Listen to the Desert: Secrets of Spiritual Maturity from the Desert Fathers and Mothers, The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

164 Pages·1996·17.68 MB·English

by  Gregory Mayers

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SECRETS OR SRIRITUAL
MATURITV RROM THE DESERT
FATHERS AMD MOTHERS
GREGORY MAYERS
UTLliguori/Triumph
LIGUORI,MISSOURI
—
Published by Liguori/Triumph
An Imprint ofLiguori Publications
Liguori, Missouri
All rights reserved. No part ofthis publication may be reproduced,
stored—in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means electronic,mechanical,photocopy,recording,oranyother
exceptfor briefquotations inprinted reviews,withoutthepriorper-
mission ofthepublisher.
ImprimiPotest
Very Reverend Monroe G. Perrier, C.Ss.R.
Vice Provincial Superior
New Orleans Vice Province
The Redemptorists
July 1, 1996
Imprimatur
Msgr.James C. Gurzynski,JCL
Vicar General, Diocese ofAmarillo
Amarillo, Texas
July 19, 1996
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Mayers, Gregory.
Listen to the desert : secrets ofspirit—ual maturity from the Desert
Fathers and Mothers/Gregory Mayers 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-89243-930-0
— —
1. Des—ert Fathers. 2. Spiritual life Christianity History of
doctrines Earlychurch, ca. 30-600. 1. Title.
BR195.C5M38 1996
248.4'811—dc20 96-12888
Copyright© 1996 by Gregory Mayers
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
96 97 98 99 00 6 5 4 3 2
c:oJsr'^E^sr'^s
Foreword vii
Preface xiii
Introduction xv
Chapter 1: Your Cell Will Teach You 1
Chapter 2: Who Am U 9
Chapter 3: In the Beginning.., 21
Chapter 4: Nonattachment 32
Chapter 5: Be Watchful 43
Chapter 6: Become AllFlame 54
Chapter 7: Sell Everything and Give
to the Foot 65
Chapter 8: Your Soul Is Not Tough 77
Chapter 9: All Eye 88
Chapter 10: What Is It Necessary
to Do to Be Savedf 105
Chapter 11: Seek God 115
Notes 125
Bibhography 129
FOREV^ORD
f
^^ y^^ hen I set outto write this book, I intended
yf ^r itto be a clear explanation ofthe spiritual
journeyforthetypical educatedreader. Ichosethisgoalfor
two reasons. First, I'm not capable of a scholarly work,
most of which, at any rate, seem to be inaccessible except
to other scholars. Second, what has traditionally been la-
beled "mysticism" and as such reserved for the rare "wor-
thy" individual is, in reality, the common heritage and full
flowering of Christianity, and therefore ought to be acces-
sible to all of us.
—
My intention was to use common experiences experi-
encesthatanyindividualcouldassentto,couldsayof, "Yes,
—
that's somethingIexperience" as awayofleadinginto an
explanation of the zigzag path of spiritual maturity. All of
this I hoped to do in fresh language, avoiding as much as
possiblethe stiltedvocabularyofascetical andmysticalthe-
ology and contemporary religious jargon, which seems to
Foreword
viii
have been hijacked into the service of narrov^ ideologies,
confused psychobabble, and justifications for dangerous
religious enthusiasm.
Nov^ that I've completed the work, I must admit to the
horrible sense that all I've done is to scratch the surface of
the task I set for myself. Whether I have, at least partially,
accomplished my goal, I leave to the judgment ofyou, the
reader. Parenthetically, and by way of analogy, I have a
greater appreciation for the numerous disclaimers I hear
regularlyfromparentswhofeelthey'vehardlydoneenough
in raising their children.
Many people deserve, and have, my heartfelt gratitude
fortheirhelpinpreparingthis book. Firstofall,myteacher.
FatherWilligisJager, OSB, who with patience that appears
to me to be heroic at times and providential wisdom, con-
tinues to guide me on my own spiritual journey, as he has
done for some fifteen years now. I couldn't possess what-
ever clarity I may enjoy in this subject without him. I am
also indebted to Mrs. Joan Reich, Rev. James Chaumont,
Mrs. Grace Mojtabai, and Mrs. Lorette Zirker, who cor-
rected my glaring mistakes and offered invaluable sugges-
tions to make the initial manuscript readable. I am deeply
grateful for the considerable amount oftime and the atten-
tion to detail that each ofthem dedicated to the task. Very
specialrecognitiongoes toMr. BobWalker. Onlyheknows
the significance of his assistance in preparing the manu-
script for publication. Finally I am indebted to the many,
many people I've met along the way who continue to be
devoted to the spiritual life. Some I am privileged to live
with, my Redemptorist confreres. Others, lay men and lay