What we owe in a special way to the monks of the desert is their teaching on asceticism. It is not, in fact, a structured teaching, but rather a set of guidelines developed for the needs of certain people. Within these guidelines, however, there are some specific concepts with which it is useful to become familiar.
Desert
It meant total isolation. Going into the desert meant leaving everything you had 'in the world'. The desert did not only have a geographical meaning, implying a place of departure. The desert also had a spiritual meaning - it signified the rejection of evil, selfishness, all that the world brings.
The desert is a way that is described many times in the pages of Scripture. It was the way of Abraham, who walked through the desert to the Promised Land and only reached it by leaving everything behind. It was the way of Moses and the chosen people. The prophets were associated with the desert: Elijah and John the Baptist. Christ also prepared for his public appearances by spending time in the desert.
The desert is also a place of temptation and difficulty. In a way, it symbolises the kingdom of Satan. The scorching heat, the emptiness - all these are symbols of his work and power.
The exodus into the wilderness was to defeat Satan at the very heart of his kingdom. The weapons were repentance, mortification and humility. And the fruit of the struggle was a renewed paradise to flourish in that desert through the development of angelic life.
The Word
Going out into the desert was like going out into the battlefield. And it was necessary to prepare oneself for battle. Each monk therefore underwent a novitiate under the guidance of an 'old man'. The word 'old man' does not refer to age. It is used to emphasise the experience and wisdom of the monk.
The old man was the one who guided the novice with the 'word'. It was a special grace and gift. It was given with prudence. More than once a young monk had to wait for such a "word" and earn it by humility, perseverance and faith.
The true "word" could also be silence, which the novice had to learn.
The old man's "word" was tailored to the current need and situation. It was a response to a specific problem. The old man who was the "giver of the word" is here understood as the "bearer of God", and his word is understood as the word of God himself. Such a word, once spoken, must be fulfilled. And this is the task of the disciple. It is he who must face the word of the old man. He must ponder it in his heart and put it into practice.
Hesychia
Hesychia is the ideal to which every monk aspires. The Greek word, which is difficult to translate, means above all a particular way of silencing everything that comes from the world. This silence is disturbed by temptations, the intensity and nature of which are adapted to the individual.
The attainment of hesychia is achieved through struggle. Man must master the desire to possess through poverty, the desire to exalt himself through humility, the desire to satisfy himself through fasting.
But the most important thing is humility. It alone can defeat Satan. Humility is what Satan fears the most. It is the best help to achieve hesychia - peace of heart based on serenity.
Holiness
Holiness is the universal vocation of all Christians. It is not reserved for monks.
This is the conviction we have today, but it was very difficult for monks to come to the conviction that holiness could be achieved by a way of life that seemed less perfect than the monastic vocation.
Among the various vocations, the monastic way of life stands out in a special way because of its radicalism of life, which is expressed above all in the uncompromising acceptance of the Gospel.
For the monks it was clear that there is only one treasure for man: God. For this treasure it is worth selling everything and leaving everything behind to gain it. And this was the true meaning of their lives.
