A trappist monk, peace and civil rights activist, and widelypraised literary figure, he was also one of the most prolific and provocative letter writers of the twentieth century. In 1944, new directions brought out thomas mertons first book of verse. Book of hours by thomas merton, john giuliani, hardcover. Editor kathleen deignan mined mertons voluminous writings, arranging prayers for dawn, day, dusk, and dark for each of the days of the week.
Although his conversionary piety sometimes falls into stickysweet abstractions, mertons autobiographical reflections are mostly wise, humble, and concrete. It may not be everyones cup of tea, but i greatly appreciate this text and have used it regularly for daily prayer and reflection. Thomas merton 19151968 was a trappist monk, writer, and peace and civil rights activist. A modernday confessions of saint augustine, the seven storey mountain is one of the most influential religious works of the twentieth century. I loved seven storey mountain, so i was delighted to pick up this book as well. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author.
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 title refers to the mountain of purgatory from dantes purgatorio the seven storey mountain was published in. Merton lost both parents before he had finished high school, and his younger brother was killed in world war ii. It is the most common type of surviving medieval illuminated manuscript. Thomas merton 19151968 is widely acclaimed as one of the most influential spiritual masters of the twentieth century. If you have tid bits about thomas mertons life that would be useful in writing the biography, email us. 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. A treasury of wisdom from the influential christian contemplative, political activist, social visionary, and literary figure. Pursuing the monks true life 19521960 edited by lawrence s. By the way, i discovered that i typed the web site on judith carpenters book with the wrong spacing last week. Thomas merton author books church and religious supplies. The merton book of hours will be appreciated by merton fans and those who seek to be more contemplative in their daily prayer. Discount prices on books by thomas merton, including titles like the climate of monastic prayer. Thomas merton was born in prades, france, to artists, ruth and owen merton.
I read a prayer section each day for devotions and ignored the suggested times to pray. The collected poems of thomas merton new directions. A book that takes thomas merton s best writings and arranges them in prayers for sunday genesis to saturday wisdom at the 4 hours named. List of books and articles about thomas merton online. Thomas merton books biography and list of works author. 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. This book is set up in the daily liturgical cycle, but instead of prayers from a lectionary or scripture readings, it is entirely composed of thomas mertons thoughts. Merton called seasons of celebration his liturgy book and this edition includes a new foreword. Louis, born january 31, 1915, prades, francedied december 10, 1968, bangkok, thailand, 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 merton was the son of a new zealandborn father, owen merton, and an americanborn mother, ruth jenkins. A book of hours 01mar2007 by thomas merton, john giuliani, kathleen deignan. Thomas mertons prose is tangled, so the book is harder to read than it needed to be, however, discussions of mysticism both east and west are notoriously hard to follow and understand. Recent and forthcoming publications thomas merton center. He called his own life story the seven storey mountain.
The pocket thomas merton by thomas merton, paperback. No man is an island by thomas merton book 159 editions published between 1955 and 2017 in 7 languages and held by 3,209 worldcat member libraries worldwide. Read a book of hours online by thomas merton books free 30. Thomas merton 19151968 was one of the most influential spiritual writers of modern times. Thomas merton books list of books by author thomas merton. His father, a new zealand painter, and mother, an american artist, moved the. The story of a vocation 19391941 edited by patrick hart, ocso entering the silence. Thomas merton ocso january 31, 1915 december 10, 1968 was an american trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist, and scholar of comparative religion. This edition contains an introduction by mertons editor, robert giroux, and a note to the reader by biographer william h. The collected poems of thomas merton poetry by thomas merton in 1944, new directions brought out thomas mertons first book of verse. 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. Thomas merton books list of books by thomas merton.
A book that takes thomas mertons best writings and arranges them in prayers for sunday genesis to saturday wisdom at the 4 hours named. David steindlrast wrote that thomas said that he wanted to become as good a buddhist as i can. In 1949, he was ordained to the priesthood and given the name father louis. Thomas merton books of bardstown, kentucky, sold books for itms 2015. 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 praying the hours.
Review of thomas merton, a book of hours, edited with an. The long, long list of thomas merton titles on tables. Read a book of hours by thomas merton for free with a 30 day free trial. The book of hours is a christian devotional book popular in the middle ages. 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. Thomas merton was a trappist monk and author who was best known for his autobiography, the seven storey mountain, which was published in 1948.
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. The problem with reading thomas merton is that there is just so much to read, and with the recent and ongoing publication of his private journals after their 25 year embargo there is more still. What comes through most clearly is thomas merton himself. Merton wrote more than 50 books in a period of 27 years, mostly on spirituality, social justice and a quiet pacifism, as well as. Both of his parents were deceased by the time merton was a young teen and he eventually moved to his grandparents home in the united states to finish. 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. For much of the 80minute running time of the glory of the world, your best guess would probably be the promoters. 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. Thomas merton was the most popular proponent of the christian contemplative tradition in the twentieth century.
He grew up in france, england, and the united states and studied at cambridge and at columbia b. A book of hours by thomas merton, 9781933495057, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Merton finished the book in 1946 at the age of 31, five years after entering gethsemani abbey near bardstown, kentucky. Thomas merton is currently considered a single author. In the 1969 book recollections of thomas mertons last days in the west, benedictine monk br. Born in france, thomas merton was the son of an american artist and poet and her new zealander husband, a painter. Often we are asked to recommend a good place to start reading merton, and in response to this demand have decided to produce this very short. Music on the writings of thomas merton linda kernohan, composer and pianist. 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. Forty years after his death, fans of thomas mertonfrom a wide array of faith traditionscontinue to consult the spiritual wisdom found in his voluminous writings. Music on the writings of thomas merton linda kernohan, composer and pianist readings by carol gonzalez and brother christopher johnson.
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. 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. By the time of his tragic, untimely death in 1968, father louis as he was known at the trappist monastery where he lived for twentyseven years had published upwards of fifty books and pamphlets, including several more collections of poetry. Thomas merton ebooks epub and pdf downloads ebookmall. On may 26, 1949, he was ordained to the priesthood and given the name father louis. Books by thomas merton author of the seven storey mountain. The seven storey mountain is the 1948 autobiography of thomas merton, an american trappist monk and priest who was a noted author in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. These are the best formed breviary prayers ive found in a lifetime. It tells of the growing restlessness of a brilliant and passionate young man whose search for peace and faith leads him. If you love thomas, join us on facebook and well keep you updated on mertons progress.
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