The Philokalia: Volume 4

Compiled in 1782 by St Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St Makarios of Corinth, the Philokalia is a rich collection of spiritual writings from the fourth century on to the fifteenth from various saints and great minds giving counsel to monastics in their ascetic struggles. Though mostly written for monastics, under good spiritual guidance there is much to be gleaned by commonplace Catholics— in particular Eastern (Byzantine) Catholics, as most of the authors presented here were of the Eastern rites. That being the case, the Philokalia is commonly claimed by the Orthodox as their own heritage; however, one would be hard-pressed to argue from the text that it cannot also be claimed for the Catholic Church, especially as the writings of Volume 1 precede the Schism. As the Eastern churches were once Catholic, their pre-Schism heritage remains Catholic. Though the teachings of the Philokalia are most readily applicable to Byzantine Catholics, Roman Catholics and Catholics of other rites may find it just as illuminative and enriching of their spiritual lives, if not at least deeply insightful of the spirituality of their Eastern brothers.

Translated by G. E. H. Palmer, Philip Sherrard, and Kallistos Ware.