Praying with Thomas Merton

by Wayne Simsic

Book Overview

"The rich complexity of Thomas Merton is rendered clear and accessible. The reader is invited to that transformation of life which is at the heart of Merton's message". Sr. Donna Kristoff, Ursuline... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0884893030
• ISBN13: 9780884893035
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Saint Mary's Press
• Length: 120 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

As diverse as Merton

After a short introduction to Merton, this book presents 15 "Meditations" on aspects of Merton's life and prayer. Simsic does a great job of funneling Merton wide ranging writings into topics that include "Solitude", "In Silence" "Wandering in the Wilderness", "The Person of Christ", and "The Quest for Unity". Each meditation includes an opening prayer, Merton's' words, reflections, and closes with God's word and a prayer. As a Kentucky resident, and birder, I particularly liked Merton's quote on "lots of pretty myrtle warblers" .. " a sense of total kinship with them as if they and I were all of the same nature". The reflections section personally challenged me with exercises to write about what I felt was my true self, saying yes to Christ, and need for silence. The final section on Unity closes with God's words both from Mark and from the Upanishads.

An excellent guide on your spiritual journey

The "Companions" series are very good introductions to the spirituality of great writers such as Thomas Merton and Dorothy Day. By distilling their works into a few major topics, the reader can get a real flavor for their outlook on Catholicism. By devoting a chapter and activities--many of them involving journal writing--to topics such as solitude, silence and prayer, they give the reader a quasi-retreat experience, almost as if the subject were leading it one-on-one. The Merton book is an excellent introduction to the life and writings of this century's major spiritual writer and one of its loudest voices for justice and non-violence. Overall, a beautifully written and designed little book that can be easily carried and devoured, yet will engage the reader with its activities and prayers. Highly recommended!