Aphorisms and Advice from the Desert Fathers on Acedia

The teachings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers have come down to us primarily in the form of apothegms. These excerpts from dialogues or brief, vivid stories—also known as maxims—illustrate their wisdom in just a few words. Discover what these healers of the soul have to say about acedia and how to combat boredom.

3 Sayings on Acedia

Manual labor to combat the spirit of boredom

“While he was living in the desert, the blessed Anthony was one day tempted by the spirit of boredom and plunged into various thoughts. He said to the Lord: ‘Lord, I desire to be saved, but various thoughts prevent me from doing so. What shall I do in my distress? Deign to show me how I may be saved.' Shortly afterward, he rose and saw someone like himself sitting there, braiding a rope, then standing up and praying. It was an angel sent to comfort Anthony. He heard the angel say to him, 'You, too, do the same, Anthony, and you will be saved.' He felt great joy, regained his confidence, and was saved.”

Perseverance in the Struggle Against Discouragement

“An elder once said: The reason we do not make progress is that we are unaware of our limits, that we lack endurance in the work we undertake, and that we want to acquire virtue without effort.
 Troubled by boredom, we move from one place to another, imagining that we will find a place where the devil is absent.
 Wherever one may be, if one tries to do some good and is unable to, one must not believe that one will be able to do so by changing one’s location, for without effort no one can acquire virtue or persevere in it once it has been received. “For to those who mourn and to those who hunger, the kingdom of heaven is promised.”

Stability to Counter Dispersion

“A brother asked Abba Achilles: ‘What shall I do, Father? For I do not perform any monastic works, but, settled in negligence, I eat, I drink, I sleep, I drift from one task to another and from one thought to another, and that is why I am saddened and discouraged.’ The elder said to him: 'You, stay in your cell and do what you can without becoming troubled.'”

Evagrius Ponticus' Advice Against Acedia

Evagrius’s Description of Acedia

“The gaze of one who is in the grip of acedia frequently turns to the windows. His mind dreams of visitors. The door creaks, and he startles. He has heard a voice and looks out the window. He does not look away until, overcome by drowsiness, he sits down. The person afflicted with acedia often yawns while reading. He is easily lulled to sleep; he rubs his eyes, stretches his arms, and averts his gaze from his book. Flipping through the pages, he wastes his time thinking about the end of the text. He counts the pages, estimates the number of quires, and complains about the handwriting and the ornamentation. Finally, closing the book, he rests his head on it and falls asleep, but it is not a very deep sleep, for eventually hunger awakens his soul once more and imposes its concerns upon him” (Evagrius)

Evagrius’s Anti-Rhetorical Method

The monk and psychologist Evagrius left us a treatise in which he advised countering certain thoughts—sources of inner turmoil—with specific verses from the Bible. Indeed, the Word of God works within us and helps us combat our inner afflictions. Here are two Bible verses to meditate on (and chew over!) to combat acedia, according to Evagrius Ponticus:

• “Is the soil fertile or barren, wooded or clear? And do your best to get some of the fruit of the land.” It was then the season for early grapes.” (Numbers 13:20)
• “How long, O sluggard, will you lie there? when will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest— Then poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like a brigand.” (Proverbs 6:9–11)

(Find tips formeditating on Bible verses, as well as other verses to help you find strength and courage when facing a task)