in the end, Thomas Merton was not a Catholic. He was not even a Christian. Great care must be taken in recommending any of his various heretical writings and quotes given where his convictions led him in the end. Frankly, Martin Luther was a more reliable source of genuine Catholic doctrine than Merton.
I know that there is some thinking that says Thomas Merton was not orthodox in his writings … but who is your definitive source to write that he is NOT Catholic? I have not seen or heard of any bishop declare Merton’s writing as “heretical”. I have heard of no excommunication. I think we all need to be careful how we throw that word around. Perhaps it is the opinion of some but that does not make it fact. It certainly does not give any one person the right to malign the name of another.
In my teen years I was a follower of Merton up until his untimely death from electrocution. If you have actually read his public statements and writings, and still conclude he was a faithful Catholic, or a professing Christian at the end of his life, we really have nothing to discuss that would profit either one of us. I care little about saving the dead from responsibility for the spread of their errors. If Merton has entered Heaven which i hope is the case, trust me, he can take it and has little use for my poor affirmation. I care a great deal however about saving the living from them.
I restacked the note but I wanted to give my thoughts here as well:
“Lord, teach us to pray.” Dcn. Mueller a wonderful reflection on the importance & necessity of prayer & allow prayer to change us.
It’s good to be reminded in this particular reflection that God changes us through prayer. 🙏🏻
The name escapes me, but I believe it was a Church Father, who likened that God pressed upon us like a seal on wax.
in the end, Thomas Merton was not a Catholic. He was not even a Christian. Great care must be taken in recommending any of his various heretical writings and quotes given where his convictions led him in the end. Frankly, Martin Luther was a more reliable source of genuine Catholic doctrine than Merton.
I know that there is some thinking that says Thomas Merton was not orthodox in his writings … but who is your definitive source to write that he is NOT Catholic? I have not seen or heard of any bishop declare Merton’s writing as “heretical”. I have heard of no excommunication. I think we all need to be careful how we throw that word around. Perhaps it is the opinion of some but that does not make it fact. It certainly does not give any one person the right to malign the name of another.
In my teen years I was a follower of Merton up until his untimely death from electrocution. If you have actually read his public statements and writings, and still conclude he was a faithful Catholic, or a professing Christian at the end of his life, we really have nothing to discuss that would profit either one of us. I care little about saving the dead from responsibility for the spread of their errors. If Merton has entered Heaven which i hope is the case, trust me, he can take it and has little use for my poor affirmation. I care a great deal however about saving the living from them.
I will place my faith in Christ’s Church and the Lord for determining what is error and what is not.
Nice to have a choice