Thomas Merton

Thomas Merton and Ernesto Cardenal were both poets and priests, wholly committed to a life of spiritual contemplation which was never far from the gritty work that lead them to risk life and reputation in order to raise worldwide consciousness concerning issues of social justice and the abuse of human rights.

This unique reflection was prompted by an invitation Matthew Fox received to speak on the centennial of Thomas Merton's birth.

A fascinating account of Thomas Merton's conflicted relationship with his abbot, Dom James Foxby an esteemed modern Merton scholar.

Born in 1915, Thomas Merton went through a lifelong journey of exploration, discovery and insight. The influences on his thought were numerousfrom Eastern spirituality to Jonathan Swift and Albert Camusand the influence of his writings on Catholic spirituality is profound and unalterable.

With the publication of The Seven Storey Mountain in 1948, Thomas Merton became a bestselling author, writing about spiritual contemplation in a modern context.