
Thomas Mertons Big Day

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17 years 1 month ago
Thanks to James Martin for the reminder of this 'golden jubilee' of one of Merton's many ah-hah moments. His insight at that time helped me move out of my false notions of holiness to identify with everything human, 'warts and all.' For the reminder that we are all shining, and that we are indeed one, thanks!
17 years 1 month ago
It is a great tribute to Thomas Merton in the city of Louisville, Kentucky. Isn't it amazing that the city is dedicating a square in honor or Merton and the Roman Catholic church removes him from the catechism? Thomas is looking over us all.
17 years 1 month ago
I remember reading all about that in college, and then shortly after I did a retreat there. I love that passage in Merton's writings. Thanks for the special reminder. And hey! I didn't know it happened the day after my sobriety anniversary :)
17 years 1 month ago
Thanks for bringing this anniversary to my consciousness. I remember seeking out the marker noting this event in Merton's life. It's in the middle of a shopping district and is otherwise totally unremarkable. And that gave his mystical experience all the more credence to me. It underscored my own occasional mini-mystical experiences--on the 'el' scrubbing the bathtub, an unexpected conversation with a gracious, elderly stranger come to mind. Sister Mary Luke Tobin was asked if she'd ever had a mystical experience. 'Of course!' she replied. 'All of life is a mystical experience.' Amen.
17 years 1 month ago
I have Merton's quote hanging up in my office, done in a nice caligraphic style by Fr. Eric Lies, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, about two hours from Gethsemani Abbey in southwestern Indiana. If you go into the lobby of the guesthouse at Gethsemani, you'll see a large mural that presents the history of the Cistercians from through the founding of Gethsemani to pretty close to the present day (The mural was painted by an artist from nearby Bardstown sometime in the 1980s or 90s.) Anyway, Saint Meinrad's church is included in the mural as is a painting of Fr. Louis (Thomas Merton) sitting at a typewriter.
17 years 1 month ago
Friends, This made me so happy. To me Merton is a saint whatever the opinion of the Vatican. Maybee The Saint of the 20:th century. His importance to the Church and the world will grow. That I am sure of. Gert Gelotte Lerum,Sweden
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