Thomas Merton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Thomas Heathcote Merton January 31, 1915 |
| Died | December 10, 1968 (aged 53) |
| Education | Clare College, Cambridge Columbia University |
| Known for | Writing Poetry Social activism Pacifism |
| Title | Father Louis Merton (Trappist) |
Thomas Merton, born Thomas Heathcote Merton (January 31, 1915—December 10, 1968), was a popular Trappist monk that lived at The Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani from 1941 to 1968. He gained recognition for himself and the monastery in 1948 with the publication of his early autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain—which takes its name from Dante's "Purgatory" in the Divine Comedy and chronicles Merton's early life and conversion to Catholicism. As an outspoken opponent of the Cold War and the Vietnam War, Merton increasingly became known as a leading voice in the Catholic tradition. He engaged in global correspondences with 20th century thinkers and writers on subjects like peace and nonviolence, and formed meaningful relationships with members of Eastern religions, including: D.T. Suzuki, Thich Nhat Hanh, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Beginning in the 1950s, Merton started adopting elements of Christian humanism into his outlook.