The earliest monks lived in the deserts of Egypt and the Middle East
from the third century onwards. They were known as the Desert Fathers
and lived a simple but rigorous life in discipleship of Our Lord Jesus
Christ. It is upon the foundations established by them that the monastic
traditions of the Christian Church, with which we are familiar, were developed,
especially by John Cassian and Benedict.
The teaching of the Desert Fathers, passed down through their disciples,
is in the form of anecdotes, the "Sayings of
the Desert Fathers", and in the biographies or "Lives"
written by those who wanted to preserve the traditions of the "old
men and women" of the desert. Although the early monks led an austere
ascetical life, there is at the same time a radical simplicity and commonsense
in their teaching. It was said of St Anthony that one day he was relaxing
with his brothers outside the cell (hermitage) when a hunter came by and
rebuked him. Anthony said, "Bend your bow and
shoot an arrow" and he did so. "Bend
it again and shoot another", and he did - and again and again.
The hunter said, "Father, if I keep my bow
always stretched, it will break." "So it is with the monk"
replied Anthony: "If we push ourselves beyond
measure we will break; it is right from time to time to relax our efforts."
At the heart of the life of the Desert Fathers was the commitment to
prayer. If a life is oriented to the things of God, the driving force
of that life is prayer. The aim was a quiet reflective prayer complemented
with simple work that would provide for the monk's basic needs - weaving
ropes and mats or making sandals. They aspired to live the Gospel life
in a straightforward and uncomplicated understanding of Christ's teaching.
Their gentle evangelical charity was the pivot of their work and the test
of their life in the desert. Their pattern of hospitality was to receive
guests as Christ would receive them. To pattern ourselves on Christ is
their challenge to us.
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