About this ebook
Editor Kathleen Deignan has carefully selected and arranged passages from Merton’s vast works into a rhythm of prayers for dawn, day, dusk, and dark for each day of the week. Enriched with psalms, prayers, readings, and reflections, this book creates a sanctuary for quiet contemplation and divine connection amid the busyness of daily life.
A Book of Hours draws from Thomas Merton’s rich writings and blends elements of Christian liturgy to guide both personal and communal prayer. It includes:
- Verses, hymns, and antiphons to invite prayer and reflection throughout the day.
- Psalms, canticles, and litanies for deep spiritual dialogue, praise, and insight.
- Readings and responsories for lectio divina, with Merton’s writings offering spiritual guidance.
- Exhortations and meditations to inspire and challenge us.
- The ancient examen practice, helping us reflect on our thoughts, habits, and true self.
Let A Book of Hours guide you into moments of peace and spiritual renewal, inviting you to pause, reflect, and rediscover the sacred in every moment.
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About the author
Thomas Merton (1915-1968) is widely acclaimed as one of the most influential spiritual masters of the twentieth century. A monk, poet, spiritual writer, and social activist, he is perhaps best known for his spiritual autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain. A Book of Hours is the first book that organizes Merton’s writings entirely as a source for prayer and contemplation.
Kathleen Deignan is an educator, theologian, and composer. A sister of the Congregation of Notre Dame, she holds a master’s degree in Christian spirituality and a doctorate in historical theology from Fordham University. Deignan is a professor of Religious Studies at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York, where she founded and directs the Iona Spirituality Institute. She is composer in residence for Schola Ministries which has produced over a dozen of her recordings of original sacred songs (www.ScholaMinistries.org).
Deignan has written numerous articles in the area of classical and contemporary spirituality, particularly on the legacy of Thomas Merton. She is also the editor of When the Trees Say Nothing, a collection of Merton’s writings on nature. Learn more about Kathleen Deignan by visiting www.kathleendeignan.org.
Internationally known artist John Giuliani is an American spiritual and cultural treasure. His widely acclaimed works, which typically blend Native American images with traditional Christian iconography, are displayed in churches across the United States. Giuliani oversees The Benedictine Grange, a spiritual center in West Redding, Connecticut, which he founded in 1977.
