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February 24, 2001

       As most of you know, I have not been sending out anything recently. The reason, I have had a computer virius that has almost destroyed my computer. And -- and I apologize for this -- it may even have affected some of your computers. Please forgive me if it did. I know from now on I will update my virius protection often to keep this from happening again.

    Something important is to read the list of new retreats related to Merton. There are several. The entire list is at http://edge.net/~dphillip/Mertonretreats.html

Of prime importance for the summer are two special Merton meetings. One is the

May 25 (28)- June 3, 2001 (June 8-9) - Mobile, Alabama - Spring Hill College

The "Summer Institute of Christian Spirituality" at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, is offering a course about Merton (specifically about his journals; it's taught by Victor Kramer), and is featuring some teachers who have written about Merton in the past. For complete information go to this website. Summer Institute of Christian Spirituality.

June 7-10, 2001 - Bellarmine Univ. - Louisville, Ky-

The seventh general meeting of the International Thomas Merton Society will meet at Bellarmine University. The theme of the meeting is "Shining Like the Sun: Thomas Merton's Transforming Vision." The meet will include a trip to the Abbey of Gethsemani. Mark your calendar so you can be able to attend. For futher information contact Jonathan Montaldo at Bellarmine University.. The website is http://www.merton.org

MINI-RETREAT

According to the e-mail I got, almost 40 people took the mini-retreat on December 10, 2000, to commemorate the life of Thomas Merton. It was a meaningful experience for me as I quoted in newsletter 4.

NEW BOOKS

Diane Aprille was supposed to have a new book out relating to her visit to Gethsemani but I have not heard anymore about it. You might keep on the lookout for it.

I have read several interesting books recently on Monasticism. May of these authors acknowledge openly Merton's influence on their lives.

BEYOND THE WALLS: MONASTIC WISDOM FOR EVERYDAY LIFE by Paul Wilkes.
      Paul, as many of you may remember, did the only PBS video about Merton. It was done in the mid-eighties and interested many people in Merton. He continues his Monastic search by spending weekends at Mepkin Abbey in South Carolina. This is the story of those weekends. Meaningful!

ESSENTIAL MONASTIC WISDOM: WRITINGS ON THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE by Hugh Feiss.
      I read this book in spurts. It has great Lectio Divina type materials. You read a section and ponder it all day. It is excellent for understanding the principles of Monastic life.

THOMAS MERTON AND THE MONASTIC VISION by Lawrence Cunningham.
      Lawrence Cunningham is one of my favorite Merton scholars. His Thomas Merton: Spiritual Master has some of Merton's greatest articles in it, including Rain and the Rhinoceros. This book shares the importance of Monasticism in Merton's life.

THE VIEW FROM THE MONASTERY by Benet Tvedten
     Merton was the reason Tvedten became a monk over 50 years ago. He writes from his life at the Blue Cloud Monastery in North Dakota. This book caused a stir at Gethsemani last summer when my friend Wayne Burns loaned a copy for a night to one of the monks. Unfortunately, it was stolen (perhaps borrowed is a better word) for a night by another monk who, feeling it must be common property and worth reading, took it to his cell to read. Several notices were stationed around the monastery to retrieve the book before Brother Burns left. A worthy read.

GRACE IS EVERYWHERE. REFLECTIONS OF AN ASPIRING MONK by James Stephen Behrens
      A monk at the Conyers monastery, Behrens shares significant insights in his life as an aspiring monk. I haven't finished it yet but I am enjoying reading it.

NOTE OF IMPORTANCE

Paul Pearson, who has been the webmaster of the International Thomas Merton Society in Great Britain has moved to Louisville, Kentucky, to take over the Merton Center Library.

Paul will be a great addition. I remember, almost 4 years ago, when--on his honeymoon-- he brought his bride to the International Thomas Merton meeting in Mobile, Alabama. That showed the importance of Merton's work in his life.

And it goes without saying that Jonathan Montaldo may no longer be in that position, but his work on Merton's behalf has influenced every one of us. Thanks Jonathan for a job well done.

Again, please Forward this to your friends who you think might like Thomas Merton and be sure to visit the THOMAS MERTON WEBSITE. And thanks to those of you who prayed for me during a difficult period of time. I am now a chaplain at a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, and enjoying it very much.

Blessings,

Dan Phillips, editor

 

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