The Springs of Contemplation: A Retreat at the Abbey of Gethsemani
About this ebook
"Here, speaking to this little group of nuns, is a great spiritual leader, compassionate and gifted, sharing his own vision with all of us, intelligently, and with love." —Sister Mary Luke Tobin, SL, from the Introduction
In December 1967 and May 1968, Trappist monk and author Thomas Merton held two spiritual retreats at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky. The attendees were contemplative prioresses invited to join Merton in discussing the communities they serve and issues in their personal lives during an era of great societal, political, and cultural changes.
The Springs of Contemplation presents the transcripts of these thought-provoking conversations on such topics as
- Responsibility in a Community of Love
- Respect for Each Person, Diversity in Community
- Honesty in Choosing Life, Union with God
- The Feminine Mystique
- Zen: A Way of Living Life Directly
- Acting in Freedom and Obedience
"This book will appeal to religious, especially contemplative religious, as it often deals directly with questions concerning them. Especially interesting and informative are Merton's insights on the place of women and the feminine in the modern church and society. . . . The book will also appeal to all who are interested in the prophetic aspect of Merton. Here he raises his voice, not only on religious and ecclesiastical issues, but on social and political ones as well. Often in these discussions Merton is at his feisty best as he lashes out at the ridiculous in the church and society. But here, too, is compassion, charity, mercy, understanding, and joy." —Richard Weber, Merton Seasonal
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About the author
Thomas Merton (1915-1968) is one of the foremost spiritual thinkers of the twentieth century. Though he lived a mostly solitary existence as a Trappist monk, he had a dynamic impact on world affairs through his writing. An outspoken proponent of the antiwar and civil rights movements, he was both hailed as a prophet and castigated for his social criticism. He was also unique among religious leaders in his embrace of Eastern mysticism, positing it as complementary to the Western sacred tradition. Merton is the author of over forty books of poetry, essays, and religious writing, including Mystics and Zen Masters, and The Seven Story Mountain, for which he is best known. His work continues to be widely read to this day.
