The stories of the Harlots of the Desert served to inspire Christians to repent of their sins and trust in the mercy of God. Furthermore, the stories give us insight into the understandings of gender and holiness in the early 5th century Church.

Links:
Etching of Saint Mary of Egypt by Levillain

Rodney Stark on women in the Early Church

The ancient lives of Saints Mary of Egypt, Pelagia, Thaïs, and Mary – Niece of Abraham can be found here

The life of Saint Paesia the Harlot

Chrysostom’s 67th Homily on the Gospel of Matthew seen as inspiration for the story of Saint Pelagia

Linda L. Coon on Saints Pelagia and Mary of Egypt

Ruth Mazo Karras. “Holy Harlots: Prostitute Saints in Medieval Legend”. Journal of the History of Sexuality. Vol. 1, No. 1 (July 1990). pp. 3-32.

Benedicta Ward – Harlots of the Desert

Check out the other great Catholic podcasts at the Starquest Production Network

To listen, just click on the link below:
#431 – A History of the Catholic Church – Harlots of the Desert