Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers

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Reading List

“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

Seven Essential Resources

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

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 Sayings of the Fathers | Chadwick, Owen
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

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