THOMAS MERTON - PROPHET OF RENEWAL

From: Patrick Collins
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 05:52:04 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Words of Merton

Today I read Lawrence Cunningham's review of John Eudes Bamberger's recently published memoir about Merton: "Thomas Merton: Prophet of Renewal." C. points out that Merton was largely responsible for shifting monastic formation from its emphasis on ascetics and penace toward contemplative practices which would open monks to "purity of heart." I gather that is what Merton is writing about in the
quotation circulated this morning by Wayne. Quite True and Beautiful - in my own experience here in my "wilderness" in my Hermitage Nova Vita along Lake Michigan in Douglas, Michigan.

Patrick

WAYNE BURNS QUOTE OF MERTON TODAY:

"The monastic life is neither worldly nor unworldly. It is not artificially 'otherworldly.' It is merely intended to be liberated and simple. The purpose of monastic detachment -- which demands genuine sacrifice -- is simply to leave the monk unencumbered, free to move, in possession of his spiritual senses and of his right mind, capable of living a charismatic life in freedom of spirit. To love, one must be free, and while the apostolic life implies one mode of freedom in the world, the monastic life has its own freedom which is that of the wilderness."

(CONTEMPLATION IN A WORLD OF ACTION, page 25)