Thomas Merton and the Monastic Vision

by Lawrence S. Cunningham

Book Overview

Though the outlines of Thomas Merton's life are generally known to his many readers, the details of his spiritual development are less familiar. Taking up where Merton's own Seven Storey Mountain ends, this penetrating biography by Lawrence Cunningham explores Merton's monastic life and his subsequent growth into a modern-day spiritual master.

Cunningham shows that Merton's prolific writings and his continuing influence can only be...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802802222
• ISBN13: 9780802802224
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A vision of Merton from his home

This work is an attempt to understand Merton against the background of his contemplative experience as a Trappist monk. For this is how Merton understood himself. Moving beyond Merton's autobiography (The Seven Storey Mountain), Cunningham enables one to see the motivations and struggles that pulled Merton toward the monastic life. He provides helpful insights into Merton's spiritual/intellectual formation, helping one to see the perspective from which he was able to have such keen insights into human life. Highly recommended.