Course in Desert Spirituality

Thomas Merton (1915-1968), Catholic convert, Cistercian monk and hermit, poet, contemplative, social critic, and pioneer of interreligious dialogue, was a seminal figure of twentieth-century American Christianity.Jon M. Sweeney is an independent scholar and one of religion’s most respected writers. His many books include James Martin, SJ: In the Company of Jesus, in the “People of God” series; The Pope Who Quit, which was optioned by HBO; and The Pope’s Cat, a popular fiction series for children. He edited A Course in Christian Mysticism by Thomas Merton, published by Liturgical Press. Sweeney writes regularly for America in the US, and The Tablet in the UK. He is the publisher at Paraclete Press in Massachusetts, and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his wife and daughters.

• Contents  ForewordPaul Quenon, OCSOEditor’s ProloguePrefaceLecture 1: Early Christian Spirituality (First and Second Centuries)Spirituality in the Age of the Martyrs • The Ideal of Virgins and AscetesLecture 2: Aberrations in the Early CenturiesHatred of the Flesh • Montanism • Neoplatonism • GnosticismLecture 3: The Christian Teachers of AlexandriaClement of Alexandria • OrigenLecture 4: St. Anthony of the DesertEnter St. Anthony • The Doctrine of Anthony • The Later Life of AnthonyLecture 5: St. Pachomius and the CenobitesCenobites vs. Hermits • St. Pachomius’s Life Briefly • The Rule of PachomiusLecture 6: St. Basil of CaesareaHis Life Briefly • The Writings of St. Basil • Basilian CenobitismLecture 7: Other Cappadocian Fathers: The Two GregoriesSt. Gregory Nazianzen • St. Gregory of Nyssa • Gregory of Nyssa’s WritingsLecture 8: Palestinian Monasticism and St. JeromeSt. Jerome • Other Controversies in the Life of Jerome • Jerome’s Monastic DoctrineLecture 9: The Community of St. MelaniaSt. Melania • St. Melania the Younger • Roman Monasticism in Palestine • Her Monastic Life in the EastLecture 10: Monasticism in Mesopotamia and SyriaThe Stylites • Hermits of Nitria and Scete • Characteristics of Desert SpiritualityLecture 11: St. Macarius and Pseudo-MacariusSt. Macarius • Messalianism • Pseudo-MacariusLecture 12: Evagrius Ponticus on PrayerImportance of Evagrius • What Does Evagrius Mean by Prayer? • Degrees of Prayer SummaryLecture 13: Master of the Spiritual Life: CassianCassian’s Error • Cassian’s Life and Background • Abbot Pinufius • The Desert of Scete—and Nitria • The Origenist Conflict • Constantinople and GaulLecture 14: The Conferences of CassianConference 1: “On the Purpose and Goal of the Monk” • Conference 2: “On Discretion” • Conference 4: “On the Desire of the Flesh and of the Spirit” by Abbot Daniel • Conferences 9 and 10: “Abbot Isaac on Prayer”Lecture 15: Philoxenos of MabbugFoundations of the Spiritual Life • What Is Simplicity? • Letter to a Converted Jew • Letter to a Novice • Vocation to the Desert • On FornicationGroup Discussion Topics, Questions, and Additional ReadingsEditor’s NotesIndex

"In today's turbulent world many women and men . . . are looking toward Benedictine and earlier traditions for a guide on how to live. Here they are carefully spelled out again for our guidance."From the foreword by Brother Paul Quenon, OCSO