By Way of the Desert: 365 Daily Readings

by Bernard Bangley (Editor)

In the first few centuries of Christianity, thousands of believers left the cities for the desert, in order to seek a purer spirituality than they could find among the distractions of ordinary life. Their teachings began our rich heritage of Christian mysticism, and continue to inspire people today who desire to be transformed in the counter-cultural image of Christ. This collection of short sayings from the desert fathers and mothers provides a powerful word of wisdom for every day of the year. Together, they show us how the desert, or any place of inner solitude, is fertile ground for a relationship with God to grow and flourish.

386 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[David Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short readings from "Desert Fathers," a group with whom I have been unfamiliar. Each day has a short passage from the bible and then (typically) a very short (2-3 sentence) story about one of the desert fathers. The stories read like koans: very short, meaning not always obvious. Or is the meaning too obvious.

Not one of my favorite daily reading books but not bad.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great devotional with bite-sized sayings from the Desert Fathers along with a verse of Scripture. I enjoy reading what the Fathers have to say each day. Recommended.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading one of these extracts from the sayings of the desert fathers (and mothers) every day this year. The teachings of these Early Christians who lived solitary lives of simplicity and prayer in the Egyptian desert are inspirational. Translated into idiomatic English from the original Coptic and Greek, they still have relevance to the modern world. My only criticism of this wonderful little book is that sometimes, the short phrase, added in summary at the end of each extract, is taken from the equivalent Scriptural text rather than from the saying itself, which for me tended to undermine its intrinsic strength. Otherwise I found this a moving and motivational book and shall continue to reread it through the coming year.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I begin every day with this book. The Desert Fathers and Mothers lived lives of wisdom and I want to witness it from this 1,500 year distance.

Each reading weaves a short Scripture section with something a Desert monastic said, and then you're left with God in prayer. Not too many words, but a page filled with life.

The resolve and singularity of focus these people had is something I want to mature toward.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The wisdom of the desert fathers and mothers of early Christianity. Short daily excerpts, i.e. many little parables and a few Zen-like koans, that are rich food for meditation throughout the day. This set of daily readings seems to reach deeper for me than many feel-good type of daily readings.