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A Message of Contemplatives to the World

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A Message of Contemplatives to the World

By: Thomas Merton
Narrated by: Thomas Merton
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Enjoy one of the greatest recorded works by Thomas Merton, the 20th century’s greatest spiritual writer.

In the summer of 1967, religious communities around the world were experiencing a time of renewal and reflection. As monasteries sought to adopt practices prescribed by the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI asked two Cistercian monks to compose a message about the contemplative life. Those monks in turn sought the contributions of a fellow monk and master of contemplation - Thomas Merton. The resulting recording encapsulates the spiritual wisdom of a humble monk who changed the world.

This digitally remastered recording is part of Thomas Merton’s spoken word legacy and is one in a series of carefully curated and remastered archival recordings of Thomas Merton - available exclusively from Now You Know Media. Allow the voice of Thomas Merton to guide you along your spiritual journey.

©2018 Now You Know Media Inc. (P)2018 Now You Know Media Inc. Christianity Ministry & Evangelism
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A Message of Contemplatives to the World is is a letter from a cistercian Abby to Thomas Merton that was an inquiry from the Pope towards contemplatives on a message they can give to the world. Thomas Merton gave his thoughts on the initial letter, basically saying that contemplatives are really in no position to be any sort of moral authority on the world as they largely live outside of the world. but if they have to give a message the message can relay a comment on Karl Marx's view that religion leads to the alienation of man and more so that total freedom can be found through prayer. these thoughts are echoed throughout Thomas's response along with his endearing sense of humor and wit. you get the view that Thomas Merton's mind is extremely rare in the life of a monk. it is true that most monks don't look outside of their inherited tradition. which is to say that they are unconcerned with other religions and are blinded by how these religions do and don't intersect.

when Thomas Merton says something so striking as "every man in his life will encounter God, and many men that aren't Christians have dealt better with this encounter than Christians" it's a striking realization that this is a man of deep Faith but also rational clarity on the world and its inhabitants both of those inside the monastery inside the Christian tradition and outside of the Christian tradition as well. this is an astounding look into the mind of Thomas Martin and I look forward to reading more of his work.

An absolutely wonderful insight into the mind of Thomas Merton

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