Today my usual was interrupted by mother nature. We awoke to a blanket of five inches of snow and then freezing rain on top of that. I was to travel to Mt. Irenaeus for Mass and then a meeting our Secular Franciscan fraternity. I called Fr. Lou and then a couple of our members and decided it best to call off the meeting. Mt. Irenaeus is located at the top of 2200 foot hill in rural Allegany County. It sits astride a dirt road that can be treacherous with a coating of ice.
Thomas Merton
Happy is the man
I had the day off for Veterans Day. I drove some country roads I hadn’t been on in years. Eventually my driving brought me to a familiar stop. I arrived at Abbey of the Genesee and the first person to greet me was the familiar, Brother Christian. He said, “you haven’t been here in a while.” I said, “yes, it’s been a month or more since my last visit.”
Father Stephen
This story came in today’s mail. I thought it was too good not to share. There was an old Father at Gethsemani-one of those people you get in every large community, who was regarded as sort of a funny fellow. Really he was a saint. He died a beautiful death and, after he died, everyone … Read more
Sanity
This is poignant and timely. Every time I hear pundits and politicians speak of war in Iraq or war with Iran I hear the same sort of self-justification for destruction as is described here. There is always some reason why this all makes sense to them. One of the most disturbing facts that came out … Read more
Listen to the rain
A couple of nights ago I woke up to the sound of rain and I thought of Thomas Merton. Whenever it rains I think of Merton. I came up here [to his hermitage] from the monastery last night, sloshing through the cornfield, said Vespers, and put some oatmeal on the Coleman stove for supper. It … Read more
Merton and morality
It sometimes happens that the men who preach most vehemently about evil and the punishment of evil, so that they seem to have practically nothing else on their minds except sin, are really unconcious haters of other men. They think the world does not appreciate them, and this is their way of getting even.–Thomas Merton, Seeds of Contemplation.
This quote struck me once again tonight as I pondered the ramifications of the U.S. Senate’s recent vote to pass the Kyl-Lieberman amendment
A radical change
This quote came in the mail today from the Merton Institute. I liked it a lot and I’m putting it up here for reflection. Thomas Merton was and continues to be an influence in my life and contemplation as Merton defines it does change me. It is as Merton says, ” a radical change in … Read more
Soul Searching
I just finished watching a documentary I purchased today while visiting Abbey of the Genesee. Entitled “Soul Searching–The Journey of Thomas Merton,” it’s well worth your viewing time.
Blessed imperfection
In the last couple of days there have been two politicians exposed for hypocrisy. Why is it that these right wingers have taken it upon themselves to attempt to legislate a morality that they themselves cannot endure. Thomas Merton wrote of the shadow.
Do not resist an evil person
Nowadays, much of what passes as patriotism is actually fanaticism. In some quarters our attempts to combat fanatical forces that oppose us has actually engendered a movement towards fanaticism. I read this quote from Thomas Merton tonight and reflected on its message for today.