I’ve been thinking about my previous post. Thomas Merton is one of my spiritual ancestors. I often refer to his Seven Storey Mountain and compare his journey with mine. Merton was a mystic and maybe only mystics really understand him. I came across one of his quotes from “Seeds of Destruction.” This speaks volumes about … Read more
One of the stories in today’s news is about the FBI surveillance of the Thomas Merton Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It turns out that members of the Merton Center were distributing pamphlets that flatly declared that there were no WMD in Iraq. Through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) the ACLU discovered that these Catholic … Read more
I’m writing about a documentary I have not seen yet. Nonetheless, I feel compelled to comment on the apparent success of a movie about contemplatives. Into Great Silence has drawn large crowds in Germany. There is no talking, no commentary only the sights and sounds of a great monastery. In a day when most of … Read more
When I was growing up in the late 1950’s and 1960’s the Catholic Church was booming in western New York. I attended a Catholic primary school where we had eight Franciscan nuns for teachers. There was one lay person who taught kindergarten but all the rest of the instructional staff were nuns. Every week one … Read more
“I will lead you into the desert and there I will speak to your heart.”-Hosea 2:14 What a wonderful passage and yet how often have I moaned and groaned about being in the desert? How often do I long to be constantly living in the land of milk and honey. Life is full of bumps … Read more
If you’d like to support other monastic communities who produce a variety of goods then Monastery Greetings is a great online resource. I became aware of them about three years ago and since that time have made several orders. Their website boasts, “the website and catalog that sells only products from monasteries, religious communities and … Read more
I received a note from the Buddhist community at nearby Alfred, New York that the Dalai Lama will be visiting the University at Buffalo in September of this year. I hope to attend. I have read a few of the Dalai Lama’s books and I am delighted that I will be able to see him … Read more
Today I am filled with hope as I spotted the first robin of the spring time. Spring was my grandmother’s favorite season. I can still hear her voice as she delightfully announced the sighting of her first robin. This has been a relatively easy winter in western New York. Still it is always a delight … Read more
I was reading Steve Bogners’ blog, Catholicism, Holiness and Spirituality, this morning and came across a post for LaserMonks. A pastor friend of mine first recommended them to me several years ago. They have a great line of inks and toner and stand behind what they sell. Like other monastic communities their proceeds go to … Read more
When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall, always.-Mahatma Gandhi Gospel living can seem quaint, idealistic and naive. This is one of my favorite … Read more
