Merton Society Event
29 January 2008
Father Patrick Eastman, former Priest in Charge at St Thomas of Canterbury, Fairford with St Mary’s, Cricklade is a committee member for the Merton Society. He writes with news of a forthcoming conference.
Thomas Merton has been a serious mentor in my spiritual life through his writings down through the years. As a married Catholic priest it may seem strange to say that this Cistercian monk from a monastery in Kentucky USA should be helpful in a life so different to his own. In the nearly thirty years of his life in the monastery right after the second world war his writings on prayer, and such social issues as war, the nuclear bomb, non-violence and racism were internationally influential and they certainly challenged, informed and encourage me in my life and ministry. His influence is still to be felt as is indicated by the fact that his books have been translated into at least 32 different languages.
I am not alone in my continued interest in Merton and I feel honoured to be a committee member of the International Thomas Merton Society and also of the one her in Great Britain and Ireland. I still find it immensely stimulating to meet with others to discuss and grapple with the issues that Merton spoke on so clearly in his own day. In England we meet together for a conference every other year. It is a time of prayer, study and renewal with scholars and interested people coming from all over the world. This year is the fortieth anniversary of his death and looks like being a great gathering; perhaps you would like to join us.
For conference details download the poster in the multimedia panel on the right.
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Multimedia
