Global InformationThomas Merton information
The Reverend Thomas Merton OCSO | |
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| Born | January 31, 1915 Prades, Pyrénées-Orientales, France |
| Died | December 10, 1968 (aged 53) Mueang Samut Prakan, Thailand |
| Nationality | American |
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| Religion | Catholicism |
| Church | Latin Church |
| Ordained | May 26, 1949 (aged 34) |
| Writings | The Seven Storey Mountain (1948) |
| Part of a series on |
| Christian mysticism |
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Thomas Merton OCSO (January 31, 1915 – December 10, 1968), religious name M. Louis, was an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist and scholar of comparative religion. In December 1941 he entered the Trappist Abbey of Gethsemani and in May 1949 he was ordained to priesthood.[1][2] He was a member of the convent of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, near Bardstown, Kentucky, living there from 1941 to his death.
Merton wrote more than 50 books in a period of 27 years,[3] mostly on spirituality, social justice and a quiet pacifism, as well as scores of essays and reviews. Among Merton's most enduring works is his bestselling autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain (1948). His account of his spiritual journey inspired scores of World War II veterans, students, and teenagers to explore offerings of monasteries across the US.[4][5] It is on National Review's list of the 100 best nonfiction books of the century.[6]
Merton became a keen proponent of interfaith understanding, exploring Eastern religions through his study of mystic practice. His interfaith conversation, which preserved both Protestant and Catholic theological positions, helped to build mutual respect via their shared experiences at a period of heightened hostility. He is particularly known for having pioneered dialogue with prominent Asian spiritual figures, including the Dalai Lama; Japanese writer D. T. Suzuki; Thai Buddhist monk Buddhadasa, and Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh. He traveled extensively in the course of meeting with them and attending international conferences on religion. In addition, he wrote books on Zen Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, and how Christianity is related to them. This was highly unusual at the time in the United States, particularly within the religious orders.
- ^ Reichardt, Mary R. (2004). Encyclopedia of Catholic Literature, Volume 2. Greenwood Press. p. 450. ISBN 0-313-32803-X.
- ^ "Chronology of Merton's life" Archived May 13, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Thomas Merton Center, Bellarmine University; accessed April 17, 2018.
- ^ Matthew Fox, A Way to God: Thomas Merton's Creation Spirituality Journey, New World Library (2016), p. xvi
- ^ "1949 bestsellers: Non Fiction". Time. December 19, 1949. Archived from the original on December 20, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
- ^ "Religion: The Mountain". Time. April 11, 1949. Archived from the original on December 20, 2010.
- ^ The 100 best non-fiction books of the century Archived February 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, National Review