The Thomas Merton Society
of Great Britain & Ireland
Since 1993, The Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain & Ireland has been at the forefront of exploring the life & writings of Merton and his impact on the contemporary world, with conferences, retreats and the publication of the Merton Journal.
Oakham Conference 2018
Our 2018 Residential Conference, fifty years after Merton's death in December, 1968,
was held at Oakham School at the start of April. The theme of the conference was:
Facing the Life-and-Death Issues
The keynote speakers were Pat Gaffney & Gordon Oyer
There were further 10 presenters of papers. The conference artist was Ric Stott
2018 Conference Programme
The Merton Collection
Over the years the Society has built up a comprehensive collection of books, journals and volumes of letters by Merton along with a wide range of critical commentaries on Merton's work as well as recordings of talks and conferences given by Merton. The collection is now housed at St Michael's Priory, Willen outside Milton Keynes, where it may be freely consulted by all.
St Michael's Priory website Details about the Collection Link to the Merton Collection
Dates for your diary
A European symposium to mark the fiftieth anniversary of
the death of Thomas Merton.
Friday 11th – Sunday 13th January 2019
Muensterschwarzach Abbey, Germany.
In his own time Merton lamented the loss of confidence in media communications. He met this with prayer, study, contemplation, voluntary poverty, solitude and writing. In the face of a continuing arms race, violent discrimination of all kinds, social injustice and corruption of public discourse, Merton worked persistently for human solidarity and authentic communication. As political populism, racism, xenophobia and war rhetoric once again seem to become increasingly acceptable in the public sphere, we turn for guidance to Merton’s late writings. Speakers include Dr. Bonnie Thurston, P. Dr. Anselm Grün OSB, P. Otto Betler OSB, Abt Michael Reepen OSB, Prof. P. Dr. Kosmas Thielmann OCist, Dr. Malgorzata Poks, Dr. Ash Cocksworth, Dr. h.c. Wunibald Müller, Andreas Ebert, Gary Hall, Detlev Cuntz.
Selected Recent Publications
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Silence, Joy - A Selection of Writings by Christopher Wait, ed. - 22 November 2018 |
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The Significance of the Writing of by Maryann Pasda Diedwardo |
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Superabundantly Alive: Thomas Merton's Dance with the Feminine by Susan McCaslin & J S Porter - 12 Nov 2018 |
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The Waters of Siloe by Thomas Merton - 15 October 2018 Publisher's Details Amazon Link |
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Cistercian Fathers and Forefathers: by Thomas Merton & Patrick O'Connell, ed. |
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Spiritual Voices by Eleanor Clitheroe & S Brooke Anderson, ed. Publisher's Details Amazon Link |
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Thomas Merton - Evil and Why We Suffer: From Purified Soul Theodicy to Zen by David E. Orberson - 18 June 2018 |
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In Praise of a Useless Life: A Monk's Memoir by Paul Quenon - 30 May 2018 |
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Where Prayer Flourishes by Thomas Merton - 31 May 2018 |
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Thomas Merton Meets the Unspeakable: Redezvous in Thailand by Jerome Donovan - pub. 1 May 2018 Publisher's Details Amazon Link |
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What I Am Living For: Lessons for Life from the Life and Writings of Thomas Merton by Jon M. Sweeney (editor) - pub. 30 April 2018 |
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The Monk's Record Player: Thomas Merton, Bob Dylan and the Perilous Summer of 1966 by Robert Hudson - pub. 30 April 2018 |
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Our Centenary Edition of The Merton Journal, Universal Vision, is an enlarged volume of 200 pages with contributors from across Europe. It explores Merton's profound legacy in a unique collection of essays and meditations; and it also includes some of Merton's own newly-discovered student articles from his time at Cambridge University in 1933-34. All members receive copies of the Journal. Further copies are available for £8.99 +P&P. Contact centenary.edition@thomasmertonsociety.org.uk for further details. |
Further recent publications can be found under the 'Publications' tab