From the new issue of Touchstone.
A Many-Storied Monastic
A Critical Memoir of Thomas Merton at Gethsemani Abbey
by Patrick Henry ReardonIn the late afternoon of December 17, 1968, Thomas Merton’s body was laid to rest at his Trappist monastery, Gethsemani Abbey, in Kentucky. During the hour that immediately preceded the funeral Mass, the bier was placed at the top of the nave in the monastery church, where—in accordance with ancient monastic custom—two monks stood and recited the Psalms for the repose of Merton’s soul.
I was one of those monks.
During the ensuing four decades and more, friends have repeatedly asked me to write down personal memories of that extraordinary man, whom I knew during the last thirteen years of his life. Although I cannot imagine adding anything new or significant to the vast material recorded in the endless stream of books and articles written about Merton since that time, I have at length determined to jot down a few recollections, whatever their worth.
Very informative and interesting. I read The Seven Storey Mountain years ago and loved it. Helps a lot to get this perspective on events in Merton's life in later years.
Posted by: Hunter Baker | August 26, 2011 at 08:37 PM