In the Silence of Solitude: Contemporary Witnesses of the Desert

By Eugene L. Romano

Like Jesus in solitary prayer, those who seek the Lord with all their hearts most often find Him in the silence of solitude. Readers are encouraged to establish a bit of the desert where they live so... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0818907541
• ISBN13: 9780818907548
• Release Date: December 1995
• Publisher: Alba House
• Length: 111 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.5" x 5.8"

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About this book

Near the village of Chester, New Jersey, a small group of men and women, led by Father Eugene Romano, have created a community of hermits, living a life of almost complete silence and solitude. Living in individual hermitages in the woods, spending their days devoted to prayer, the Hermits of Bethlehem carry on the ancient tradition of "desert spirituality" going back to St. Anthony in the 3rd century. Another part of this tradition is hospitality. Going back to Anthony in the desert, hermits have always received seekers looking for God through the experience of silence and solitude. The hermits in Chester do the same, making the hermitage available for individual retreats. This book is a collection of essays written by people who have visited the Hermits of Bethlehem on retreat. It gives you a fascinating insight into the effect of silence and solitude on the spiritual lives of a wide variety of folks, from a busy executive to a soccer mom to a parish priest. Reading their reflections may inspire you to try a retreat: not the spa variety or the offsite business meeting, but a real, traditional, monastic retreat, in which, through silence and solitude, you seek God Alone.

A Desert Hidden life of Prayer

The Desert, a prologue:Desert, according to Webster's New World Dictionary, is an uninhibited wilderness, naturally incapable of supporting almost any life. Here is an ideal place to mortify the ego in kenosis.Silence is the most prominent feature that instructed Moses, Elijah, The Baptist, Anthony, Macarius, and their company.Those who seek the Lord with all their heart most often find Him in the silence of solitude. A hermit's life is a hidden life of prayer in the silence of solitude where men and women strive for that purity of the Heart of Jesus, in the Catholic tradition.The Contemporary Witness:This fellowship of the Hermits Laura, in the quiet setting, that Fr. Romano has chosen in isolation from the madding noisy world,is bearing spiritual fruits including this harmony compilation of meditations like; Wondrous encounter, A waiting silence, The Desert within, the Pascal mystery, etc. This assembly of really beautiful prose by the real presence of the spirit of prayer includes with Abba Romano, Amma Caldwell, Husband, father, parish Deacon, teacher, Wife, Mother, Layman,... Awesome 'Praying in the Lord'Prayer: Entering the Mystery of His Love:Prayer: Access into the Father's Presence:Two parallel entries to the same mystery, by two contemporary Desert Fathers? Fr. Romano is an authentic son of Anthony, that is why he shares with Fr. Matthew the poor, Abbot of the ancient monastery of St. Macarius, in Nitria, the same harmony in their melodies, even if the symphonies have different tempos.This compilation by Fr. Romano, in Didaskalex words; is a proof of the unity of the Church, the mystical body of Christ in His prayer to the Father," that they may all be one." John 17:21Have you a spiritual director?Spiritual direction is not teaching, but listening, clarifying, and discerning. Clarifying helps you direct your Meta-Noia from your guilt to the Lord's grace. This is in part what you may read in the book forward by Rev. Catoir, a very authentic monastic tradition, practiced by Abba Pambo, Poemen, or Bernard.These are followed by ten pages of an instructive 'Introduction' which will be your guide through, a beautiful spiritual tour in the mystical desert of The Hermits of Bethlehem (Bread house)that you would not wish or will to end. Amazingly Sanctifying!

not for the faint of heart...

This book is not for the faint of heart , the easily discouraged or those to busy for a quiet break. In the Silence of Solitude offers some gentle guides to enhance every day with the spirituality found in a silent retreat. Read it, follow it if you dare. The results can only be a closer relationship with God.