It's always refreshing to hear the sound of the voice of the man who wrote with such skill, intensity, passion and love. Merton is one of my spiritual mentors, who's writings have help me and countless others on their 'journey' through the years. Thanks for putting it together for others to enjoy! Peace, Joy and Love
What an utterly delightful moment of novice class by the true master! It's Merton's pure "love for love's sake" that makes me cry for joy, remembering cold Winter mornings at Gethsemene -- warmed by the presence of God. Thank you so much, my friend.
I had the honor of meeting Fr. Louis in the bookshop at Gethsemani KY in 1965. I naturally knew who he was, and what he was about, but never did I think he would command the attention and respect he has received nearly fifty years later.
Twenty some odd years ago I could not imagine even 12 people who knew about Merton. Today, it is truly remarkable how his work has expanded to new audiences...
TheChaz2011 - Thank you, sir, good comment. Thomas Merton lived in New York before he became a Trappist monk. He enjoyed jazz music. He was human like the rest of us. Yet he opened the eyes of many to the light of heaven in his own particular way. In a very real, human, authentic, relatable, non-threatening, joyous way. I am grateful.
oh my lord, i never before heard audio of merton's voice... and here i'm 1:42 into the talk and he's giving the novices pointers on how they should keep two towels out, and keep one dry while using the other which is then put on the line to dry while the other is now available for use..... and i swear i've said these same words, more or less, to my poor wife more than a few times... and boy does merton sound more like a larry david type than i'd imagined (which is a good thing, mostly, i think).
6:27 - A Christian is free. And the will of God in the life of a Christian is the work of the Christian and God, working together, both freely. This is the work of two freedoms together.
@TheChaz2011: If Novices left, they did so for the usual and varied reasons that Novices leave, not because of Merton, or what you judge as arrogance. Your comment, I'm afraid, reeks of ignorance. He made them laugh. They enjoyed his company. If you studied his life in depth, you'll see that he was appreciated and held with affection by younger monks. This video is both, young men being entertained, yet also educated by Merton. A great skill. His tone of voice is that of a scholar. A holy man.
Renunciation is an an excellent theme; people get too attached... "...streams of fresh and soft-flowing waters have gushed from the rocks through the sweetness of the words uttered by your Lord, the Unconstrained; and still ye slumber. Cast away that which ye possess, and, on the wings of detachment, soar beyond all created things..." ~ Baha'u'llah, Book of Laws
Dear Mr. Ohjok, First of all lay off the ignorance comment. Having been a trappist for over fifteen years working next to those who knew Him well. YES!! He was a sinner like all of us. Not a little GOD! In a complete human way he made positive contributions. GOD GRANT HIM ETERNAL REST!
TheChaz2011 - Thank you, sir, good comment. Thomas Merton lived in New York before he became a Trappist monk. He enjoyed jazz music. He was human like the rest of us. Yet he opened the eyes of many to the light of heaven in his own particular way. In a very real, human, authentic, relatable, non-threatening, joyous way. I am grateful.
ruzickaw Merton attended college in New York City & was close friends with guys who became secular magazine editors etc. He was probably used to fast talkers. As for his name, his religious name was Father Louis.
eottoe2001 So true. I was raised Catholic, although this is irrellevent- I agree that it is unfortunate to read many negative comments - I have no idea why or what their point is. "A salesman"? This sort of accent, for the most part..is... the manner in which people talked - those born and raised and having lived in the early and mid 20th C. On the other end- Someone commented that he did not talk enough and only used the pen! I think some of his early work may have been a bit presumptuous- yet- have any of you grown in spirit without falling prey to any one of a number of manifestations of ego??? I can only speak for myself- Jesus made it every clear that we need others, and others need us so that we grow spiritually. Paradoxically, if the need is misplaced then... the need become distorted- "I need her" (and this can drive a person crazy as this is consuming me at the moment). I am so grateful that I can listen to Thomas Merton at a moment of feeling very broken thank God for his gift of pen and "salesmanship". No fooling myself about what I think, or have thought in the past, is important or essential. The sorrow and sense of separation from God. This particular feeling of separation is far more tangible than separation from a relationship, habit, drug or whatever. This separation is visceral on a spiritual level. Mr Merton reviews this while talking about the thoughts and writings of St Bernard. I am eternally grateful for Merton's views and review of this and many other matters of the struggle.
BuisD This explains the ignorant comment of ruzickaw : ruzickaw 1 year ago It's good to make fun of everything esoteric. It is the best protection to avoid falling into the trap of those stupid.
hier nur ein kurzer Vortrag von Thomas Merton, - der Sie zu allem andern fuehren wird, wenn Sie, Team von SternstundeReligion und Pilosophie interessiert sind...- Thomas Merton, dies in 1068, - just like he said God in his freedom could decide, - maybe in a thunderbolt, (it was electocution in his case), a genius-saint, most of us have overlooked, - who had so much to say about true spirituality..
Dear Journeys2008, You blended Tom's words with select videos beautifully. How thoughtful and careful of you, mon frere. I should like to subscribe. How may I do this? Mike Johnson, Milwaukee (promethia3vny)
@SoloFlyer55 The men who were the Desert Fathers were disciples of the Apostles through succession. You should read them before you criticize them: their sayings and deeds are of such holiness that we can only marvel at and give glory to God. They were men, indeed, but so were the disciples, the kings and prophets of Israel, for God always used human fallible means to achieve his perfect divine ends, as God's Word shows us.
he never took much action. the only action he took was with a pen which doesnt require much pain. of course we are attracted to the scholar in him for everyones ego desires to be scholarly. didheevertake careof the sick and suffering
cp1044 Your comment comes directly from your own ignorance on the subject of Thomas Merton, renunciation, action and the purpose of scholarship. You would do well to learn what true humility is.
If you don't think writing requires hard and solitary work/action you are sadly ignorant and mistaken. And prayer for the world is the work of monks and nuns. We need their kind of action.
Have you not read his poetry and other spiritual writings then? He was teaching 18 year old young men. He met them appropriately and skillfully for their stage in life. Read his journals.
It's always refreshing to hear the sound of the voice of the man who wrote with such skill, intensity, passion and love. Merton is one of my spiritual mentors, who's writings have help me and countless others on their 'journey' through the years. Thanks for putting it together for others to enjoy! Peace, Joy and Love
What an utterly delightful moment of novice class by the true master! It's Merton's pure "love for love's sake" that makes me cry for joy, remembering cold Winter mornings at Gethsemene -- warmed by the presence of God. Thank you so much, my friend.
I love the fact he amuses his students and you can tell by this they are listening to him with full attention. Wonderful teacher!
I had the honor of meeting Fr. Louis in the bookshop at Gethsemani KY in 1965. I naturally knew who he was, and what he was about, but never did I think he would command the attention and respect he has received nearly fifty years later.
Twenty some odd years ago I could not imagine even 12 people who knew about Merton. Today, it is truly remarkable how his work has expanded to new audiences...
I love hearing his voice - I had never heard it before. Thanks.
TheChaz2011 - Thank you, sir, good comment. Thomas Merton lived in New York before he became a Trappist monk. He enjoyed jazz music. He was human like the rest of us. Yet he opened the eyes of many to the light of heaven in his own particular way. In a very real, human, authentic, relatable, non-threatening, joyous way. I am grateful.
Me too!
Thanks to RUclips, which makes our contact with Merton possible.
I like this. I have always had problems with predestination and now it feels a little better in listening to this.
all glories to our spiritual master Thomas merton
oh my lord, i never before heard audio of merton's voice... and here i'm 1:42 into the talk and he's giving the novices pointers on how they should keep two towels out, and keep one dry while using the other which is then put on the line to dry while the other is now available for use..... and i swear i've said these same words, more or less, to my poor wife more than a few times... and boy does merton sound more like a larry david type than i'd imagined (which is a good thing, mostly, i think).
6:27 - A Christian is free. And the will of God in the life of a Christian is the work of the Christian and God, working together, both freely. This is the work of two freedoms together.
This is so good. I only wish there was a continuation of it somewhere.
@TheChaz2011: If Novices left, they did so for the usual and varied reasons that Novices leave, not because of Merton, or what you judge as arrogance. Your comment, I'm afraid, reeks of ignorance. He made them laugh. They enjoyed his company. If you studied his life in depth, you'll see that he was appreciated and held with affection by younger monks. This video is both, young men being entertained, yet also educated by Merton. A great skill. His tone of voice is that of a scholar. A holy man.
Renunciation is an an excellent theme; people get too attached... "...streams of fresh and soft-flowing waters have gushed from the rocks through the sweetness of the words uttered by your Lord, the Unconstrained; and still ye slumber. Cast away that which ye possess, and, on the wings of detachment, soar beyond all created things..." ~ Baha'u'llah, Book of Laws
"Go into the possibilities that exist."
Dear Mr. Ohjok, First of all lay off the ignorance comment. Having been a trappist for over fifteen years working next to those who knew Him well. YES!! He was a sinner like all of us. Not a little GOD! In a complete human way he made positive contributions. GOD GRANT HIM ETERNAL REST!
TheChaz2011 - Thank you, sir, good comment. Thomas Merton lived in New York before he became a Trappist monk. He enjoyed jazz music. He was human like the rest of us. Yet he opened the eyes of many to the light of heaven in his own particular way. In a very real, human, authentic, relatable, non-threatening, joyous way. I am grateful.
"Suppose he suddenly decides to blast you with a thunderbolt or something." Eerily prescient.
100% our effort, 100% God's direction, meet on the alter at the Eucharist, is the way one priest put it in a homily recently. "Trust love." Yes!
OOPS! Where the hell did I get Lewis? You are right of course; Louis.
Thanks for the correction.
Actually, his priestly name was Father Lewis.
ruzickaw Merton attended college in New York City & was close friends with guys who became secular magazine editors etc. He was probably used to fast talkers. As for his name, his religious name was Father Louis.
+Xander Taylor Is there ANYBODY in New York City who isn't "used to fast talkers"?
From Misión Cruz Hermitage in Somerset, Texas. Blessings
eottoe2001 So true. I was raised Catholic, although this is irrellevent- I agree that it is unfortunate to read many negative comments - I have no idea why or what their point is. "A salesman"? This sort of accent, for the most part..is... the manner in which people talked - those born and raised and having lived in the early and mid 20th C. On the other end- Someone commented that he did not talk enough and only used the pen!
I think some of his early work may have been a bit presumptuous- yet- have any of you grown in spirit without falling prey to any one of a number of manifestations of ego???
I can only speak for myself- Jesus made it every clear that we need others, and others need us so that we grow spiritually. Paradoxically, if the need is misplaced then... the need become distorted- "I need her" (and this can drive a person crazy as this is consuming me at the moment). I am so grateful that I can listen to Thomas Merton at a moment of feeling very broken thank God for his gift of pen and "salesmanship". No fooling myself about what I think, or have thought in the past, is important or essential. The sorrow and sense of separation from God. This particular feeling of separation is far more tangible than separation from a relationship, habit, drug or whatever. This separation is visceral on a spiritual level.
Mr Merton reviews this while talking about the thoughts and writings of St Bernard. I am eternally grateful for Merton's views and review of this and many other matters of the struggle.
BuisD
This explains the ignorant comment of ruzickaw :
ruzickaw
1 year ago
It's good to make fun of everything esoteric. It is the best protection to avoid falling into the trap of those stupid.
hier nur ein kurzer Vortrag von Thomas Merton, - der Sie zu allem andern fuehren wird, wenn Sie, Team von SternstundeReligion und Pilosophie interessiert sind...- Thomas Merton, dies in 1068, - just like he said God in his freedom could decide, - maybe in a thunderbolt, (it was electocution in his case), a genius-saint, most of us have overlooked, - who had so much to say about true spirituality..
thank you, I must order these! :)
your vocation isnt something that is in a filing cabinet in heaven
metaphorically speaking.
Thank you again !
why do they call him Thomas Merton, I thought he was a priest, so wouldn't you call him Father Merton??
I believe because he was a mystic, so the catholics basically disowned him - I might be wrong, but that's my best response.
Dear Journeys2008,
You blended Tom's words with select videos beautifully. How thoughtful and careful of you, mon frere. I should like to subscribe. How may I do this? Mike Johnson, Milwaukee (promethia3vny)
@SoloFlyer55 The men who were the Desert Fathers were disciples of the Apostles through succession. You should read them before you criticize them: their sayings and deeds are of such holiness that we can only marvel at and give glory to God. They were men, indeed, but so were the disciples, the kings and prophets of Israel, for God always used human fallible means to achieve his perfect divine ends, as God's Word shows us.
amazing.
Louis.
Musique douce
@gondorado Oh my goodness, then he talked about God "blasting you with a thunderbolt"! Yikes.
listen the music of URBANO MEDEIROS spiritual son of T. Merton !!!
he never took much action. the only action he took was with a pen which doesnt require much pain. of course we are attracted to the scholar in him for everyones ego desires to be scholarly. didheevertake careof the sick and suffering
cp1044 Your comment comes directly from your own ignorance on the subject of Thomas Merton, renunciation, action and the purpose of scholarship. You would do well to learn what true humility is.
he was a Catholic monk. he brook free as a Christian. i have been been inspired by words in his books.
If you don't think writing requires hard and solitary work/action you are sadly ignorant and mistaken. And prayer for the world is the work of monks and nuns. We need their kind of action.
You have a valid point. As a mendicant that renunciated the World, our Lord not only prayed but attended to the poor and healed the sick.
disapointing. His voice has no calm. He speaks like a salesman.
Have you not read his poetry and other spiritual writings then? He was teaching 18 year old young men. He met them appropriately and skillfully for their stage in life. Read his journals.