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Thomas Merton

This set of captivating talks brings you face to face with an intimate side of Thomas Merton—the monk, poet, scholar of literature, and social activist who rocked the 20th century. 

As with so many of the talks that Merton gave to his novice monks at the Abbey of Gethsemani, these talks put the progression of his thinking—from cloistered monastic life to issues of social justice and interreligious understanding—on view. 

Throughout Thomas Merton on the Christian Life, Merton stresses the spiritual necessity of transcending cultural differences. Other topics of interest include: the concept of spiritual poverty; cultural ideas of poverty; otherworldliness; and the contemplative life (as distinct from the religious life). 

Join Merton’s original audience 50 years into the future and be moved by his vision of active faith. 

This set includes an afterword by Anthony Ciorra.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection.

Learn25

Learn25: Thomas Merton Collection

Thomas Merton on the Christian Life

Recorded in 1964 at his monastery, Thomas Merton gave these lectures to novice Cistercians. Today, you are invited into Merton’s classroom for an intimate discussion about one of Christianty’s most influential figures. 

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, O. Cist. (1090–1153) is one of the most important figures in the history of Christianity: a founder, reformer, and Doctor of the Church. Now, you can take Thomas Merton, renowned mystic and follower of St. Bernard, as your guide for exploring the life and theology of St. Bernard. 

St. Bernard’s impact on Christianity is wide-reaching: he was the patron saint of the Knights Templar, and he influenced such figures as Hildegard of Bingen. Like St. Bernard, Thomas Merton was a member of the Cistercian Order, a group of religious men and women devoted to the monastic life. 

Founded in 1098, the Cistercian Order sought to restore the foundational Rule of St. Benedict. After entering the Cistercian Order, St. Bernard became the Abbot of Clairvaux, where he revived the monastic life. In these talks, Merton explores St. Bernard’s conversion story, his letters, and the power of the ascetic life – both in his time and in ours. 

Those looking to expand their knowledge of the history of Christianity will find this course fascinating.

This set includes an afterword by Dr. James Finley, one of Merton’s former students at Gethsemani.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection.

*Note: These lectures were recorded live in the open-air classrooms of Gethsemani where Merton gave instruction. One of the recordings contains some distortion from the wind.

Thomas Merton on St. Bernard of Clairvaux: Mellifluous Doctor

Sidney H. Griffith

Explore Thomas Merton’s encounter with Islam and its mystical tradition of Sufism with one of Catholicism’s great scholars.

Thomas Merton (1915–1968) was a Trappist monk whose numerous books made the Christian spiritual classics accessible to modern audiences. A pioneer in interreligious dialogue, he developed a profound interest in the mystical traditions of the world’s major religions. In addition to his multiple relationships with non-Catholic Christians, he engaged in correspondence with Jewish, Muslim, Zen Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindu thinkers. 

This captivating 6-lecture audio course focuses on Merton’s engagement with Islam. Your presenter is Professor Sidney Griffith (Ph.D., Catholic University of America), an expert in Muslim-Christian relations and a lifelong reader of Thomas Merton. Throughout the course, you will journey through the broad spectrum of Merton’s encounters with Muslims. 

You will look at Thomas Merton’s interest in Islamic mysticism, particularly in the traditions of Sufism. You will start by looking at his openness to “sharing the experience of the Divine light” with members of other religions. Then, as you explore Merton’s correspondence with scholars of Sufism and practicing Sufis, you will gain great insight into his spiritual mind. 

Thomas Merton was a remarkable spiritual thinker, and his interactions with Muslims provide a model of interfaith dialogue today. If you are interested in Merton’s ideas, you will love this course.

This course is part of the Learn25 Collection.

Mystics, Muslims, and Thomas Merton

Join Thomas Merton in exploring the timeless words of one of the world’s greatest poets, Rainer Maria Rilke. 

Before entering the monastery, Thomas Merton studied English at Columbia University and taught literature at St. Bonaventure University. His passion for literature never faded, and now you have the rare opportunity to take Thomas Merton as your guide in this set of his outstanding, remastered talks. Delivered to the community at the Abbey of Gethsemani in 1965 and 1966, Merton’s talks examine one of his favorite poets: Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926). 

Aside from William Blake, perhaps no poet had as great an influence on Merton as Rilke, who was arguably the greatest poet from turn-of-the century Europe. Born to a devout Catholic mother in nineteenth-century Bohemia, Rilke is cherished for his beautiful verse and his multifaceted views on faith. Deeply influenced by the spiritual figures of his time, Rilke sought to explore God through the imaginative possibilities of art. 

A renowned (and prolific) poet himself, Merton saw poetry as one of the most fundamental and profound modes of human expression. By exploring the works of Rilke, Merton marries his Catholic spirituality with his passion for poetry, showing how they complement and shed light on each other. 

By looking at such works as Duino Elegies, The Book of Hours, and Letters to a Young Poet, you will discover how Rilke demonstrates holiness through imaginative possibilities. As you listen to Merton’s voice, you will more fully appreciate the abiding power of poetry. 

This set includes an afterword by Thomas Merton biographer and literature professor Michael W. Higgins.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection.

Thomas Merton on the Poetry and Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke

Join Thomas Merton in exploring one of the most influential figures in the history of spirituality. Delivered in 1962 to the novices at Merton’s monastery, these talks allow you to hear his voice and experience his powerful teaching. 

Born in the fourth century, Saint John Cassian (A.D. 360 – 435) lived when tensions between the traditional and innovative peaked. A monk and theologian, Cassian made the Christian tradition relevant for the needs of his day in his spiritual works. Indeed, his spirituality remains essential today; he influenced Saints Benedict and Ignatius of Loyola, and his works continue to be read worldwide. 

These remastered recordings of his lectures give you the opportunity to discover the vitality of Cassian’s philosophy of prayer with Thomas Merton as your guide. A teacher par excellence, Merton breathes new life into ancient texts as he passes tradition onto novices. Merton’s conferences are not didactic presentations about Cassian’s teachings but meaningful applications of them to the modern world. 

Cassian integrated Eastern monasticism into Western thought, and his Conferences provide the principles of monastic life: unceasing prayer, charity, and asceticism. Especially compelling are his teachings about prayer and virtue and his examination of the “prayer of fire” as the goal of contemplation. 

Merton guides you through these topics and more in his captivating talks. You will discover why the mysticism of John Cassian is cherished in the monastic tradition and the wider Christian community alike. These conferences will inspire you as you explore your own spiritual life. 

This set includes an afterword by Fr. Anthony Ciorra.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection.

Ways of Prayer: Thomas Merton on a Desert Father's Wisdom

You are invited to hear some of Thomas Merton’s most impassioned lectures.

In 1962 at Gethsemani Abbey, Thomas Merton taught an extraordinary course on the heart of Benedictine spirituality. Through 16 digitally remastered recordings, you will encounter Merton as a master teacher, his voice reaching out across the decades to make monastic wisdom accessible to all of us. The Rule of St. Benedict is foundational in the history of Western spirituality, especially in its commentary on humility. This work of spiritual genius has guided the monastic movement since the sixth century and touched countless Christians. Merton brings new energy to this ancient document, and you will gain new insights into the rule and experience another side of Merton's personality.

The uniqueness of this series lies in how it transports you to the classroom of the monastery. You will listen to the way Merton teaches through his interaction with his students as he shares his reflections with them. You will also witness how Merton works through the material, integrating the virtue of humility into his own life.

All of us struggle with humility. In this course, you will examine what it means with a great mystic who personally struggled to live this foundational virtue. You will encounter St. Benedict, gain new insights on humility, and get to know Thomas Merton as a great teacher.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection.

Photograph of Thomas Merton by Sibylle Akers. Used with permission of the Merton Legacy Trust and the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University.

Thomas Merton on the Twelve Steps of Humility

Donald Goergen

Explore the contemplative mysticism of Thomas Merton in this one-of-a-kind retreat.

Led by gifted professor, author, and contemplative retreat leader Fr. Donald Goergen, O.P., this life-changing series will capture your spiritual imagination and deepen your life with Christ. As Prof. Lawrence Cunningham writes, “Thomas Merton could easily be called the greatest spiritual writer and spiritual master of the twentieth century in English-speaking America.” He was a monk and seeker—restless, deeply contemplative, and socially conscious. A prolific writer, he wrote such beloved spiritual classics as The Seven Storey Mountain and , which are cherished worldwide.

After converting to Catholicism and becoming a Trappist monk, Merton developed a profound mystical vision of unity for the world. Under the guidance of Fr. Goergen, you will explore Merton’s deepest thoughts on solitude, contemplation, peace, and interreligious dialogue.

By listening to Fr. Goergen’s conferences on Merton, you will come to understand discipleship and how we are all called to grow spiritually. Whatever your own calling in life is, Merton’s profound spiritual wisdom will speak to you.

Thomas Merton’s words echo through the decades, offering us timeless wisdom for the spiritual life. Fr. Goergen’s moving retreat will lead you to discover how this vision can shape your spirituality today. Let Merton accompany you and offer wise guidance in your journey to eternal life.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide.

Learn25: Thomas Merton Collection - سلسلة الكتب

Learn25: Thomas Merton Collection - سلسلة الكتب

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