Praying with the Desert Mothers [Paperback]

Mary Forman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 2005

Fourth- and fifth-century desert mothers in the Mediterranean region, known as ammas (spiritual mothers), were the founders of Christian community in the early church. Praying with the Desert Mothers introduces the lives, sayings, and stories of these remarkable spiritual elders. It enriches readers lives and compels them to return in meditation and prayer. For each topic a true story is drawn from a modern person s experience of seeking God. This tapestry of stories of the desert ammas is woven together with theological insights, discussion of genres of literature, historical views on women, and reflective approaches to the wisdom tradition. Praying with the Desert Mothers combines scholarship and reflection for praying, meditating, and living the wisdom of spiritual practices today. Chapters are Introduction to the Desert Mothers, Ammas as Midwives of Wisdom, Ammas as Scripture Scholars, Heralds in the Desert, Desert as Idyllic Garden, The Pearl of Great Price, Humility and the Manifestation of Thoughts, Penthos and Tears Signs of Conversion, The Hidden Life, Prayer and Hospitality ; and concludes with The Visitation and a complete bibliography on the desert ammas.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This little gem of a book delivers all that it promises, and considerably more. . . . The author writes clearly and concisely, making it easy to concentrate on the text and ideas. This little volume would serve nicely both for spiritual reading and for an introduction to the spirituality of Early Christian women ascetics." ---American Benedictine Review

"This book is a very interesting and stimulating source not only for learning about a part of the history of the church which has been little emphasized, but also as a source for promoting the continuing value of the work of the ancient ammas for spiritual guidance in a modern world." ---Catholic Studies

". . . many will find this resource a valuable source of inspiration and prayerful reflection on women s faithful lives, both ancient and modern. It is a text that could well be used for classroom use in Christian spirituality, in the history of early Christianity, and in the dynamics of Christian prayer. The faith, especially of these ancient and courageous desert women, inspires admiration and at times awe. That Forman has provided a way for ordinary Christians to reclaim their stories and to embrace them in prayer is a great service." ---New Theology Review

About the Author

Mary Forman, OSB, PhD, a Benedictine from the Monastery of Saint Gertrude, Cottonwood, Idaho, is assistant professor of theology at the School of Theology Seminary and the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota.

Product Details

• Paperback: 107 pages
• Publisher: Liturgical Press (October 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814615228
• ISBN-13: 978-0814615225
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #933,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fourth Century Wisdom for Today, November 10, 2005

By 

Carol Blank (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Praying with the Desert Mothers (Paperback)

Though its primary focus is the desert mothers (ammas), this work, which is applicable to both men and women, also honors the wisdom of the desert fathers (abbas).

The author, a Benedictine who teaches monastic studies and theology, presents the desert mothers of the fourth and fifth centuries as midwives, "bearers of the spirit, women capable of listening to the hearts of those around them...." With bible passages, stories, contemporary examples, and reflection exercises, Forman shows us how to incorporate practices of the desert mothers into our own lives.

The ammas manifest a twofold way of being women of wisdom, she writes: "women who praise their God as their source of life, their love, and their longing, and women who share their gifts of prayer, self, and resources with others." The ammas saw an opportunity to entertain Christ in each act of hospitality. According to Abba Cassian, "One's task or occupation is to host the stranger, guest, or poor person, who appears most often unexpectedly in our midst." Forman's reflection on hospitality invites readers to consider occasions in which they grew in the realization of Christ's presence in others. The chapters in Praying with the Desert Mothers can be used in sequence or individually, making the book especially attractive for faith sharing groups.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True feminism and pearls of great price, February 8, 2011

By 

Stratiotes Doxha Theon "2 Thes 2:15" (Richmond, Missouri) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Praying with the Desert Mothers (Paperback)

The anchorites are so far removed from the cultural norms of our own day that they seem other-worldly and an anachronism. We wonder what could such people have to say to us today? We do ourselves a great disservice to ignore their hard-won wisdom simply because we think they could have nothing in common with us. Quite the contrary is true, of course they experienced the same spiritual and emotional struggles as we. Their psychological and spiritual training seldom involved classrooms and professors - their classroom was seclusion, meditation, and the conversation of prayer with the most qualified of all professors.

One chapter in the book refers to the pearl of great price and how pearls are often overlooked by those ignorant of their worth. Such is the value of the anchorites who dove deep to recover gems where others found it too difficult to search. Many of the male anchorites recorded or taught their lessons with words that have been preserved for us today. The female anchorites, in true womanly strength and character, were less likely to write or teach by words but favored example. Because of this varied approach it is sometimes more difficult to plumb the depths of their great learning. But it is costly to overlook such great pearls.

This is not a long book, it can finished in a single sitting without much effort. Or, better yet, it can be savored one chapter at a time in devotion and prayer. The chapters are organized for just such an approach. Intended as a guide to mystic devotions, it is a mistake to attempt it as a mere historical rarity. As the lives of the desert mothers demonstrate, these pearls of wisdom are learned only experientially.

This is an ideal help to anyone seeking a greater depth of prayer and meditation - man or woman, boy or girl. The prayers, stories, and contemporary examples are emotionally moving. True mysticism is nothing more than the enjoyment of loving God simply for who He is. This work will help guide the courageous seeker looking for that pearl of true mysticism.