Survival or Prophecy? The Correspondence of Jean Leclercq and Thomas Merton
Produktdetaljer
Biografisk notat
Patrick Hart, OCSO, (1925-2019), a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, entered the Abbey of Gethsemani in 1951 and served as secretary to Thomas Merton during the last year of his life. He edited many books by and about Thomas Merton during the thirty-eight years since the latter's death on December 10, 1968. He had served on the board of directors for Cistercian Publications for the past thirty years. Michael Casey, OCSO, has been a monk of Tarrawarra Abbey (Australia) since 1960. In the intervening years he has conducted many retreats and workshops on every continent (except Antarctica) and has written many articles on topics relating to monastic history and spirituality. He is also the author of many books, including The Road to Eternal Life: Reflections on the Prologue of Benedict's Rule and Seventy-Four Tools for Good Living: Reflections on the Fourth Chapter of Benedict’s Rule, both from Liturgical Press.Recommended for Merton fans and theological libraries.Catholic Library World
. . . provides a valuable evaluation of the dilemmas of Leclercq and Merton in the light of monks’ and nuns’ situation in the twenty-first century.Revue d’Histoire Ecclesiastique
A timely republished book which with the new afterword enables us not only to gain a deeper insight into Merton and Leclercq’s dialogue, but also into ecclesial issues about charism and institution which are always around us.Cistercian Studies Quarterly
This book will appeal primarily to fans of Thomas Merton and historians of post-Vatican II monasticism.<i>Liguorian</i>
The twenty-year correspondence between Jean Leclercq, a French Benedictine monk and scholar, and Thomas Merton, an American Cistercian monk, provides a fascinating record of their common yearnings. What is a monk?" is the question at the center of their exchange, and they answer it with great aplomb, touching on the role of ancient texts and modern conveniences, the advantage of hermit life and community life, the fierce Catholicism of the monastic past and a new openness to the approaches of other traditions. These letters 'full of learning, human insight, and self-deprecating humor 'capture the excitement of the Catholic Church in the era of the Second Vatican Council.
Foreword by Rembert G. Weakland, OSB ix
Introduction by Patrick Hart, OCSO xvii
Editor's Note xxi
LETTERS 1
Afterword by Michael Casey, OCSO 131
Appendix
Chronology: Jean Leclercq 145
Chronology: Thomas Merton 149
Index 153