THOMAS MERTON

The most well-know and widely-read guide to Cistercian spirituality in the 20th century was Thomas Merton (1915 - 1968) a monk of the Abbey of Gethsemani which is the mother house of the Abbey of New Clairvaux, with which Starcross is has friendly relations through the "Charter of Spiritual Solidarity." Merton has been an inspiration for the Starcross Community from our beginning.

  In an unpublished manuscript at Gethsemani Merton wrote:

The true contemplative is not less interested than others in normal life, not less concerned with what goes on in the world, but more interested, more concerned. The fact that he or she is a contemplative makes them capable of a greater interest and a deeper concern. The contemplative has the inestimable gift of appreciating at their real worth values that are permanent, authentically deep, human, truly spiritual and even divine. Their mission is to be a complete and whole person, with an instinctive and generous need to further the same wholeness in others, and in all humanity.

 

  In 1972 brother Toby gave a talk at New Clairvaux Abby on Thomas Merton which reflects some of the concepts of Cistercian spirituality implanted in the early days of Starcross Community. The talk was later published in CISTERCIAN STUDIES. To find it go to A QUIET LIFE: MERTON.

Copyright © 2005 by Starcross Monastic Community. All rights reserved.

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