Abstract
The year 2015 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Merton who was born on31 January 1915. His writings cover diverse themes, which are of value to a myriad of faithtraditions. This article will trace his understanding of holiness and the way in which Mertonemphasised participation in the transformation of the world. It commences with a biographicaloverview of Merton and then Merton’s understanding of ‘holiness’ as growth of the ‘true self’in God is discussed. His work as social critic is outlined and the article ends with a reflectionof Merton’s understanding of ‘love’ and ‘compassion’ – a life before God.
Highlights
The year 2015 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Merton who was born on 31 January 1915
This article will trace the development of his understanding of holiness as the growth of the true self in God, an integration of contemplation and the quest for justice
Three years after he died, the Catholic bishops meeting in the synod on social justice stated: Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel, or, in other words, of the Church’s mission for the redemption of the human race and its liberation from every oppressive situation. (JW 6)
Summary
The year 2015 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Merton who was born on 31 January 1915. Learning who he truly was in God, his true self, gradually shaped his understanding of holiness as not an escape from the world but as love for the world and its people from the perspective of monastic life.
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