A Place Of Prayer

Idem quoque Dominus Jesus, ut scribitur, in desertum locum ibat, ibique orabat? Locus ergo ille jam vocetur orationis locus, quem exorando Deum, idoneum Deus auctor ostendit, docuitque unde facilius nubes humiliantis se oratio penetraret, adjuta loco, quia honorata secreto: atque ipse illic orando cum peteret, demonstravit ubi orare nos vellet, cum peteretur. Quid nunc ergo Joannem, Macariumque commemorem, aliosque complures, quorum conversatio dum in desertis est, in caelis facta est? Appropinquaverunt illi tantum Domino quantum appropinquare Deo hominem fas sinebat, admissique sunt in divinarum opera rerum quantum carne circumdatos licebat admitti. Fixam in superna mentem coelestibus inseruerunt secretis, hic comitantem gratiam aut revelationibus tacitis, aut clamantibus signis protulerunt et suffragante secreto usque in id provecti sunt, ut terram tunc quidem corpore contingerent, coelum vero spiritu jam possiderent. Sanctus Eucherius Lugdonensis, Epistola De Laude Eremi  Source: Migne PL 50.707a-c

Also, is it not written, that the same Lord Jesus, went to a desert place and there prayed? 1 Therefore He names this place a place of prayer, which for praying to God, God the creator showed most suitable, and taught that there most easily prayer might pierce the clouds of humility, in a helpful place, which being withdrawn is honoured, and as He sought to pray there so He showed where we should wish to pray when we seek to do so. Was it not that John, and Macarius, 2 and many others whom I may recall, had their lives made heavenly in the desert? They drew near to the Lord, as much as it given here a man to do so, and were admitted into the works of Divine things, as much as one surrounded by the flesh can be. Fixed on the heavens, heavenly secrets were poured into their minds, with fortifying grace or silent revelations, or they brought forth loud crying signs, with secret support even until their departing, when, though touching the earth which the body, with the spirit they obtained the heavens. Saint Eucherius of Lyon, In Praise of the Desert  1 Lk 5.16  2 John The Baptist, Macarius of Egypt