The Inner Light "Thought of the Week" Newsletter and Archive "I love receiving your "Thought of the Week." So often, something sustains me when it's needed. We all feel the pangs of battle-fatigue, that's obvious. But your lovely letter allows us to get off the negativism and focus on the triumph awaiting our victory."   -- Anastasia Nash Welcome to Inner Light Productions' "Thought of the Week," a free weekly e-mail service we are pleased to offer to all interested visitors. Each Sunday an inspirational message taken from the writings and traditions of the early Desert Fathers is sent out by e-mail. It is our hope and prayer that each subscriber will find it a blessing and will help him or her to start each new week with the ancient wisdom of the desert in the heart and soul.   Be sure to bookmark this page as a ready reference on the Desert Fathers! We have been pleased to maintain this archive of our weekly thoughts since the first one was published on November 24, 1997; with well over a hundred issues now in our archive, we think this is a tremendous resource for spiritual reading.   Please take a few minutes to browse through these "gems of the desert" and then subscribe, if you would like to receive them each week. If there's a particular topic you wish to explore, just do a keyword search and we'll take you right to the relevant pages. Enjoy! "I wanted to write to let you know how important your regular 'Thought of the Week' has become to me. It is the highlight of my Monday morning mail.  The great and gentle wisdom which comes from these pages not only provides me with the strength and encouragement to persevere through arduous times, they are also, quite simply, a joy to read.  The words, the thoughts of these wonderful guides of the spirit never fail to move me. They frequently leave me with a quiet and serenity that goes with me throughout the day.  They are a blessing."  -- Richard Byrne, Minneapolis, Minnesota November 23, 1997 -- "Doing What is Right in the Sight of God" (from St. Macarius) November 30, 1997 -- "Seek Not the Praises of Men" (from St. Arsenius) December 7, 1997 -- "Repentance" (from St. Sisoes) December 14, 1997 -- "Satan's Worst Enemy" (from an anonymous Desert Father) December 21, 1997 -- "Is Solitude Good for the Spirit?" (from an anonymous Desert Father) December 28, 1997 -- No publication on this date. 1998 January 4, 1998 -- "Prayer and Meditation" (from an anonymous Desert Father) January 11, 1998 -- "Fleeing Glory and the Praises of Men" (from Abba Cronius) January 18, 1998 -- "The Virtue of Obedience" (from Abba Sylvanus) January 25, 1998 -- "Studying and Practising Spiritual Wisdom" (from anonymous Desert Fathers) February 1, 1998 -- "How Do We Pray?" (from anonymous Desert Fathers) February 8, 1998 -- "Of What Does the 'Spiritual Search' Consist?" (from Abba Poemen) February 15, 1998 -- "Generosity in the Face of Need" (from an anonymous Desert Father) February 22, 1998 -- "One Must Work in Order to Eat" (from Abba Sylvanus) March 1, 1998 -- "Satan's Rejoicing Over the Fall of a Monk" (from an anonymous Desert Father) March 8, 1998 -- "Fasting is Important for Every Christian" (from "Way of the Ascetics") March 15, 1998 -- "Avoiding Attachment to Material Things" (from an anonymous Desert Father) March 22, 1998 -- "Being Blessed By Giving Charitably" (from an anonymous Desert Father) March 29, 1998 -- "How the Ancients Understood What It Meant to Be a Monk" (from St. Macarius) April 5, 1998 -- "Dealing With Spiritual Depression and Anxiety," (from "Way of the Ascetics") April 12, 1998 -- "The Meaning of the Lord's Resurrection" (from "Follow Me") April 19, 1998 -- "Remembering the Resurrection" (from Abba Evagrius) April 26, 1998 -- "The Value of Material Things" (from Abba Gelasius) May 3, 1998 -- "Grapes and Asceticism" (from St. Macarius) May 10, 1998 -- "Why Fast? Why Be An Ascetic?" (from Abba Moses) May 17, 1998 -- "Love, Asceticism, and Salvation," (from Abba Poemen) May 24, 1998 -- "Why Silence? Why the Desert?" (from Abba Arsenius) May 31, 1998 -- "A Holy Conversation - Love and Works" -- (Part I -- from anonymous Desert Fathers) June 7, 1998 -- "A Holy Conversation - Fasting and Prayer" -- (Part II) June 14, 1998 -- "A Holy Conversation - What Makes A True Monk?" -- (Part III) June 21, 1998 -- "A Holy Conversation - Money and the Passions" -- (Part IV) June 28, 1998 -- "A Holy Conversation - The Meaning of Prayer" -- (Part V) July 5, 1998 -- "A Holy Conversation - The Meaning of Solitude" -- (Part VI) July 12, 1998 -- "The Monastic Ideal" (from an anonymous Desert Father) July 19, 1998 -- "Which is Better? The Way of Martha or the Way of Mary?" (from an anonymous Desert Father) July 26, 1998 -- "Is Asceticism Absolute? Or Relative?" -- (from Abba Arsenius) August 2, 1998 -- "Why Do Ascetics Avoid Certain Things?" -- (from an anonymous Desert Father) August 9, 1998 -- "Judge Not Others" -- (from Abba Ammon) August 16, 1998 -- "Why Monks and the Laity Need Each Other" -- (from an anonymous Desert Father) August 23, 1998 -- "Become an Agent of Peace" -- (from St. John Chrysostom) August 30, 1998 --"St. John Cassian: The Three Kinds of Monk" -- (from "Conferences") September 6, 1998 -- "St. John Cassian: The Cenobitic Life" -- (from "Conferences") September 13, 1998 -- "St. John Cassian: The Anchoretic Life" -- (from "Conferences") September 20, 1998 -- "St. John Cassian: The Monastic Life to Be Avoided" -- (from "Conferences") September 27, 1998 -- "The Holy Mothers of Egypt and Palestine" -- (from St. Vasilissa and Amma Syncletica) October 4, 1998 -- "St. Mary of Alexandria - A 'Desert Father' in Disguise" October 11, 1998 -- "The Meaning of True Repentance - A Harlot's Story" (from St. Paesia) October 18, 1998 -- "A Woman's Advice to the Monks" (from Amma Theodora) October 25, 1998 -- "Three Desert Mothers on the Spiritual Life" November 1, 1998 -- "On Judging Priests" (from Abba Mark the Egyptian) November 8, 1998 -- "Starting Over: What to Do After Sinning" November 15, 1998 -- "When to Turn to a Spiritual Father?" (from Abba Pastor) November 22, 1998 -- "Boredom - the Devil's Weapon" (from Abba Cassian) November 29, 1998 -- "Thoughts on Spiritual Vigilance" December 6, 1998 -- "Why Should We Read the Desert Fathers?" (from Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov) December 13, 1998 -- "Directions on the Life in Christ - Part I" -- (from St. Anthony the Great) December 20, 1998 -- "Directions on the Life in Christ - Part II" December 27, 1998 -- "Directions on the Life in Christ - Part III" 1999 January 3, 1999 -- "Directions on the Life in Christ - Part IV" January 10, 1999 -- "Directions on the Life in Christ - Part V" January 17, 1999 -- "Abba Serapion - Teaching By Example" January 24, 1999 -- "Abba Ammonas - Overcoming Anger" January 31, 1999 -- "St. Anthony the Great: the Importance of 'Discernment'" February 7, 1999 -- "Abba Or: An Angel in the Desert" February 14, 1999 -- "St. John the Dwarf: Teachings on the Ascetic Life - Part I" February 21, 1999 -- "St. John the Dwarf: Teachings on the Ascetic Life - Part II" February 28, 1999 -- "St. Mary of Egypt: Ascent From Prostitution to Sanctity" March 7, 1999 -- "Great Lent: Now is the Time to Get Started!" (from "Way of the Ascetics") March 14, 1999 -- "St. John Cassian on Spiritual Direction" March 21, 1999 -- "The Importance of 'Place' in the Spiritual Life" (from St. Pachomius) March 28, 1999 -- "Various Teachings on Prayer and the Virtues" (from Abba Nilus and Abba Nisterius) April 4, 1999 -- "The Sanctified Layman and His Wife" April 11, 1999 -- "St. John Chrysostom's Sermon on the Lord's Resurrection" April 18, 1999 -- "What is the Point of the Ascetic Life?" (from St. John Cassian) April 25, 1999 -- "The Biblical View of Mary and Martha" (from St. John Cassian) May 2 and 9, 1999 -- "Can We Really Be One With God?" (from St. John Cassian) May 16, 1999 -- "The War With the Passions" - Part I (from St. Theophan the Recluse) May 23, 1999 -- "Know Yourself" - Part II (from St. Theophan the Recluse) May 30, 1999 -- "Inner and External Work" - Part III (from St. Theophan the Recluse) June 6, 1999 -- "Solitude" - Part IV (from St. Theophan the Recluse)               (NOTE: there are no readings for June 13 and 20) June 27, 1999 -- "Times of Desolation" - Part V (from St. Theophan the Recluse) July 4, 1999 -- "Illusion" - Part VI (from St. Theophan the Recluse) July 11, 1999 -- "Humility and Love" - Part VII (from St. Theophan the Recluse) July 18, 1999 -- "To Those Who Think To Be Justified By Deeds" (from St. Mark the Ascetic) July 25, 1999 -- "The Importance of Striving For Salvation" (St. Pachomius) August 1, 1999 -- "Abba Pambo -- His Life and Works" August 8, 1999 -- "Sts. Barsanuphius and John: Spiritual Counsels for Everyone" ( Part I) August 15, 1999 -- "Sts. Barsanuphius and John: Spiritual Counsels for Everyone" (Part II) August 22, 1999 -- "Sts. Barsanuphius and John: Combatting the Sexual Passions" (Part III) August 29, 1999 -- "Sts. Barsanuphius and John: Spirituality in the Workplace" (Part IV) September 5, 1999 -- "St. Barsanuphius and John: Choosing Between Right and Wrong" (Part V) September 12, 1999 -- "Sts. Barsanuphius and John: Delusions, Dreams, and Distractions" (Part VI) September 19, 1999 -- "The Life of St. Anthony the Great" September 26, 1999 -- "The Ladder of St. John Climacus" October 3, 1999 -- "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" - Steps 1 through 6 October 10, 1999 -- "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" - Steps 7 through 12 October 17, 1999 -- "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" - Steps 13 through 18 October 24, 1999 -- "The Ladder of Divinie Ascent" - Steps 19 through 24 October 31, 1999 -- "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" - Steps 25 through 26 November 28, 1999 -- "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" - Steps 27 through 30 (NOTE: there are no other newsletters in November) December 5, 1999 -- "Abba Evagrius on Prayer" from the Philokalia December 12, 1999 -- "Instructions for Cenobites and Others - Abba Evagrius" December 19, 1999 -- "Every Christian Should Pray 'Unceasingly'" -- St. Gregory Palamas December 28, 1999 -- "153 Texts on Prayer - St. Nilus of Sinai" (part I) 2000 January 2, 2000 -- "153 Texts on Prayer - St. Nilus of Sinai" (part II) January 9, 2000 -- "Don't Give Up! - Instructions for the Monks in India" (Part I) -- St. John of Karpathos January 16, 2000 -- "Don't Give Up! - Instructions for the Monks in India" (Part II) January 23, 2000 -- "The 'Holy Art' of St. Benedict" January 30, 2000 -- "St. Benedict's 'Ladder of Humility'" February 6, 2000 -- "Contemplations on 'The Lord's Prayer'" -- St. Benedict February 13, 2000 -- "Battling the Senses" -- St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain February 20, 2000 -- "Guarding the Sense of Sight" -- St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain February 27, 2000 -- "Guarding the Sense of Hearing" -- St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain March 5, 2000 -- "Guarding the Sense of Taste and the Tongue" -- St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain March 12, 2000 -- "Guarding the Sense of Smell" -- St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain March 19, 2000 -- "Guarding the Sense of Touch" -- St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain March 26, 2000 -- "What is Christian Perfection and How to Achieve It" -- St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain April 2, 2000 -- "On Protecting the Mind From Too Much Useless Knowledge and Idle Curiosity" -- St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain April 9, 2000 -- "Developing and Maintaining Inner Peace" -- St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain April 16, 2000-- "Aids to Success in Gaining the Habit of Prayer" -- St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain April 23, 2000 -- "On the Order of Acquiring the Virtues" -- St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain April 30, 2000 -- "Christ is Risen!  Truly He is Risen!" -- the Paschal Sermon of St. John Chrysostom May 7, 2000 -- "Obedience and Prayer" -- Abba Ammonas May 14, 2000 -- "Why God Answers Some Prayers and Not Others" -- Abba Ammonas May 21, 2000 -- "Obey Not Your Own Will, But God's" -- Abba Ammonas  June 4, 2000 -- "Guarding the Intellect" -- St. Isaiah the Solitary June 11, 2000 -- "The Four Virtues of the Soul" -- St. Peter of Damaskos June 18, 2000 -- "How to Acquire True Faith" -- St. Peter of Damaskos July 2, 2000 -- "What is True Discrimination?" -- St. Peter of Damaskos July 3, 2000 -- "Discovering God's Will" -- Our Readers' Experiences July 16, 2000 -- "The Virtues and the Passions" -- St. Peter of Damaskos July 23, 2000 -- "Be Thankful to God for Everything!" -- St. Peter of Damaskos July 30, 2000 -- "Spiritual Virtues Require Bodily Virtues" -- St. Peter of Damaskos August 6, 2000 -- "Instructing Youth in the Faith" -- St. Theophan the Recluse August 13, 2000 -- "Exercises to Confirm the Body and Soul in Goodness" -- St. Theophan the Recluse August 20, 2000 -- "Exercises for the Intellect" -- St. Theophan the Recluse August 27, 2000 -- "Exercises for Developing the Will" -- St. Theophan the Recluse September 3, 2000 -- "Development of the Heart" -- St. Theophan the Recluse September 10, 2000 -- "The Signs of Grace and Delusion" -- St. Gregory of Sinai September 17, 2000 -- "The Ladder of Divine Graces" -- Theophanis the Monk September 24, 2000 -- "True Piety and Self-Control" -- St. Peter of Damaskos October 1, 2000 -- "Love of God and Fellow Man" -- St. Peter of Damaskos October 8, 2000 -- "Lessons on Education - Part I" -- St. John Chrysostom October 15, 2000 -- "Lessons on Education - Part II" -- St. John Chrysostom October 22, 2000 -- "Lessons on Education - Part III" -- St. John Chrysostom October 29, 2000 -- "Lessons on Education - Part IV" -- St. John Chrysostom November 5, 2000 -- "On the Three Things That Exist in This World: the Good, the Bad, and the Indifferent" -- St. John Cassian and Abba Joseph November 12, 2000 -- "On Making Promises" -- St. John Cassian and Abba Joseph November 19, 2000 -- "When Is It Okay to Lie?" -- St. John Cassian and Abba Joseph November 26, 2000 -- "Gospel 'Perfection' Is Not Just Obedience" -- St. John Cassian and Abba Joseph December 3, 2000 -- "The Four Kinds of Prayer - Part I" -- St. John Cassian and Abba Isaac December 10, 2000 -- "The Four Kinds of Prayer - Part II" -- St. John Cassian and Abba Isaac December 17, 2000 -- "The Lord's Prayer - Part I" -- St. John Cassian December 31, 2000 -- "The Lord's Prayer - Part II" -- St. John Cassian 2001 January 7, 2001 -- "Directions on the Spiritual Life - Part I" -- Abba Dorotheus January 14, 2001 -- "Directions on the Spiritual Life - Part II" -- Abba Dorotheus January 21, 2001 -- "Directions on the Spiritual Life - Part III" -- Abba Dorotheus January 28, 2001 -- "Directions on the Spiritual Life - Part IV" -- Abba Dorotheus February 4, 2001 -- "Directions on the Spiritual Life - Part V" -- Abba Dorotheus February 11, 2001 -- "The Teachings of the 'Startsi' of Valamo Monastery on Prayer" February 18, 2001 -- "Directions on the Spiritual Life - Part I" -- St. Isaac of Syria February 25, 2001 -- "Directions on the Spiritual Life - Part II" -- St. Isaac of Syria March 4, 2001 -- "Directions on the Spiritual Life - Part III" -- St. Isaac of Syria March 11, 2001 -- "Directions on the Spiritual Life - Part IV" -- St. Isaac of Syria March 18, 2001 -- "Directions on the Spiritual Life - Part V" -- St. Isaac of Syria March 25, 2001 -- NO NEWSLETTER ISSUED April 1, 2001 -- "The Three Kinds of Gifts From God" -- St. John Cassian April 8, 2001 -- "Directions on the Spiritual Life - Part VI" -- St. Isaac of Syria April 15, 2001 -- "Christ is Risen!  Truly He is Risen!" -- St. John Chrysostom April 22, 2001 -- "How to Pray Without Ceasing" -- St. Gregory Palamas April 29, 2001 -- "Humility and Love" -- St. Theophan the Recluse May 6, 2001 -- "On the Eight Principal Vices" -- Abba Serapion May 13, 2001 -- "Jesus As the New Adam" -- Abba Serapion May 20, 2001 -- "The Eight Principal Vices: Gluttony and Fornication" -- Abba Serapion May 27, 2001 -- "The Eight Principal Vices: Avarice and Anger" -- Abba Serapion June 3, 2001 -- "The Eight Principal Vices: How to Fight Them" -- Abba Serapion June 10, 2001 -- "The Spirituality of Monastic Clothing" -- St. John Cassian June 17, 2001 -- "The Canonical Order of Nighttime Prayers" -- St. John Cassian June 24, 2001 -- NO NEWSLETTER ISSUED July 1, 2001 -- "Teachings on Renunciation" -- St. John Cassian July 8, 2001 -- "The Struggle Against Sadness" -- St. John Cassian July 15, 2001 -- "The Active Life of the Monk" -- Abba Evagrius July 22, 2001 -- "Various Teachings on Spirituality" -- Abba Evagrius July 29, 2001 -- "Developing the Active Life of Prayer" -- St. Nilus of Sinai August 5, 2001 -- "Four Centuries on the Spiritual Life - Part I" -- St. Thalassios the Libyan August 12, 2001 -- "Four Centuries on the Spiritual Life - Part II" -- St. Thalassios the Libyan August 19, 2001 -- NO NEWSLETTER ISSUED August 26, 2001 -- NO NEWSLETTER ISSUED September 2, 2001 -- NO NEWSLETTER ISSUED September 9, 2001 -- "Four Centuries on the Spiritual Life - Part III" -- St. Thalassios the Libyan September 16, 2001 -- "Four Centuries on the Spiritual Life - Part IVa" -- St. Thalassios the Libyan September 23, 2001 -- "Four Centuries on the Spiritual Life - Part IVb" -- St. Thalassios the Libyan September 30, 2001 -- "24 Discourses: Love" -- St. Peter Damaskos October 7, 2001 -- "24 Discourses: Courage" -- St. Peter Damaskos October 14, 2001 -- "24 Discourses: Joy" -- St. Peter Damaskos October 21, 2001 -- "The Hermitage of the Heart: Different Kinds of Feelings in Prayer" -- St. Theophan the Recluse October 28, 2001 -- NO NEWSLETTER ISSUED November 4, 2001 -- "The Eight Thoughts (Vices)" -- Abba Evagrius November 11, 2001 -- "Epistle to the Monk Nicholas: Fighting the Passions" -- St. Mark the Ascetic November 18, 2001 -- "All Holy Persons Confess Themselves as Unclean and Sinners" -- Abba Theonas November 25, 2001 -- "Teachings on Asceticism" -- St. John the Dwarf December 2, 2001 -- "How to Partake of Food" -- St. Gregory of Sinai December 9, 2001 -- "How to Master the Intellect in Prayer" -- St. Gregory of Sinai December 16, 2001 -- "On Delusion and Other Subjects" -- St. Gregory of Sinai December 23, 2001 -- NO NEWSLETTER ISSUED December 30, 2001 -- NO NEWSLETTER ISSUED 2002 January 6, 2002 -- "The Three Methods of Prayer - Part I" -- St. Simeon the New Theologian January 13, 2002 -- "The Three Methods of Prayer - Part II" -- St. Simeon the New Theologian January 20, 2002 -- "The Three Methods of Prayer - Part III" -- St. Simeon the New Theologian January 27, 2002 -- "On How to Discover the Energy of the Holy Spirit" -- St. Gregory of Sinai February 3, 2002 -- "On the Different Kinds of Energy" -- St. Gregory of Sinai February 10, 2002 -- "On Prayer" -- St. Gregory of Sinai February 17, 2002 -- "Finding A Spiritual Father" -- Editor February 24, 2002 -- "The Spirit of Anger - Part I" -- St. John Cassian March 3, 2002 -- "The Spirit of Anger - Part II" -- St. John Cassian March 10, 2002 -- "Directions in Spiritual Work - Part I" -- Sts. Barsanuphius and John March 17, 2002 -- NO NEWSLETTER ISSUED March 24, 2002 -- "Directions in Spiritual Work - Part II" -- Sts. Barsanuphius and John March 31, 2002 -- "Directions in Spiritual Work - Part III" -- Sts. Barsanuphius and John If you have enjoyed reading these gems of spiritual inspiration, please visit our guest book and let us and other visitors know. Thank you for sharing with us in the Wisdom of the Desert Fathers! Our Bookstore has many excellent, carefully-selected titles to help you in your study of these ancient Christian teachings.  Be sure to check it out! Have you subscribed to our free newsletter on the Desert Fathers? View Shopping Cart  /  Checkout Home | Gallery | Archive of the Desert Fathers | Fine Art Prints | Order a Print | BOOK: "Monasticism in Egypt" | Book Store | Music Store | About the Photographer | Portfolio | Exhibit Catalog | Guest Book | Pope Shenouda Speech | Be a Sponsor! | Article on the Photography Project | E-Mail Us! | Search the Site | Links | Privacy Policy | Photo Buyers' Page © Inner Light Productions, Inc.  2000