Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic

Desert Monks

Select a Category Abortion Abraham abuse Aesthetics AI Aliens Ambrose Ancestors and Everything Andrew Angels Animals Anne Anthony Antisemitism apologetics Apophatic Apostle John Aquinas Artificial Intelligence Asanga Ascension Asceticism Assumption Atheism Attachment Augustine Authority Avarice Balthasar Baptism Beauty Biden birthright citizenship Bishops Black History Books Buddhism Bulgakov Byzantine Calendar C.S. Lewis Calcidius Catholic Catholicism Catholicism Celibacy Charity Chastity children Chrismation Christ Christmas Christology Church Climate Change Common Good Communion Confession Confirmation Conscience Constantine conventions conversion councils Covid Creation Cross Dead Death Death Penalty Debate Deception Demagogues Demons Desert Monks Desert Mothers Desire destruction development Dialogue Dignity Dionsyius Dionysius Discipline Diversity Division Doctor Who doctrine dogma Dormition Dualism Easter Easter Series Ecumenical Councils Ecumenism Education Election Empathy Environment Error Eschatology eschaton Eternity Ethics Eucharist Evangelism Eve Evil evolution Faeries Faith Fear femininity Ficino Florence Florensky Folktale Fools Forgiveness Freedom Future gender Gentile Gentiles Glory Gnostic God gods Good Samaritan Goodness Gospel Government Grace Great Fast Guns Hate healing Health Heaven Hell Hellenism Heresy Hierarchy Hildegard Hinduism History Holiness Holy Spirit Holy Week Hope Horror Human rights humanity Humility hypocrisy ICE icon icons Identification Identity Idol II Nicea Immigration incarnation Individualism Informal Reflections Inklings Intention Inter-Religious Interfaith Internet Interpretation Intrinsic evil Irenaeus Islam Israel Jacob Jerome Jesus Jews John Chrysostom John of Damascus John the Baptist Joseph Judaism justice Justification kenosis Kindnesss Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Law Law of Moses Lazarus Leaf by Niggle Lent Lenten Reflection Liberation Theology Lies Life Listen Literature Liturgy locutions Logic Logos Love Marriage Martyrs Mary Mass Maximos The Confessor Meanness Meditation Mercy Middle Path Migrants Mind Miracles Miriam Morals Moses Movies Music Muslims Myths Names Nationalism Native Americans New Year Nicea Nicholas Nothing Novatian Obedience Occam's Razor Ordination Origen Original Sin Orthodox orthopraxis Pagans Palamas Palm Sunday Paradise Paschaltide Paul Peace Pentecost person Peter piety PKD Plato pluralism Plurality Poem Poetry Poiltics Politics Poor Pope Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Post Office Prayer Pride Pro-life Prodigal Son propaganda Prophecy Prophets Providence Putin Racism Reading Reason Reflection Refugees Relationships Religion Religion Series Religious Liberty Repent Republicans Rest Resurrection Rich Rites Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation Salvian Santa Science Scripture Self-Giving Sexuality Sibyl Sick Silence Sin Singlehood Social Justice Society Sodom Solovyov Speculations Spiritual Reflection St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Justin Martyr Suffering Sunday of the Paralytic Man Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Superhero Supreme Court Teaching Technology Thanksgiving The Father the Universe Theological Reflection Theology Theosis Theotokos Thomas Timaeus Time Tolerenace Tolkien Tradition Transfiguration Trinity Trump Truth Uncategorized Unity Universities USCCB Value Vatican II Vegetarian Vices Violence Virtue Vocations War Water Welcome Wisdom Womanhood Women Work World View Worship Writing Zacchaeus

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016

October 2026

October 13, 2026

It’s What Comes From Within Which Matters

One of the most difficult things for us to understand is why those who do...

September 2026

September 22, 2026

Aligning With God’s Will Via Empathy And Action

The Christian walk of life can be, and is, both extremely difficult and easy at...

September 15, 2026

The Illusion Of Perfection And The Path To True Holiness

Perfection is humble and modest. Every time we assume perfection for ourselves, and then judge...

August 2026

August 25, 2026

We Will Struggle Against Temptation Until Our Last Breath

Vainglory, like pride, is a difficult vice to fight against. Indeed, they often go hand...

December 2025

December 24, 2025

Navigating Emotions: The Gift Of Tears In The Spiritual Life

Reading through various spiritual texts, such as those of ascetics like the Desert Fathers and...

July 2025

July 06, 2025

Lessons on Humility From Abba Sisoes

We are called to pray without ceasing, and in this way, we can and should...

January 2025

January 17, 2025

Wisdom From Abba Antony For His Feast Day

After learning that he had been called to a special kind of life, one which...

January 14, 2025

How Can We Address Racism and Sexism Through Spirituality?

While St. Antony the Great might not have been literate, that is, he might not...

December 2024

December 20, 2024

Spiritual Growth Through Love And Service To Others

A proper Christian spirituality has us embrace the need to be of service to others....

December 13, 2024

Embracing Trials: A Path To Personal Transformation

Trials and tribulations are a part of life. We might wish they were not, especially...

October 2024

October 02, 2024

Christ’s Way Is The Way Of Love Not Contention

To non-Christians, the way many Christians act in the world must confuse them. For they...

May 2024

May 31, 2024

Harmony With All

We have many stories, some more famous than others, in which saints encounter and slay...

May 15, 2024

St. Pachomius And The Common Good

When speaking of the origins of Christian monasticism, most people think about St. Antony the...

February 2024

February 01, 2024

The Greater Sin

Pride is a greater sin, indeed, a greater threat to the soul, than many, if...

December 2023

December 22, 2023

St. Paul The Simple

It is quite common for monastic communities, Christian or otherwise, to test strangers who want...

December 19, 2023

We Are All In This World Together

While asceticism is meant to help spiritual seekers transcend normal, day to day, “worldly” experiences,...

December 12, 2023

Challenges And Temptations

We often wish the challenges we face on a daily basis would go away. We...

November 2023

November 14, 2023

Practical Action Help Us Grow More Than Mere Speculation

Growth can be difficult and painful. We might not understand why, but we know, through...

November 10, 2023

Confronting Our Thoughts

We constantly having all kinds of odd thoughts going through our minds, some of which...

August 2023

August 22, 2023

Universalizing Discipline Often Comes From A Lack Of Prudence

Prudence in spiritual matters recognizes the need for flexibility instead of expecting everyone to follow...

August 08, 2023

A Sign Of The Kingdom Of God

While everyone is called to embrace some forms of self-discipline to help fight off and...

July 2023

July 18, 2023

Apparitions, Locutions And Spiritual Deception

Prelest, that is, spiritual deception, readily tricks people who hold so much pride that they...

June 2023

June 16, 2023

Grace Allows Us To Become Supra-Natural

Humanity, like the rest of creation, is naturally good. God saw all things and saw...

May 2023

May 30, 2023

We Must Not Let Pride, Contentiousness Or Judgmentalism Lead Us Astray

Trying to live a holy life, such as the desert fathers did, can easily led...

May 02, 2023

We Must Not Blame Others For Our Sins

Sadly, more often than not, many of us do not want to take responsibility for...

April 2023

April 28, 2023

Expectations Can Cause Pain And Sorrow

One of the things which can harm us is the expectations others have for us....

April 25, 2023

Prudence Is Necessary For Making Good Moral Decisions

When dealing with morality, it is one thing to talk about moral obligations in the...

April 21, 2023

Love Everyone, Especially Those In Most Need Of Mercy And Compassion

God is no respecter of persons. God loves everyone and works, in mysterious ways, for...

April 11, 2023

The Weak Like To Appear Strong

It is very common for those who try to appear strong out in public do...

April 05, 2023

The Middle Path Of St. Antony

St. Antony the Great presented a middle way for the Christian faith. While he was...

Related posts from A Little Bit of Nothing

Catholic

We Will Struggle Against Temptation Until Our Last...

A Little Bit of Nothing

Catholic

The Illusion Of Perfection And The Path To...

A Little Bit of Nothing

Catholic

We Must Resist The Demonization Of Others

A Little Bit of Nothing

Catholic

My Journey With St. Antony The Great

A Little Bit of Nothing

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos