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 Quiet Day on Thomas Merton
with Bonnie Thurston
Saturday 22nd September 2018
at St Katharine's House, East London
After an introduction to Merton's life and thought, we will explore what he
meant by 'contemplation'. There will be time and space for
silent reflection as well as questions and discussion.
An Exhibition of Paintings by Robert Wright
Some reflections in abstract art on themes arising from
Thomas Merton's call to transform our hearts and lives.
Friday 2nd November - Thursday 15th November
at Whirlow Spirituality Centre, Sheffield
With intense use of colour, in twenty striking abstact patterns, Robert explores
the solitude and silence of Merton's dark path of contemplation.
In addition Robert will be leading two workshops reflecting on his own work
in conjunction with photographs by Merton on November 2nd and November 5th.
Further details and booking for workshops
Merton & Barth – A Shared Legacy
Saturday 24 November 2018
A study day held at St Michael’s Priory, Milton Keynes
The Catholic monk and writer Thomas Merton and the Protestant theologian Karl Barth both died
on December 10th, 1968. From their differing backgrounds both have since emerged as extremely
influential figures, shaping both twentieth-century Christian thought and yet remaining
increasingly relevant to our present times.
with Gary Hall & Ashley Cocksworth
This event is in an advanced stage of planning. Full details will be included in due course.
The Spiritual Roots of Protest & Merton's Enduring Legacy
Saturday 8 December 2018
A study day held at The Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
led by Jim Forest
Jim Forest has been a tireless worker for peace since the early 1960s. He was a co-founder of the
Catholic Peace Fellowship in the 1960s while serving alongside Dorothy Day as managing editor of
The Catholic Worker. He is one of the few people still living who knew Merton as a friend and co-worker.
with James Cronin, Hugh Foy, Leah Robinson & Jeffrey Smith
This events is in an advanced stage of planning. Full details will be included in due course.
'To be human in this most inhuman of ages'
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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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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Merton's Palace of Nowhere: 40th Anniversary Edition by James Finley - pub. 30th March 20-18 |
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The Martyrdom of Thomas Merton: by Hugh Turley & David Martin |
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The Art of Thomas Merton: A Divine Passion in Word and Vision by John Moses - pub. 13 February 2018 |
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At Play in the Lion's Den: A Biography and Memoir of Daniel Berrigan by Jim Forrest - 30 December 2017 |
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The Spirit of Simplicity by Jean-Baptiste Chautard pub. 10 November 2017 |
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From the Monastery to the World: ed Jessie Sandoval - pub. 26 September 2017 |
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The Pocket Thomas Merton ed Robert Inchausti - pub. 20 August 2017 |
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A Course in Christian Mysticism: by Thomas Merton - pub. 15 August 2017 |
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Merton and the Protestant Tradition by William O Pausel - pub. 1 July 2017 |
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The ABCs of Thomas Merton: by Gregory & Eliabeth Ryan - pub. 10 June 2017 |
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Pure Act: The Uncommon Life of Robert Lax by Michael N. McGregor - pub. 1 May 2017 |
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Natural Spirituality, Thomas Merton and Christian Renewal by Kenneth Bragan - pub. 12 April 2017 |
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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