How Can We Practice Asceticism with the Desert Fathers?

For the Desert Fathers and Mothers—driven into the desert by Roman persecution and a desire to renounce the world—asceticism was of paramount importance. In fact, even before retreating to the desert, most of them were already practicing it. The young Anthony embraced the ascetic life at the age of twenty, after hearing Christ’s words to the rich young man: “Go, sell everything you have… then come and follow me.” He first left his family home and went to live apart, remaining close to the other ascetics in the neighborhood. He gradually withdrew further, first shutting himself away in a tomb, before finally settling not far from the Red Sea. In this life asa hermit, he was soon joined by disciples, all of whom practiced strict asceticism.

They were the first Christians to practice asceticism in the desert, with the aim of being completely separated from the world. Previously, they had practiced asceticism while living in the world.

In our world today, overwhelmed by material goods, abundant food, time saturated by digital technology and social media, and multiple, fleeting relationships, it is urgent to practice simplicity—a contemporary form of asceticism—and thus regain control of our senses and our minds.


Updated on 14/08/2026|Reading time : 3 min


What is asceticism according to the Fathers?

It was a desire to renounce the world and its riches that drove the Fathers into the desert, and this in itself already represents a certain form of asceticism. To this end, they lived in solitude and prayer. In a quest for greater submission to divine grace, they lived in difficult conditions and imposed discipline upon themselves. They lived in tombs and caves; they fasted, deprived themselves of sleep while devoting themselves to prayer and meditation on the Scriptures, and remained silent as much as possible. They dressed as modestly as possible and strove to temper their bodies in order to find the right balance in all things.

For their goal is not mortification or self-perfection, but acceptance of oneself and others, as well as an open heart. For the Fathers, one must “cultivate the soil of the body to make it more fertile for the seed of the spirit.” But this involves finding the delicate balance between neglect and excessive asceticism. For neither is fruitful.

It is also a matter of stripping away the superfluous, in order to reveal the divine being that lies hidden deep within oneself.

How can we practice asceticism today?

More than ever, asceticism makes sense today. In a world of abundance, we must learn to free ourselves from the superfluous in order to return to the essential. Here are a few guidelines for practicing asceticism today, to be followed according to our abilities:

By removing everything that is superfluous, God is better able to touch our soul and reveal our true self.