Thomas Merton has been rightly called “one of the most influential Catholic authors of the 20th century,” but his influence has spread far beyond the limits of the Catholic population. December 10th marks the day that American Trappist monk Thomas Mer
The endurance and diversity of his influence is due in large part to the strict observance of The Rule of St. Benedict Merton practiced at The Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, the monastery where he spent his 27 years as a monk.
Despite the fact that some viewed him as a “celebrity monk”, Merton remained focused on his disciplined life as a Trappist. Those naming him as an influence and referencing his works range from 60’s folk music icon Joan Baez to present-day conservative Emerging Church pastor Mark Driscoll.
Merton’s life of disciplined submission enabled him to produce many works that remain influential to this day. Calvinist mystics Richard Foster in
A Celebration of Discipline and Don Postema in
Space For God both quote generously from his works. At the other end of the spectrum, there is a resurgence of interest in selected elements of Merton’s writings in the more mystical branches of the Emergent Church Movement.
Two references – both positive – can be found in the letters of C.S. Lewis. In a letter to Dom Bede Griffiths on December 20th, 1961 Lewis asks, “Have you read anything by an American Trappist called Thomas Merton? I’m at present on his No Man Is an Island. It is the best new spiritual reading I’ve met for a long time.” Lewis mentions Merton again three days later in a letter to an American friend. “I’ve been greatly impressed,” Lewis writes, “by the work of an American Trappist called Thomas Merton –
No Man Is An Island. You probably know it?”
Merton’s influence extended far beyond Christendom, and it was the alliances he formed with non-Christians, mostly eastern religious holy men, that some today use as the basis for accusations of syncretism and heresy.
Merton met The Dalai Lama only once, shortly before his death in 1968, but they profoundly impacted one another. “When he died,” The Dalai Lama said, “I felt that I had lost personally one of my best friends.” Although only having spent one session of time together, Merton left such an impression on The Dalai Lama that he began to refer to Merton in speeches and whenever he was asked to address the need for understanding between the East and the West.
This spiritual leader of millions of Buddhists around the world would say of Merton, “I could learn still more from him.” Because of the enduring impact of Merton’s presence, Buddhist monk communities in India began to learn about Christian tradition, citing social work, social affairs, and excellence in education as Christian traditions to aspire to. Summarizing his encounter with Merton, the Dalai Lama said, “He made a great impression on me. When I think or feel something Christian, immediately his picture, his vision, his face comes to me.”
Toward the end of his life, Merton maintained letter relationships and occasionally communicated in person with those in the outside world, including 1960’s folk-music icon Joan Baez. This and a number of other outside encounters have led some to call him the “Celebrity Monk,” but Merton’s dedication to the Monastic life, by most accounts, remained to the end of his life.
To read a more extensive review of Merton's life and writings visit the author's
Thomas Merton page.
