Reading the Fathers Critically

Father David explains the need to read Desert Fathers discerningly and warns against dilettantism.

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We see clearly within the struggles of the desert fathers how difficult it can be to avoid extremes in thought and action. We see in them those filled with desire for God and striving for purity of heart; maintaining watchfulness and fostering a hatred of sin. Yet, how is one form and develop a sensitive conscience and awareness of the power of our own appetites and desires as human beings, concern with demonic provocation, and yet to hold on to a true view of the beauty of creation and the dignity of the human person? As fully invested as the desert fathers were, and as psychologically and spiritually astute as they could be, this was no small task. We find in their language at times a tendency to project their fear of sin or temptation onto others. This can be uniquely the struggle of religious people; rather than humbly acknowledging the truth within our own hearts and the power of our own desires we will blame temptation upon others – on the things they say or do. Saint Philip Neri once said: “Man is often the carpenter of his own crosses”. We do not like to acknowledge the truth of that fact; that we are the source of our own temptation or that it arises out of our own imagination and memory.

Despite this, however, they did see very clearly that the Evil One can use every pretext to provoke a person into sin. The devil can appear as an angel of light, and the desert fathers would have us never forget this. Even that which is good - those bonds of love and familial affection, nostalgia for those relationships that have been so powerful - all of these things, the evil one will work on to distract us or pull us in a particular direction. One might argue, somewhat convincingly, that such a concern is extreme or neurotic. In this we do not want to defend the indefensible. However, we want to understand the changeableness of the human heart and mind, its fickleness and treachery. Demonic provocation can turn the mind and the heart toward things that we never imagined we would ever consider or do. May God have mercy on us and guide us.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:19:49 Wayne: page again

00:20:09 Myles Davidson: Pg 230 L 4

00:20:30 Wayne: thnx

00:28:58 Anthony: This actually makes a lot of sense if we consider pagan myth. Monks strove to be like the descriptions of angels. But that desire to be "heavenly" can be perverted if we let the pagan myths distort our minds of the heavenly since sex was so often part of myth: like the relationship of Uranos and Gaiea, or the Olympians. We need a right view of God and creation and created things if we will truly strive to the true God.

00:52:05 Anthony: I saw it. Very good. Also has scenes of temptation to love a woman who was attracted to him when they were young.

00:57:34 Catherine Opie: Being a new convert and coming from a non Catholic, mostly atheist family, and having a friend base who are not Christian I can relate in a small way how that might feel. I have had both friends and family become vitriolic over my change in belief. It can be challenging because I am no longer their ally in viewpoint.

01:03:01 Ashton L: I’d say a lot of people get fanatic and someone with genuine zeal confused

01:04:11 Anthony: Honest, not being a fanatic is a serious concern because some kinds of fundamentalism and truly nuts and malformed. I don't want to be that guy. I don't want to blow out of proportion stories of demons or private visions. Then you're almost a solupsist, and insufferable.

01:07:29 Kate : There are a number of Western saints, men and women, who were great friends. For example, Sts. John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila, Sts. Francis and Clare, Sts. Francis de Sales and Jane Frances de Chantal, among others. I wonder if you could comment on how to understand these great spiritual friendships in light of these writings.

01:08:02 Forrest Cavalier: Reacted to "There are a number o..." with 👍

01:08:11 Catherine Opie: Reacted to "There are a number o..." with ❤️

01:08:56 Vanessa: Replying to "There are a number o..."

Jesus also had female friends. Martha and Mary.

01:09:18 Nypaver Clan: St. John of the Cross

01:11:16 Myles Davidson: The Spanish Teresa of Avila mini series
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNBgLeqw6lxe_51ysMXFjR54sQf9LCl6j

01:11:30 Catherine Opie: Reacted to "The Spanish Teresa o..." with 🙏🏻

01:11:46 Ashton L: Reacted to "The Spanish Teresa o…" with 🙏🏻

01:13:58 Rebecca Thérèse: Therese asked that the sisters not put poisonous things within her reach lest she should take it in a moment of weakness

01:14:22 Anthony: Reacted to Therese asked that t... with "❤️"

01:15:01 Andrew Adams: Thanks be to God! Thank you, Father!

01:15:03 Catherine Opie: Thank you Fr. God Bless