Suburban Hermit
“In Every Man There is a Monk and an Explorer” Ben Stauffer
What’s the Point of Fasting?
The exploits of the Desert Fathers make for some motivating Lenten reading. They were known for their extravagant personalities and extreme austerities. In the fourth century, Anthony of the Desert and his fellow hermits [...]
The Evil of Banality
A famous phrase was coined after the Nuremberg trials..."the banality of evil." Wishing to stand things on their head I wonder sometimes about the evil of banality. I'm thinking of the banality of much [...]
The Simplicity of St Benedict
By the end of the fifth century the Roman Empire was in ruins. Weakened from within through corruption, wealth, luxury and self indulgence, Rome had, for the better part of the century, been invaded [...]
The Ingenious Jesus Prayer
I first came across the "Jesus Prayer" when I read Salinger's Franny and Zooey in college. As I remember it a couple of brainy adolescents discover the Eastern Orthodox hesychasm --the practice of contemplation through the use of [...]
Something I Learned from the Monks
I was asked by Father Abbot to preach the monks' retreat at Clear Creek Abbey. As usual in such cases, I received far more than I gave. One of the great memories was the [...]
On the Benefits of Beards
Every November there is a campaign called “No Shave November” in which men are encouraged to grow facial hair. This is to raise awareness of prostate cancer. No doubt this is a worthy cause, [...]