During the fourth and fifth centuries, the workshops for Christian monasticism were in the deserts of Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. Ascetic monks and hermits practiced solitude, repentance, silence, humility, fasting, charity, and hospitality. They emphasized prayer as a life immersed and continually attuned to God.
The sayings and stories of the desert fathers in Greek were put together in a collection organized alphabetically according to the abba (father) who spoke them. Later, another collection was gathered and added to the first. Instead of being arranged by the abba, this longer resource was arranged thematically. It was published in France in 1993. John Wordey translated The Book of the Elders.
To give you a sense of what kind of spiritual material is included in this expanded version of sayings of the desert fathers, here are some of the thematic heads from the book:
• Sorrow for Sin
• Self-Control
• Indifference to Goods
• Patience and Courage
• Passing Judgment
• Discretion
• Being Ever Watchful
• Hospitality
• Obedience
• Forbearance
These monastic fathers waged fierce battles against the false self and its demons of pride, lust, sloth, and wicked thoughts. As a source of encouragement and hope, elder abbas would give counsel and advice to those who came to them with the request "Give me a word." Here are a few examples:
"Abba Pambo asked Abba Antony: 'What am I to do?' The elder said to him, 'Have no confidence in our own righteousness; have no regrets about a past action; get your tongue and belly under control.' "
"A brother asked Abba Poemen, 'If I see a fault in my brother, is it good to cover it up?' The elder said, 'Whenever we cover up a brother's fault, God covers up ours, and whenever we reveal the brother's, God reveals ours.' "
"[An elder] also said, 'Truth is the root of good works; falsehood is death.' . . . He also said, 'Do not go along with or give your assent to every statement. Be slow to believe and quick to speak the truth.' "
"A brother asked Abba Sisoes, 'I want to keep a watch on my heart, but I am not able.' The elder said to him, 'How are we to keep a watch on the heart when the door of our tongue lies open?' "
