Tag Archives: Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton: Contemplation and Action: Weekly Summary
Thomas Merton: Contemplation and Action Saturday, November 28, 2020 Summary: Sunday, November 22—Friday, November 27, 2020 During my sabbatical in Merton’s hermitage, the world, my own issues and hurts, all my goals and desires gradually dissolved and fell into proper perspective. God became obvious and ever present. (Sunday) The contemplative life is not, and cannot… Continue Reading Thomas Merton: Contemplation and Action: Weekly Summary
Merton’s Call for Racial Justice
Thomas Merton: Contemplation and Action Merton’s Call for Racial Justice Friday, November 27, 2020 In the midst of the intense struggle for civil rights, Thomas Merton insisted that Christians had a moral duty to address racism—on a personal and systemic level. His words were prophetic at the time and continue to be relevant to this… Continue Reading Merton’s Call for Racial Justice
Merton’s Love of Nature
Thomas Merton: Contemplation and Action Merton’s Love of Nature Thursday, November 26, 2020 Thanksgiving in the U.S. Part of Thomas Merton’s legacy, which I believe has been underappreciated, is his great love of nature. In the hills of Kentucky, he found his connection to God strengthened by every leaf, every tree, every sunrise. I felt… Continue Reading Merton’s Love of Nature
One God of the Earth
Thomas Merton: Contemplation and Action One God of the Earth Wednesday, November 25, 2020 One way that our growth in love becomes stuck is when we identify so much with our group or country that it replaces our faith in the One God of all. As we see in politics in the United States, most… Continue Reading One God of the Earth
Recovering Our Original Unity
Thomas Merton: Contemplation and Action Recovering Our Original Unity Tuesday, November 24, 2020 What is the relation of [contemplation] to action? Simply this. He who attempts to act and do things for others or for the world without deepening his own self-understanding, freedom, integrity and capacity to love will not have anything to give others.… Continue Reading Recovering Our Original Unity
Contemplative Responsibility
Thomas Merton: Contemplation and Action Contemplative Responsibility Monday, November 23, 2020 Thomas Merton has been a primary teacher and inspiration to me ever since I read his book The Sign of Jonas as a teenager. He was one of the most influential American Catholics of the twentieth century. It was Merton who reintroduced the Christian… Continue Reading Contemplative Responsibility
Joy and Sadness: A Lesson from Merton’s Hermitage
Thomas Merton: Contemplation and Action Joy and Sadness: A Lesson from Merton’s Hermitage Sunday, November 22, 2020 In 1985 my Franciscan “guardians” (as Francis called our superiors) gave me a year’s leave to spend in contemplation. It was a major turning point in my life, and ultimately led to the formation of the Center for… Continue Reading Joy and Sadness: A Lesson from Merton’s Hermitage
Falling Away from I AM
Thomas Keating: The Secret Embrace, Part Two Falling Away from I AM Tuesday, October 27, 2020 To be nothing Is to consent to being a simple creature. This is the place of encounter with “I AM that I Am.” When there is no more “me, myself, or mine,” Only “I AM” remains. Then the “I”… Continue Reading Falling Away from I AM
Freedom in the Desert
Mystics and the Margins Freedom in the Desert Tuesday, September 29, 2020 When Christianity became the established religion of the Roman Empire, something remarkable and strange took place. A whole set of people began to flock to the margins of the Empire to pursue God. They went to the deserts of Palestine, Cappadocia, Syria, and… Continue Reading Freedom in the Desert
A Mutual Vulnerability
Wounded Healers A Mutual Vulnerability Wednesday, September 16, 2020 Earlier this year, my colleague and dear friend Jim Finley gave an unpublished talk to Illuman, an organization that supports men in authentic spiritual development. Jim shared some stories from his own life, including how he began to heal from his own childhood abuse and trauma… Continue Reading A Mutual Vulnerability