What the Laity Can Learn From the Desert Fathers

By Scott Ferrier, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
–Mt. 5:8

The Church has ‘always and everywhere’ taught that salvation is intended for all people. Holiness for the laity is not a new concept introduced by the Second Vatican Council, but only a shift in emphasis. This truth is foundational to the charism of Miles Jesu. Our salvation is sought in a different arena from that of the monk, the nun, or the priest. Our domain is the secular order. But the means is the same, for all of us have put on the same Christ in our Baptism. The enemies and adversaries of the Christian, no matter our walk in life, are the same. 

After the age of martyrdom, the desert fathers adopted the tradition of spirituality which streamed from the Source, Jesus, and through His grace working in the lives of the first Christian saints, known as the apostolic age. The desert fathers went on to formulate the purpose and method of Christian life which then gave birth to the monastic orders. From this stream of ‘living water’, all genuine Christian spirituality is drawn and nourished.

John Cassian lived among the desert fathers for several years and records in his Conferences that the monk’s life has a “goal,” (Gk., scopos, meaning “target”) and this life has an end, “telos,” (Gk.). The two concepts go together but are distinct — similarly, as in ‘purpose’ and ‘means. Abbot Moses, quoted in the Conferences, says: “The telos of our commitment is the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven; but the immediate goal (scopos) is purity of heart, without which it is impossible for anyone to get to the telos we are talking about.” 

“Purity of heart” is another way of describing what holiness is. Purity of heart has several aspects. We pursue purity of heart for our entire lives before we reach the telos — the vision of God. The desert fathers connect the concept of purity of heart to tranquility. By tranquility they mean the ability to direct oneself away from evil and sinful thoughts toward holy and pure ones. But neither mortification of our disordinate inclinations, nor the giving up of all our goods, is sufficient if we don’t have charity at the root of our actions. If we have not charity, says Saint Paul, we are nothing.

The next several monthly articles will explore some of the teachings of the early desert fathers and monastics on purity of heart and what it entails, for it is the path to heaven.