Customer Reviews

Emergence of Monasticism: From the Desert Fathers to the Early Middle Ages

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Although a rather weighty title, this book provides the ordinary reader with two things which are quite valuable: first it is extremely relevant to current faith in helping us to understand the origins of pietism in the lives of the struggling desert fathers and two, it is heavily documented for your further research and reading. Most of the lessons of life have already been learned by others and this book shares the unsettling quests of the early mystics in a way in which enables you to contrast your life and journey to their successes and failures. For me, it kept me from unrealistic expectations in my own practice of faith realizing that more earnest individuals had already attempted and failed to pursue a level of spirituality here on earth that is rather impractical. On the other hand it also provides great insights on the development and results of monasticism including the Rule of St. Benedict. Worth reading during the winter when you will not be so distracted by outside activities.