Next Meeting: August 9th

The next meeting of the Grand Rapids chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society will be Wednesday, August 9th, at 7pm at Baker Book House near the corner of 28th Street and East Paris in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We will discuss chapters 6-9 of Thomas Merton’s book Contemplative Prayer. Here are some suggested questions to … [Read more…]

Politics

Although Thomas Merton often wrote about politics, we’re fairly certain none of us alive today approach politics with as much prayer, contemplation, and insight as he did. Therefore, we eschew political discussions in our group. We don’t prevent them. Our group is a haven for seekers. However, we are painfully aware that politics are divisive. … [Read more…]

Book Recommendation: The ABCs of Thomas Merton

A couple of weeks ago, Gregory J. Ryan, author of a new children’s book about Thomas Merton, e-mailed to ask if I’d be interested in reviewing his book, The ABCs of Thomas Merton: A Monk at the Heart of the World. I said sure. So he asked his publisher, Paraclete Press, to send a copy … [Read more…]

“The Tactic of Nonviolence is a Tactic of Love” – Thomas Merton

Beth recently attended a leader’s conference in New York City in which Thomas Merton’s writings played an unexpected, serendipitous role. The conference host shared with his audience this quote from Merton’s book Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, page 86: Douglas Steere remarks very perceptively that there is a pervasive form of contemporary violence to which … [Read more…]

Next Meeting: July 12

A big THANK YOU to everyone who attended our meeting this past Wednesday night. You helped us celebrate one year of being a local chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society. We are grateful to you for making our evening special. Great conversation, too. And new faces. What a blessing to spend time with people … [Read more…]

Fr. Patrick Collins to Lecture At the Dominican Center

One of our group members – Fr. Patrick Collins – will give a series of lectures about Thomas Merton at the Dominican Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The following information comes from the Dominican Center web site: “Thomas Merton’s Approach to Spirituality” Thomas Merton placed his interest in the depth of the human experience in … [Read more…]

Next Meeting: May 10th

The next meeting of the Grand Rapids chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society will be Wednesday, May 10th, at 7pm at Baker Book House. We will discuss chapters 4, 5, and 6 (and maybe 7) of Thomas Merton’s book Contemplative Prayer. Here are some suggested questions for discussion: CHAPTER IV 1. What does Merton … [Read more…]

Next Meeting: April 12th @ 7pm

Our last meeting (March 8th) was delightful. THANK YOU! I don’t recall a time when nobody wanted to leave afterwards and everyone stuck around for a half hour continuing to talk. We welcomed four new people (William, Rose, Jack, and Peach) to the group, learned much from them, including how they found themselves in that … [Read more…]