Thomas Merton (1915-1968), arguably the most influential American Catholic author of the twentieth century, was a writer and Trappist monk at Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky. His writings include such classics as The Seven Storey Mountain, New Seeds of Contemplation, and Zen and the Birds of Appetite. Merton is the author of more than seventy books that include poetry, personal journals, collections of letters, social criticism, and writings on peace, justice, and ecumenism.
We are privileged to have the extensive collection of the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland now in our library here at Mirfield on permanent loan, and accessible to all library visitors. Also, our library brother Fr Nicolas Stebbing has become a patron of the society. (https://www.thomasmertonsociety.org.uk/)
It is therefore a great delight for us to be able to offer a special day of study and reflection on the life and work of Thomas Merton, led by Dr Paul M Pearson, who is Director and Archivist of the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University, Louisville, USA. (Thomas Merton Center)
“Whatever I may have written, I think it all can be reduced in the end to this one root truth: that God calls human persons to union with Himself and with one another in Christ, in the Church which is His Mystical Body. It is also a witness to the fact that there is and must be, in the church, a contemplative life which has no other function than to realize these mysterious things, and return to God all the thanks and praise that human hearts can give Him. It is certainly true that I have written about more than just the contemplative life. I have articulately resisted attempts to have myself classified as an “inspirational writer.” But if I have written about interracial justice, or thermonuclear weapons, it is because these issues are terribly relevant to one great truth: that man is called to live as a child of God. Man must respond to this call to live in peace with all his brothers and sisters in the One Christ.”
Photograph by Miguel Grinberg
A draft outline of the day is as follows:
9.30 am Arrival & Registration – coffee available
10.00 am Thomas Merton: Poet, Monk, Prophet – An Overview
12 noon Midday Office & Eucharist with the Community of the Resurrection (optional)
1.00 Lunch
2.00 Redeeming the Rhinoceros – Thomas Merton: Prophet and Social Critic.
3.30 Tea break
4.00 Concluding thoughts
5.00 Depart
The cost of the day is £45, which includes lunch and refreshments.
Mirfield is easily accessible by road and rail. Overnight accommodation is available on Friday and Saturday if you are travelling from a distance and wish to stay over. The cost for supper / bed / breakfast in a standard retreat house room is £53.50 or £62.75 in an en-suite room.