Thomas Merton: A Life in Letters
Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was one of the most influential spiritual writers of modern times. A Trappist monk, peace and civil rights activist, and widely-praised literary figure, Merton was renowned for his pioneering work in contemplative spirituality, his quest to understand Eastern thought and integrate it with Western spirituality, and his firm belief in Christian activism. His autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, is the defining spiritual memoir of its time, selling over one million...
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Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was one of the most influential spiritual writers of modern times. A Trappist monk, peace and civil rights activist, and widely-praised literary figure, Merton was renowned for his pioneering work in contemplative spirituality, his quest to understand Eastern thought and integrate it with Western spirituality, and his firm belief in Christian activism. His autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, is the defining spiritual memoir of its time, selling over one million copies and translating into over fifteen languages.Merton was also one of the most prolific and provocative letter writers of the twentieth century. His letters (those written both by him and to him), archived at the Thomas Merton Studies Center at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, number more than ten thousand. For Merton, letters were not just a vehicle for exchanging information, but his primary means for initiating, maintaining, and deepening relationships. Letter-writing was a personal act of self-revelation and communication. His letters offer a unique lens through which we relive the spiritual and social upheavals of the twentieth century, while offering wisdom that is still relevant for our world today.
Pt. 1 A Life in Letters: In His Own Words 1Pt. 2 Becoming and Being a Monk: Reflections on the Monastic Life 13Pt. 3 Living the Writer's Life: From Manuscript to Publication 63Pt. 4 Speaking the Truth: Writing to Fellow Writers 101Pt. 5 Seeking God in the Ordinariness of Life: Merton's Contemplative Spirituality 161Pt. 6 Reading the Signs of the Times: Merton's Critique of Culture 195Pt. 7 Networking for Peace: The Struggle against War and Other Forms of Violence and Oppression 247Pt. 8 Keeping Faith in Times of Change: Merton's Reflections on the Catholic Church 295Pt. 9 Seeking Unity Beyond Difference: Engaging in Interreligious Dialogue 331Index 387
