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THOMAS MERTON
NEWSLETTER 6
May 29, 2001--E-Mail Editor Dan K. Phillips
I have been spending this weekend on a lake in Georgia. The weather has been perfect with highs of about 73 degrees. In the silence, I have been re-reading Merton's "No Man Is An Island" and Kelty's "Flute Song." In the silence birds whisper, silence creeps through the pores of the soul and Solitude becomes real. What greater experience can any of us have?
The entire list of Merton retreats is listed at http://edge.net/~dphillip/Mertonretreats.html
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. The website is http://www.mertoncenter.edu
I am looking forward to attending the 7th general meeting of the ITMF at Bellarmine University from June 7-10. Be sure to introduce yourself to me if you receive the newsletter. If you have time and will be attending you might send me an e-mail with answers to the following questions: (Here are my answers)
When Did you become interested in Merton? (In 1970 while attending seminary in Louisville, Ky. I was writing poetry and reading the anthology titled "The Voice Within Us." Several poems were by Merton. That began the adventure.)
You favorite Merton Book? (The Sign of Jonas)
When did the Merton web page begin? (4 and one half years ago)
How has Merton influenced you? His main impact has been teaching me the meaning of solitude and silence and appreciations of monasteries and monks.
What else has Merton meant to you? Lots of friends via the Merton website. All with great interest and expressed appreciation for Merton's power in their lives.
Book Review of MAKING A HEART FOR GOD: A Week Inside a Catholic Monastery, by Dianne Aprile.
REVIEW BY REV. WAYNE BURNS
Diane Aprile, a journalist from Louisville, Kentucky, has written an excellent book about a week inside the Abbey of Gethsemani, a Trappist monastery in Kentucky. It is very clear in reading the book that Aprile has done many hours of excellent research.
She writes in a most readable way, and it is most interesting that the author is female.Aprile does an excellent job in sharing briefly the history of monasticism before and after the founding of Gethsemani in 1848.
There are many comments from the many monks she interviewed for the book. The book has eight chapters of excellent reading. It contains an appendix of a Monk's day at a glance, a. section on recommended reading, and a list of Catholic Monasteries that receives retreatants. She also has some wonderful pictures of Gethsemani.
The best part of the book to me is how she weaves the stories of the monks into the history and the working of the Abbey of Gethsemani. She writes, "Welcome to life inside a twenty-first -century Catholic monastery. The Abbey of Gethsemani, in the heart of Kentucky's bourbon country, is arguably the best-known Catholic abbey in the world today, due primarily to the celebrity of its most famous monk, the late Thomas Merton" ( page 4).
It is very clear that Dianne Aprile was touched in many ways as she experienced a week inside a Catholic monastery. This is certainly true for others who hae had that same privilege. She writes,"On this last night of my retreat I am reminded that a monk's life, like all lives, is a litany of hellos and a refrain of goodbyes, a series of engagements and surrenders of one kind or another, borne in faith, hope, and the love of God" (page 146). It is a book worth reading.(Rev. Wayne Burns)
Dear Dan:
Does the following quote ring a bell with you? "The beginning of the fight against hatred, the basic Christian answer to hatred, is not the commandment to love, but what must necessarily come before in order to make the commandment bearable and comprehensible. It is a prior commandment to believe. The root of Christian love is not the will to love. but the faith that one is loved," and "until this discovery is made, until this liberation has been brought about by the divine mercy, men and women are imprisoned in hate." I would appreciate any help you can give me in locating the source of this quote. Thank you so much for sharing you knowledge and love of Merton. Patsy Springer 1717 Geranio Dr. Alhambra, CA 91801 (626)282-5800 To e-mail Patsy Springer! with an answer.
Again, please Forward this to your friends who you think might like Thomas Merton and be sure to visit the THOMAS MERTON WEBSITE. See you in Louisville, Ky.
Blessings,
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