Episode 23: Lust
Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden
Submit your questions to Bishop Erik Varden by emailing hello@desertfathers.com.Episode Overview This episode delves into the Desert Fathers' insights on lust, drawing from Abba Poemen’s counsel to a brother wrestling with lust and anger. We explore how the Fathers understood lust (porneia) as distinct from eros, emphasizing its self-centered nature and its opposition to true freedom in Christ. The discussion challenges modern cultural myths about sexual liberation and situates Christian teachings on sexuality within a broader vision of virtue and human flourishing.Key Quotes * Abba Poemen: “On account of this David said, ‘I smote the lion, I strangled the bear,’ which is to say, I cut off anger and by labours I squeezed the life out of lust.” * Abba Poemen: “You cannot live according to God if you are a lover of pleasure and a lover of money.” * Dorothy L. Sayers (1941, The Other Six Deadly Sins): “Perhaps the bitterest commentary on the way in which Christian doctrine has been taught in the last few centuries is the fact that to the majority of people the word ‘immorality’ has come to mean one thing and one thing only.” Discussion Points * Christian Teaching on Sexuality: Christian moral doctrine focuses on thriving, dignity, and freedom in Christ, not merely restriction. The Desert Fathers help reframe sexuality within this holistic vision. * Lust vs. Eros: The Fathers used porneia to describe lust, a self-focused desire akin to prostitution, contrasting it with eros, which seeks mutual connection. Lust isolates, while eros yearns for another. * Cultural Narratives: Modern culture often views lust as liberating, but the Fathers saw it as blinding, locking individuals in self-centeredness. Has “sexual liberation” truly freed us? * Lust’s Deeper Roots: Poemen links lust to anger, suggesting it may reflect deeper passions like rage or greed. This perspective sheds light on societal issues like sexual abuse and manipulation. * Transcendence and Meaning: In a secular age, sex is often a substitute for transcendence. The Fathers invite us to redirect desire toward God, fostering true freedom over fleeting pleasure. Reflection Questions * How do cultural views of lust as “freedom” shape our understanding of intimacy? * What might underlying emotions like anger reveal about struggles with lust? * How can the Desert Fathers’ wisdom help us live out a balanced Christian approach to sexuality? Further Reading * Bishop Erik Varden, Chastity: Reconciliation of the Senses * Dorothy L. Sayers, The Other Six Deadly Sins (1941, Public Morality Council address). * The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, focusing on Abba Poemen’s teachings. * The Book of Job, for reflections on embodied desire for God. Connect with Us Share your thoughts or questions by emailing Bishop Erik Varden at hello@desertfathers.com. Join us for the next episode as we continue our journey with the Desert Fathers. _________ We owe a special thanks to our partners. Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden is... • 🦉...written by Bishop Erik Varden. You can follow Bishop Varden on his blog, coramfratribus.com. • 🎥 ...produced by EWTN • 🧡...and brought to you by Exodus 90, download the Exodus 90 app today
About Podcast
Guided by Bishop Erik Varden, this year-long series—beginning January 1, 2025—invites listeners to encounter the profound wisdom of the Desert Fathers. Drawing from their timeless Sayings, Bishop Varden illuminates the lives of figures like St. Anthony of Egypt, exploring themes such as purity, humility, self-mastery, and repentance. Through their struggles in the wilderness, these early Christians uncovered the transformative power of God’s grace—lessons as relevant today as they were in their time.
Though few of us are called to the monastic life, the spiritual combat of the Desert Fathers resonates with all who seek to follow Christ. As Jesus Himself entered the desert to confront temptation, their wisdom offers guidance for our own battles with distraction and despair, helping us find strength in prayer and discipline.
Bishop Erik Varden, a Cistercian monk and Bishop of Trondheim, Norway, is one of today’s leading Catholic voices. A convert to Catholicism during his studies at Cambridge, he was drawn to the monastic life, ultimately joining Mount St. Bernard Abbey in England, where he eventually became abbot. Through his writing and teaching, Bishop Varden speaks compellingly to a secular world, using the language of beauty to reveal the centrality of our search for God—even when we wander astray.
Join us as we step into the desert together, guided by the wisdom of the ancients, to rediscover the love of Christ that conquers all obstacles. Visit DesertFathers.com to learn more.
We owe a special thanks to our partners. The Desert Fathers with Bishop Erik Varden...
...written by Bishop Erik Varden. You can follow Bishop Varden on his blog, CoramFratribus.com
...produced by EWTN Global Catholic Network
...and brought to you by Exodus 90. Download the Exodus 90 app today and experience uncommon freedom in Jesus Christ with men from around the world.