People love to speak in metaphors. The one I hear almost as often as any other is the metaphor of being "in a desert". What we mean by this is that we feel as if life is dry, arid, and seemingly devoid of life-giving qualities. Sometimes we mean that there is a sense of hopelessness, and other times that there is a sense of wandering aimlessly. Whatever the sense we try to communicate, there's a general understanding that it is not a place we willingly want to be. But there are some who brave deserts not in a metaphorical sense, but literally walk out into the nothingness. Some men and women see the desert not as life-draining, but life-giving. Not as an arid void but as the crucible in which they will be remade.
We call these women the Desert Mothers. These women ventured out into the deserts of Egypt, Israel, and Syria during the 4th and 5th centuries. What could have overcome these women to forsake the comforts of their normal lives in the city and live their lives isolated in the desert?
The answer to that question is multifaceted, but to understand their convictions you must first understand the religious and socio-political landscape of the day. In 313 CE, Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan. While this did not make Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire like some believe, it did end persecution of Christians by making Christianity a legal religion under Roman law. With the Edict of Milan issued, Christianity was brought under imperial protection as an officially recognized religion of the empire. This changed a lot of the social culture for Christians. No longer was there the chance to become the "seed of the Church" through martyrdom (see Tertullian's Apologeticum for full quote). Instead of spreading the gospel through modeling the suffering of Christ, Christianity began to spread because of the social prominence one could gain upon conversion. It became fashionable to be a Christian because it was following the example of the Emperor. This being said, there was a spike in nominal Christianity as opposed to truly faithful followers. In addition, certain tax breaks were given to those who became priests. As you can imagine, there was a rise in corruption and abuses in power became more widespread among leaders. Overall, secularism was on the rise in the Church.
Many people went with the flow as these pitfalls started to form. Some people bravely spoke out against the rising secularism of the Church. And still others decided to try to live a faithful life as close as possible to the example of the martyrs. A few pious Christians decided to step away from the secular nature of the Church to live lives devoted to the model of the Primitive Jesus Movement. This movement was inspired by a counter-cultural approach to social norms, an identification with the poor (not only in spirit but also in funds/resources), and an intensely spiritual-based outlook on life. The time of the martyrs was over. Since martyrdom was the highest calling one could attain as a Christian, the question became this: how can faithful Christians live out a total commitment to Jesus? The answer, for some, was found in the barrenness of the desert.
While some may see this as a radical response, those who entered the desert knew that to have deep faith meant having a deep commitment to Jesus. It meant so much more than favorable social standing and tax breaks. It meant a life of taking up one's cross and following Christ. And so they forsook worldly goods and comforts, left security behind with the mass population, and placed their focus on spiritual matters.
The monks and nuns that entered the desert were known as abbas and ammas, or "spiritual fathers and mothers". They often times lived in caves in the desert. Some lived in community. Others lived as hermits. Still others lived with a mixture of community and solitude, living alone throughout the week then coming together on Sundays to celebrate Eucharist.
The account we have that records the teachings of these abbas and ammas is called The Sayings of the Desert Fathers. You might already be wondering, "Just Desert Fathers? What about the Desert Mothers?" Despite the fact that these women were well-known in Christian circles and were highly respected as spiritual advisors, there are very few accounts written about them. Though these women were spiritual giants of their age, male authors have allowed sparse records of their teachings to be propagated.
I'd like to share a saying from Amma Syncletica, a 4th century desert mother. She is recorded as saying, “In the beginning there are a great many battles and a good deal of suffering for those who are advancing towards God and afterwards, ineffable joy. It is like those who wish to light a fire; at first they are choked by the smoke and cry, and by this means obtain what they seek (as it is said: ‘Our God is a consuming fire’ [Heb. 12.24]): so we also must kindle the divine fire in ourselves through tears and hard work.” This idea of lighting the divine fire within us is an old and rich metaphor among Christian mystics. Amma Syncletica knew that the way of the cross, the way of allowing that divine fire to catch, was a difficult way to walk. She went on to advise other women who desired to enter the monastic life. She helped guide others through the difficult task of entering a life of poverty and beginning a life devoted to prayer.
If you're interested in learning more about the Desert Mothers and Fathers, feel free to check out the books listed below!
The Sayings of the Desert Fathers
The Forgotten Desert Mothers