Peadar O’Callaghan: In the wilderness with Rowan Williams

The books of Rowan Williams I find a huge challenge to read. He is very profound and one of the great thinkers in Western Christianity today and had Joseph Ratzinger among his equals. His thoughts are often obscure and impenetrable and so I’m often in the wilderness with him, but I’ve found him a trustworthy guide to all things East for a westerner. 

I am never quite sure: should one read the entire ‘Philokalia’ first, of which the fifth and final volume of this collection of Eastern Christian writings, is now available in English, to understand Williams, or start with Williams to understand the Philokalia?

When he was Archbishop of Canterbury, he used to recommend a yearly Lenten book, a tradition continued by his successor Justin Welby. Only this week did I open Williams’ new book ‘Passions of the Soul’ (Bloomsbury Continuum, 2024). I only got to Part 1 of its 114 pages after navigating the twenty-four pages of his ‘Introduction’, which is based on a series of retreat-lectures he gave to the Anglican Benedictine community at Holy Cross Convent in Leicestershire some years ago. His Part 2, two short essays, he says are ‘aimed at a non-specialist readership’ – thank God!

To battle with what Williams and the Desert monks and nuns called ‘apatheia’ and ‘illusions’ during the 40 days after Ash Wednesday, and if you find the sun is not hot enough, or the bread stale-enough and you need extra ‘penance’ I suggest you might bring this book with you on the journey through Lent. And, if you find the devil himself between the covers you can always donate it to a charity shop when you come back.

But you may regret it as both East and West, next year, will mark the seventeenth centenary of the first ecumenical council in history and where the Nicene Creed was established. 

If you are also thinking of adding The Philokalia Vol. V to your bookshelves, may I suggest you try to get your hands on the hardback edition as it seems to be preferred by reviewers. I have a spare paperback copy of Vol. IV if any wants it – for free.

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