Desert Dangers and Delights

John Michael Talbot is the founder and spiritual father of the Catholic-based community the Brothers and Sisters of Charity. He leads an active ministry from Little Portion Hermitage and Monastery in Arkansas and St. Clare Monastery in Texas. He is also a Grammy and Dove award–winning, multiplatinum selling, contemporary Christian music pioneer and a best-selling author of over thirty books.

"There has never been a more crucial time to listen to the past. And who better to listen to than the desert fathers, who left everything to embrace a life of simple listening to God in the wilderness. My brother John has done much the same with his life; he has spent a lifetime listening to the fathers and has gifted the church with this remarkable digest of their wisdom."Michael Card, faith-based musician and author

• ContentsIntroduction 11 Flee the World 72 Jesus Christ 143 Holy Spirit 234 The Monk Within 355 The Cell 446 Work 547 Private Prayer 618 Liturgical Prayer 729 Sacred Reading and the Writings of the Fathers and Scripture 8410 Sacred Silence 9611 Sacred Solitude 10212 Sacred Stillness and Hesychia 10813 Thoughts and Demons 11514 Angels 12415 Watchfulness 13216 Spiritual Direction and Revelation of Thoughts 13817 Obedience 14818 Dying with Christ 15819 Repentance and Mercy 16620 Sorrow and Tears 17521 Gluttony and Fasting 18422 Sexual Sin 19323 Avarice and Poverty 20324 Anger and Bitterness 21225 Forgiveness 22226 Nonresistance 23027 Boredom and Listlessness 23728 Self-Glorification and Pride 24529 Self-Accusation 25230 Remembrance of Death 25931 Contemplation 264Conclusion 271