Books

Anachoresis

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#ServiceShirk

This week’s intentional #ServiceShirk was spent in the company of St Anthony of Egypt. I read James Cowan’s splendid account of time at St Anthony’s Monastery – Desert Father: A Journey in the Wilderness with Saint Anthony (Shambhala Publications, 2004). This recalls the life and legend of the ascetic St Anthony and explores the practice of the current desert hermit Fr Lazarus Al-Anthony, originally from Australia, who lives a 21st century version of Anthony’s discipline up on the mountain beyond the monastery.

Desert Father by James Cowan

I read mainly in silence, fittingly, but took time out to listen to the evocative David Ensemble’s recording of Coptic Hymns (on Spotify).

Coptic Hymns by the David Ensemble

Later in the day I rewatched the short film on Fr Lazarus’s life “The Last Anchorite” on vimeo.com and followed up with the first of two extended interviews he gave from St Anthony’s cave to the Coptic Youth Channel (available on YouTube).

The Last Anchorite

It has been a day of wonderful reminders and discoveries; I’ll have another desert day next Sunday, I think.

Hic et nunc

by

#ServiceShirk

My weekly Sunday #ServiceShirk continues with another day focusing on Carthusian spirituality.

Today’s companions have been the monks of St Hugh’s Charterhouse, Parkminster, in the form of “In the Silence of the Word” a CD plainchant meditation recorded in 1998 which gives a rare glimpse into the closed liturgical world of the Charterhouse.

In the Silence of the Word

I also listened to the monks of the Grande Chartreuse chanting “In Principio” based on texts from the Gospel of John.

In Principio

My reading included more on Parkminster in the shape of Nancy Klein Maguire’s “An Infinity of Little Hours” plus “Hear our Silence” by John Skinner. Both books are vibrant pictures of lives of dedication and spiritual depth.

I loved this observation from Guigo II, the ninth Prior of the Grande Chartreuse (c.1150):

“Reading seeks,
meditation finds,
prayer asks,
contemplation feels.”

Guigo II Ladder