Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers

Seven Essential Resources

“Read these seven books and you will have a rich and nuanced overview of the history, wisdom, and spirituality of the Desert. Enjoy!” Carl McColman

• The Wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers | Carrigan, Henry L. (Amazon link)
• Desert Christians | Harmless, William (Amazon link)
• The Book of the Elders | Wortley, John (Amazon link)
• The Sayings of the Desert Fathers | Ward, Benedicta (Amazon link)
• The Lifes of the Desert Fathers | Ward, Benedicta (Amazon link)
• The Praktikos & Chapters on Prayer | Evagrius Ponticus (Amazon link)
• The Conferences | Cassian, John (Logos link)

Additional or alternative resources, not by CMcC

• An Introduction to the Desert Fathers | Byassee, John
• Give Me a Word: The Alphabetical Sayings of the Desert Fathers | Wortley, John
• Desert Fathers and Mothers – Early Christian Wisdom Sayings—Annotated & Explained | Valtners-Painter, Christine
• The Wisdom of the Desert | Hannay, James O.
• The Fathers of the Desert, Vols. 1 & 2 | Hahn-Hahn, Ida
• Ad Monachos | Evagrius Ponticus
• The Conferences | Cassian, John alternative translation
• The Conferences | Schaff NPNF edition
• The Conferences | Schaff NPNF CE edition

Web link and source

• Carl McColman’s Patheos blog