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Tag Archives: Thomas Merton

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

The Illusion of the Separate Self

True Self/Separate Self The Illusion of the Separate Self Tuesday, September 1, 2020 CAC faculty member James Finley studied under Thomas Merton as a young monk in formation. While many have been influenced by Merton’s writings, few have had the opportunity to learn from the mystic himself. Today, Jim reflects on the insights on the… Continue Reading The Illusion of the Separate Self

The Glory of God in Us

True Self/Separate Self The Glory of God in Us Monday, August 31, 2020 Today we begin with Thomas Merton’s classic description of the True Self as written following his “conversion” at Fourth and Walnut in Louisville. [1] It is so inspired; I want to quote it at length: At the center of our being is… Continue Reading The Glory of God in Us

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