efforts to be converted and grow in holiness.

Alone with God Alone

The story of the world the desert monks left behind, and how and why they created a new world in the wilderness.

Antony, Father of Monks

The first to venture into the deep desert, Antony the Great set the stage for a new kind of Christian living.

A Garden in the Wilderness

Dozens of monks are known to us only through collections of their lives and sayings, each one a pearl of great price.

Dying to Self, Living for God

St Mary of Egypt and St Moses the Ethiopian show the depth of God’s mercy, and the transforming power of love.

The Great Amma

Saint Syncletica shines forth as the brightest light among the mothers of the Egyptian desert.

The Desert and the City

The saints show us how to adapt and apply the lessons of the desert to modern life.

Reading Materials On-line:
The Bible:  New American Bible

Catechism of The Catholic Church: Vatican Website,  US Conference of Catholic Bishops Website

St. John Cassian: Prolegomena,  The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Coenobia,  Conferences

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Click here for archived audio and presentations from previous series by Father Philip.

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