Healing the Heart: Desert Wisdom for a Busy World

Richard C. Smith is a professor in the Classics Department, University
of Alberta.

A study of the writings of a monk who lived in the Egyptian desert
during the late 4th and early 5th century after Christ might not seem
very relevant to the spiritual needs and passions of people in the 20th
century. Yet this small volume does an excellent job of explaining and
relating the thought of John Cassian’s Institutions and Conferences
(originally written in Latin as advice to monks in the Western Roman
Empire) to the spiritual needs of more modern individuals, whether lay
or clergy.

Besides a brief introduction and an even shorter conclusion, the book
is composed of eight presentations on the various “passions” or
inclinations that turn one away not only from God but also from the
welfare of the community and other individuals. The point of Cassian’s
thought is that one can love neither God nor one’s neighbor if one is
filled with tendencies (called “diseases” by Cassian) such as eating
disorders, sexual disorders, avarice, anger, sadness, acedia, vanity,
and pride.

Since both over- and undereating prevent well-being, it is not
surprising that the topic forms part of Cassian’s teaching on healing
wisdom, however “unspiritual” the subject might seem. For the monk,
improper use of the body prevents proper development of the spirit;
thus, both gluttony and extreme fasting must be avoided. Russell
recognizes, however, that Cassian’s minimum diet of two small loaves
of bread a day did not provide adequate nourishment, even for hermits in
the Egyptian desert.

Russell also points out that Cassian’s view of sexual purity, while
useful, needs to be reinterpreted if it is to apply to contemporary
married couples. Russell’s presentation of the more spiritual
“passions” is equally related to modern situations: he points out,
for example, that acedia is really a form of spiritual depression rather
than laziness or “sloth.” His final chapters note the difference
between the vainglorious, who live for applause, and the truly proud,
who feel they need neither God nor anyone else—surely an excellent
description of the modern world.