Tag: desert mothers

A New Study from The Wisdom Years

A New Study from The Wisdom Years

Marjorie George

A Word from the Desert

Beginning April 23

Thursdays, 4 p.m. (Central time)

By Zoom

It is possible to be a solitary in one’s mind while living in a crowd, and it is possible for one who is a solitary to live in the crowd of his own thoughts.”
– Amma Syncletica

At a particular moment in history, around the fourth century, certain Christian women chose to eschew their contemporary society and move to the deserts of Egypt, Israel, and Syria where they lived in solitude. Christianity was no longer outlawed by the Roman government, and active persecutions had stopped. For these women, it became increasingly difficult to inhabit lives focused solely on God.

The women, who were called ammas, became known for their wisdom, and people would come out from the cities to ask for a word from them.

Using The Desert Mothers, Spiritual Practices from the Women of the Wilderness by the Rev Mary C. Earle, we will seek wisdom for ourselves especially in the chaotic times in which we live.

We will read a chapter a week on our own, then gather for conversation by Zoom on Thursdays at 4 p.m. (Central time) beginning on April 23.

If you would like to participate in this study, please send an email to Marjorie George at marjoriegeorge62@gmail.com.

There is no cost for the study, but you will need to provide your own book. To order from the St. Mark’s bookstore, go to https://bookshop.org/shop/stmarksbookstoresa and put the title in the search bar. Be sure to select the book by Mary Earle.

We welcome persons of all denominations to join us.

Living with the Desert Mothers -corrected

Marjorie George

The original post sent Feb 10 had a bad link to Marjorie George email address. Apologies. it is corrected in this post.

An Online Lenten Study from The Wisdom Years

March 3 through April 7

Thursdays, 4 to 5:15 p.m.

By Zoom

In the third and fourth centuries, after Constantine declared Christianity legal throughout the empire, faithful men and women became distressed about the encroaching secularization of their religion and sought refuge in the deserts of Egypt and Syria. There they lived in silence and solitude in caves and hermitages, where they came to be called the Desert Fathers – or Abbas – and Desert Mothers – Ammas.

Their lives were devoted to prayer and denial of the material world in order to be closer to God. Often people came to them for a word of wisdom.

Using The Rev. Mary Earle’s book The Desert Mothers: Spiritual Practices from the Women of the Wilderness, we will look at the practices that sustained the Ammas – silence and solitude, balance and moderation, simplicity and fasting from anger, judgment, and frenetic activity.

We will read the book on our own, then gather weekly for conversation about what we discern. We will work in both large and small groups as we consider ways to incorporate the wisdom of the Ammas into our own lives.

Along with the weekly gatherings, this study will offer spiritual practices to help us grow our faith, and daily text messages of inspiration.

There is no charge for the study except the purchase of your book on your own.

To indicate your interest in this study or for questions and clarification, email Marjorie George at marjoriegeorge62@gmail.com.

Order the book from St. Mark’s bookstore by contacting Carla Pineda at stmarksbookstore@gmail.com. St. Marks Bookstore has reserved copies for this study and may be able to deliver to those in the San Antonio area with no shipping charge. 

For more about the work of The Wisdom Years,visit our website. at www.wisdomyears.org