A book of hours by thomas merton 20070301 thomas merton. Even if you are not particularly knowledgable about mertons writings, you will find his comments on so many aspects of the spiritual life meaningful and tantalizing, you will want to study his works further. Merton is the author of more than seventy books that include poetry, personal journals, collections. The thomas merton studies center at bellarmine college in louisville, kentucky, contains over 10,000 items related to merton and some 3,000 of his manuscripts. Thomas merton was the most popular proponent of the christian contemplative tradition in the twentieth century. A book of hours reveals in ways i have never experienced the. I read a prayer section each day for devotions and ignored the suggested times to pray.
It is a marvelous, inspiring, comforting, jolting, consoling little volume that organizes mertons writing into prayers for dawn, midday, dusk and night of each day. A catholic writer and a trappist monk of the abbey of gethsemani, kentucky, he was ordained to the priesthood in. Learn more about his life, conversion, writings, and legacy with this article. Mar 28, 2007 thomas merton was the most popular proponent of the christian contemplative tradition in the twentieth century. He received several awards recognizing his contribution to religious study and contemplation, including the pax medal in 1963, and remained a devoted spiritualist and a tireless advocate for social justice until his death in 1968. The result is a contemporary psalter that holds us day after day in the embrace of mystery.
Book of hours by thomas merton, john giuliani, hardcover. I read a prayer section each day for devotions and ignored. Although his conversionary piety sometimes falls into stickysweet abstractions, merton s autobiographical reflections are mostly wise, humble, and concrete. This is a marvelous collection of writings from the works of thomas merton, the trappist monk, assembled in the form of a book of hours. Now, for the first time, some of his most lyrical and prayerful writings have been arranged into a book of hours, a rich resource for daily prayer and contemplation that imitates the increasingly popular ancient monastic practice of praying the hours. List of books and articles about thomas merton online. When he flew out of san francisco for asia on october 15, 1968, he left with the expectation of religious discovery, as if his monastic life at the. Presents a resource for daily prayer and contemplation. A treasury of wisdom from the influential christian contemplative, political activist, social visionary, and literary figure. A book of hours allows for a slice of monastic contemplation in the midst of hectic modern life, with psalms, prayers, readings, and reflections. A book that takes thomas mertons best writings and arranges them in prayers for sunday genesis to saturday wisdom at the 4 hours named. Mar 01, 2007 thomas merton was the most popular proponent of the christian contemplative tradition in the twentieth century. Thomas merton and the eternal search the new yorker.
His writings include such classics as the seven storey mountain, new seeds of contemplation, and zen and the birds of appetite. One of the modern writers of the monastic tradition, of course, is thomas merton, and, though i might be one who thinks that merton has been sized up, quoted, used and reused in every imaginable way, i was pleasantly surprised recently when i came across thomas merton. Thomas merton 19151968 was a writer and trappist monk at our lady of gethsemani abbey in kentucky. Thomas merton books biography and list of works author of. It is modeled on the book of hours, a devotional resource popular in the middle ages as a means.
Mar 28, 2007 a book of hours by thomas merton, 9781933495057, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. In recognition of his close association with bellarmine university, the official repository for merton s archives is the thomas merton center on the bellarmine campus in louisville, kentucky. A book of hours thomas merton, kathleen deignan, john giuliani on amazon. Thomas merton author home page church and religious. May 01, 2008 in the 1969 book recollections of thomas mertons last days in the west, benedictine monk br. Thomas merton, roman catholic monk, poet, and prolific writer on spiritual and social themes, one of the most important american roman catholic writers of the 20th century. If i could meet one person from history, it would be thomas merton. Like every manuscript, each manuscript book of hours is unique in one way or another, but most contain a similar collection of texts, prayers and psalms, often with appropriate decorations, for christian devotion. The book of hours is a christian devotional book popular in the middle ages. The collected poems of thomas merton by thomas merton new directions, 1977 ps primary source a primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. Thomas merton books list of books by author thomas merton. What a delight to contemplate thomas mertons a book of hours. Editor kathleen deignan mined mertons voluminous writings, arranging prayers for dawn, day, dusk, and dark for each of the days of the week. To ask other readers questions about a book of hours, please sign up.
As a monk, merton entered into a life of contemplation. Top of page the literary merton mertons poems and his literary criticism are all published by new york publishers new directions. Mary margaret funk, osb, author of humility matters. I loved seven storey mountain, so i was delighted to pick up this book as well. It is the most common type of surviving medieval illuminated manuscript. The merton legacy trust, devoted to gathering all future merton scholarship, is also located at bellarmine. A book of hours by thomas merton, 9781933495057, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
In this diarylike memoir, composed of his most poignant and insightful journal entries, the intimate merton lays bare the steep ways of thomas merton s spiritual path. Thomas merton s first book, the seven storey mountain, describes his early doubts, his conversion to a catholic faith of extreme certainty, and his decision to take life vows as a trappist. At prayer with thomas merton 2007, sorin books, isbn 1933495057. A book of hours kindle edition by merton, thomas, john. Born in france, thomas merton was the son of an american artist and poet and her new zealander husband, a painter. A year with thomas merton compiled by jonathan montaldo. A book of hours kindle edition by thomas merton, john giuliani. In that book, written in vigorous, keenly observed prose, merton. Thomas mertons first book, the seven storey mountain, describes his early doubts, his conversion to a catholic faith of extreme certainty, and his decision to take life vows as a trappist. A book of hours thomas merton was the most popular proponent of the christian contemplative tradition in the twentieth century. The essential thomas merton offers insights into the key themes of mertons teachingsthe distinction between our false and true selves, the modern world, cultural illusions, and the struggle for justice and sanctification.
A program of catholic charities of fairfield county, inc. A collection of prayers and meditations by thomas merton. I have always been impressed with mertons spirituality and his writing, but this book remains by my side every day. Pdf merton s palace of nowhere download full pdf book. These are the best formed breviary prayers ive found in a lifetime. The international thomas merton society was founded in 1987 and reports a. In this diarylike memoir, composed of his most poignant and insightful journal entries, the intimate merton lays bare the steep ways of thomas mertons spiritual path. Although his conversionary piety sometimes falls into stickysweet abstractions, mertons autobiographical reflections are mostly wise, humble, and concrete. Books by thomas merton meet your next favorite book. I hope and pray this will introduce a new generation of readers to a man who has. I was reminded of this recently, when i ran across a lovely new book of his words, a book of hours, edited by kathleen deignan. I have always been impressed with merton s spirituality and his writing, but this book remains by my side every day.
Pdf thomas merton s path to the palace of nowhere download. Three essays on thomas merton 2006, the thomas merton society of great britain and ireland, isbn 0955157110. From thomas mertons legacy of spiritual writings comes a book of hours, a manual of mysticism, a set of. Open any page of this wonderful book and you will find a mindstopping. Top of page merton and zen zen and the birds of appetite, a collection of mertons writings on zen is available both from new directions and as a shambhala pocket classic.
She explains why merton drew her into this project of finding and organizing his words for daily prayer. The pocket thomas merton by thomas merton, paperback. Thomas merton 19151968 was born in france and came to live in the united states at the age of 24. Now, for the first time, some of his most lyrical and prayerful writings have been arranged into a book of hours, a rich resource for daily prayer and contemplation that imitates the increasingly popular ancient monastic practice of. Even if you are not particularly knowledgable about merton s writings, you will find his comments on so many aspects of the spiritual life meaningful and tantalizing, you will want to study his works further. Culled from the seven volumes of his personal journals, this twenty nine year chronicle deepens and extends the story thomas merton recounted and made famous in the seven storey. David steindlrast wrote that thomas said that he wanted to become as good a buddhist as i can. Now, for the first time, his most lyrical and prayerful writings have been arranged into a book of hours, which provides such a rich resource for daily prayer and contemplation that imitates the increasingly popular ancient monastic practice of praying the hours. By the way, i discovered that i typed the web site on judith carpenters book with the wrong spacing last week. In the 1969 book recollections of thomas mertons last days in the west, benedictine monk br.
The seven storey mountain, continue to be read today. A book of hours is faithful to the spirit of thomas merton, to the liturgy of hours, and to the one who is our hearts desire. Thomas mertons featured books the seven storey mountain. Thomas merton author home page church and religious supplies. In recognition of his close association with bellarmine university, the official repository for mertons archives is the thomas merton center on the bellarmine campus in louisville, kentucky. The pocket thomas merton by thomas merton, paperback barnes.
Open any page of this wonderful book and you will find a mind. A book of hours excerpt psalms lectio divina scribd. I hope and pray this will introduce a new generation of readers to a man who has influenced countless believers including this one. A book of hours 01mar2007 by thomas merton, john giuliani, kathleen deignan. January 31, 1915 december 10, 1968 was a 20th century angloamerican poet, social activist, mystic, and student of comparative religion. Now, for the first time, some of his most lyrical and prayerful writings have been arranged into a book of hours, a rich resource for daily prayer and contemplation that imitates the increasingly popular ancient monastic. Open any page of this wonderful book and you will find a mindstopping, heartcatching phrase that will remind you, in mertons unique way, that god. The thomas merton award, a peace prize, has been awarded since 1972 by the thomas merton center for peace and social justice in pittsburgh, pennsylvania, usa. Merton lost both parents before he had finished high school, and his younger brother was killed in world war ii.
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