"We are once again indebted to Tim Vivian. Having already translated many of the sayings and stories of the desert fathers and mothers, he would be the first to say that this pithy literature is best pondered in small doses. His latest book does precisely that, offering us the opportunity to reflect on a few sayings or stories for each day of the year. These provide the main course for this feast, but his preface is a welcome appetizer and his thorough glossary might serve as a dessert."
Abbot James Wiseman, OSB, St. Anselm’s Abbey, Washington, DC
"The delightful sayings here demonstrate that, though many things have changed since the time of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, human nature is not one of them. These sayings remain as fresh and compelling today as they were when they were spoken. Tim Vivian’s work is so clear, readable, interesting, thorough, and exhaustively documented. He has that all too rare gift of touching the scholar and the general reader alike."
Gerard Garrigan, OSB, Saint Louis Abbey
"The external conditions surrounding our desert monasteries in Egypt have enormously changed since the fourth century. Nevertheless, the spirit of the apothegms endures forever, as it is the same spirit of the Gospel. Tim Vivian’s splendid collection of sayings from the desert fathers and mothers allows us—both monks and laypeople—to live each day permeated with their spirit, one that, aflame with divine love, enabled them to traverse this world as sojourners yearning for their true heavenly homeland. Just as they did, we too can embark on life’s sacred pilgrimage, guided and comforted by their profound spiritual wisdom."
Fr. Markos el Makari, Monk of the Monastery of Saint Macarius (Egypt)
"Tim Vivian provides us with a great resource for heartfelt pondering. He weaves in stories and sayings from an impressively diverse range of sources and arranges these by the liturgical calendar. Tim is attentive to the flavor of each liturgical season. This is useful for lectio divina and, in the case of my monastery, for readings during the Divine Office. A calendar with sources and a glossary are included. I highly recommend Becoming Fire."
Laura Swan, OSB
"In Becoming Fire Tim Vivian brings together academic expertise and spiritual insight to offer readers a way to begin each day with solid guidance from the desert fathers and mothers. He has carefully selected texts that he knows will be helpful for spiritual growth and arranged them to follow the liturgical year. This book contains fresh, accessible translations of the sayings of the desert fathers and mothers. The glossary contains a wealth of knowledge that will help readers grow in their own understanding of early monasticism."
Sr. Colleen Maura McGrane, OSB, Editor, American Benedictine Review
"This sort of anthology is a very welcome addition to the shelves of literature one can find on key figures in the history and spirituality of monasticism in both east and west and is an ideal introduction for someone who would like to dip their toe into the waters of desert spirituality but is not sure where to begin. Once again, Tim Vivian has made a useful and readable contribution to the field."
The Downside Review
