The Desert: An Anthology for Lent [Large Print] [Paperback]

John Moses (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1997

The desert, with its great emptiness and silence, has long been a symbol of solitude. In our spiritual lives, we sometimes seek such isolation as a means of abandoning ourselves completely to God. At other times, solitude comes upon us uninvited and unwelcome, as we find ourselves totally alone and desolate. In facing the silence and the vast expanses of loneliness, we test our courage, deepen our faith, and hear the voice of God anew. This book explores the tradition and relevance of desert spirituality in the life and worship of the church today and offers a collection of pertinent writings by these and many other ancient and contemporary authors: Thomas à Kempis, Mother Mark Clare, Henri Nouwen, René Voillaume, Charles de Foucauld, Thomas Merton, R. S. Thomas. The readings are ideal Lenten devotionals (but wonderful any other time of year as well) as you answer your own call of the desert.

Editorial Reviews

Review

".a collection of samples of classic spirituality both new and ageless, this book can be used as a personal reflective book or for group sharing and is especially timely as a Lenten book when Christians as a whole do take the time for a deeper understanding and inner reflection of their faith." -- Church & Synagogue Libraries

"A fine introduction offers a history of desert spirituality, and an epilogue on the literature of the desert completes this lovely, simple book." -- Religious Resource International

"The Desert counts down the days of Lent with appropriate quotes from the desert tradition of faith and prayer. Readers who use these quotations as a basis for daily reflection and prayer will find them divided into five themes: solitude, testing, self-emptying, encounter, and transfiguration. Moses includes brief chapters on the history of the desert tradition, its particular type of Christian experience, and the literature which has come from it." -- The Pennsylvania Episcopalian

"This is definitely a reader-friendly book for Lent. The author is the dynamic new Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, whose predecessors include such literary giants as John Donne. First, he tells us the story of the Desert Fathers who retreated to the wilderness in the fourth and fifth centuries when the Emperor Constantine's establishment of Christianity severely watered down the faith. He does this with a simple style, avoiding complex unpronounceable verbiage. When he has introduced us to the spirituality of the desert, to the use of solitude, he then gives the reader daily soul food to chew on. It can be used for personal devotion or as a small group study resource." -- The Living Church

... definitely a reader friendly book for Lent... for personal devotion or as a small group study resource. -- The Living Church

... fine introduction offers a history of desert spirituality... epilogue on the literature of the desert completes this lovely, simple book. -- Religious Resource International

... personal reflective book or for group sharing... especially timely as a Lenten book... -- Church and Synagogue Library Association

From the Back Cover

The desert, with its great emptiness and silence, has long been a symbol of solitude. This devotional work for groups or individuals offers an introduction to the tradition of desert spirituality and readings that take the reader on a journey through each day of Lent. General themes covered include solitude, testing, self-emptying, divine encounter, and transformation.

John Moses explores the tradition and relevance of desert spirituality in the life and worship of the church today and offers a collection of pertinent writings from a number of ancient and contemporary authors, including Thomas a Kempis, Charles de Foucault, St. Teresa of Avila, Mother Mary Clare, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, R.S. Thomas, and Rene Voillaume.

Product Details

• Paperback: 170 pages
• Publisher: Morehouse Publishing (December 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081921728X
• ISBN-13: 978-0819217288
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,195,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Lenten preparation to use year after year, August 26, 2000

By 

M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Desert: An Anthology for Lent (Paperback)

The Desert is one of the best anthologies of mediations for Lent that I have seen. The book has three explanatory chapters on desert spirituality and it's literature. The core of the book is a group of readings for each day of lent, the group rarely filling two pages.

The breadth of material selected is impressive. The fourth Wednesday of Lent, to pick any example, has writings of Charles de Foucauld, the desert father Abbot Moses, Alessandro Pronzato, and Thomas Merton. Many of the readings are merely a sentence. From the same example, one quote from Charles de Foucauld: "Love consists not in feeling that you love, but in the will to love."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A quiet companion for a 40 day journey, May 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Desert: An Anthology for Lent (Paperback)

The Desert This anthology infused my Lenten season with holiness and a step towards a deeper contemplation in the Mystery. Short daily readings from Ash Wednesday to Easter Day are broken down into themes of The Call to the Desert, Solitude, Testing, Self-Emptying, Encounter, Transfiguration and the Divine Mystery.

The words accompanied me as I shared the forty day journey with Christ. I found some of the readings especially helpful in preparing for reconciliation with God.

This is a book I plan to reread again next Lent. The readings have eternal significance and infinite insights.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Map for the Journey, April 5, 2006

By 

Chad Davies "Downhill" (Barnesville, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Desert: An Anthology for Lent (Paperback)

John Moses' Anthology encourages the reader to sojourn on a wilderness journey for the time of Lent. By gathering writings from Christian authors throughout the rich tradition of the faith related to themes centered around the desert, Moses provides a framework for the traveler's time of preparation for Holy Week, Easter and beyond. Sayings are taken from the writings of the Desert Fathers, St. John of the Cross, Thomas Merton, Alessandro Pronzato, St. Teresa of Avila and many more.

Each day of the journey is given about a half a dozen sayings for the traveler to read and contemplate as a focus of their devotional time. Each week is given a theme beginning with The Call to the Desert and concluding with contemplation of the Divine Mystery.

As I have used this anthology of sayings for my Lenten journey Ihave been continually challenged and encouraged by the selections to seek God more deeply. I have been inspired by the words of those who have traveled these paths before me and have left their markers for me to follow.

I unreservedly recommend this book for anyone embarking on a journey of metanoia, whether that be during Lent or during any other time of the year.