Overview

Thomas Merton has been called ""An American Prophet"" and ""The Conscience of America."" Throughout the tumultuous 1960s, Merton was a vocal advocate for the civil rights and peace movements. Merton was the first major religious figure in America to come out against the Vietnam War. He convinced Martin Luther King, Jr. to add his voice to the cause. In the fall of 1968, Merton left the safety of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani monastery in Kentucky to go on what would be known as his Asian Journey. He could not have known at the time that he would never leave Southeast Asia alive. Or did he? Judiciously researched and revealed by the man who discovered Merton's worldly possessions-removed from the abbey on orders of the abbot after Merton's death and safeguarded by a fellow monk and a nun who had been Merton's friend and acolyte. Half a century since her friend and teacher died, the nun revealed Merton's secret. Here is her incredible story about Merton's daring plan that might have saved tens of thousands of lives.

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9781952232671

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In early summer of 2015, I received a phone call, totally out of the blue, from a gentleman wanting to visit the Merton Center and who had an astonishing story he was bursting to share, most especially with someone like myself who would understand the unique significance of that remarkable story. So it was that in late July 2015 John Smelcer walked, almost bounced, I have to say, he was so wired with excitement and anticipation, into the Merton Center and into my life. -Dr. Paul Pearson, Director of the Thomas Merton Center (from the Foreword) John Smelcer has faithfully told my story and that of my late husband and our beloved friend and brother in Christ, Thomas Merton. -Helen Marie Grimes (formerly Sister Mary Pius) For more than fifty years, I and many have lived with the suspicion that Thomas Merton, like his friend Martin Luther King, Jr., died a martyr. This amazing and thoroughly documented book that reads like a detective story reveals a startling twist in the story, confirming what I have long believed: The answer is Yes. The meaning is for all to ponder. -Matthew Fox, author of Original Blessing and A Way to God: Thomas Merton's Creation Spirituality Journey A. J. Heschel, my mentor at the Jewish Theological Seminary, loved Merton's work and introduced me to his writings. Here was an ally to Jews who were at the time hoping that the Catholic Church would go beyond eliminating the Church's teaching of hatred toward Jews and require every parish to teach its children about the way Christianity had been a major force in developing hatred of Jews. It was only later, as a social change activist that I found Merton to be a great inspiration for all of us who sought to heal and transform the world. Enacting Love reminds us of how very much we lost in Merton's probable assassination, just as we lost Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy that same year. His writings continue to make him a welcome ally to all of us involved in trying to build a society of love and justice. -Rabbi Michael Lerner, Editor of Tikkun

""In early summer of 2015, I received a phone call, totally out of the blue, from a gentleman wanting to visit the Merton Center and who had an astonishing story he was bursting to share, most especially with someone like myself who would understand the unique significance of that remarkable story. So it was that in late July 2015 John Smelcer walked, almost bounced, I have to say, he was so wired with excitement and anticipation, into the Merton Center and into my life."" -Dr. Paul Pearson, Director of the Thomas Merton Center (from the Foreword) ""John Smelcer has faithfully told my story and that of my late husband and our beloved friend and brother in Christ, Thomas Merton."" -Helen Marie Grimes (formerly Sister Mary Pius) ""For more than fifty years, I and many have lived with the suspicion that Thomas Merton, like his friend Martin Luther King, Jr., died a martyr. This amazing and thoroughly documented book that reads like a detective story reveals a startling twist in the story, confirming what I have long believed: The answer is Yes. The meaning is for all to ponder."" -Matthew Fox, author of Original Blessing and A Way to God: Thomas Merton's Creation Spirituality Journey ""A. J. Heschel, my mentor at the Jewish Theological Seminary, loved Merton's work and introduced me to his writings. Here was an ally to Jews who were at the time hoping that the Catholic Church would go beyond eliminating the Church's teaching of hatred toward Jews and require every parish to teach its children about the way Christianity had been a major force in developing hatred of Jews. It was only later, as a social change activist that I found Merton to be a great inspiration for all of us who sought to heal and transform the world. Enacting Love reminds us of how very much we lost in Merton's probable assassination, just as we lost Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy that same year. His writings continue to make him a welcome ally to all of us involved in trying to build a society of love and justice."" -Rabbi Michael Lerner, Editor of Tikkun

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