People Who Shaped the Church- A Monk from Kentucky: Thomas Merton

Thomas Merton

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was a powerful monk and Catholic writer. He lived in the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Kentucky. He wrote many books that have helped Christians regarding Spirituality. He was a peace maker and spoke on this issue many times. He wrote 60 books. He died at age 53 when he was electrocuted when stepping out of his bath.

What makes Merton such a shaper of the church would be his books and his life.  His books speak are powerful and life changing and deal with spiritual formation.  Merton was a talented and insightful writer and thinker on spiritual matters.

In his life he was taught and spoke about peace and spirituality.  He believed in social justice and was not afraid to speak out against war and injustice.  He also felt people of different walks should work together.  He met with Buddhist leaders and tried to connect different voices together on common areas of conversation.  Merton was a person of strong faith and conviction.

Just listen to these quotes by Merton:

“It is true, political problems are not solved by love and mercy. But the world of politics is not the only world, and unless political decisions rest on a foundation of something better and higher than politics, they can never do any real good for men. When a country has to be rebuilt after war, the passions and energies of war are no longer enough. There must be a new force, the power of love, the power of understanding and human compassion, the strength of selflessness and cooperation, and the creative dynamism of the will to live and to build, and the will to forgive. The will for reconciliation.” – from Introductions East & West. The Foreign Prefaces of Thomas Merton

“If we want to be spiritual, then, let us first of all live our lives. Let us not fear the responsibilities and the inevitable distractions of the work appointed for us by the will of God. Let us embrace reality and thus find ourselves immersed in the life-giving will and wisdom of God which surrounds us everywhere. “ – from Thoughts in Solitude

Blessings,

Derik