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Life and Holiness
In this brief and readily accessible work, Merton offers his thoughts on what it means to be holy in the face of the anxieties of the modern world.
160 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 1962
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633 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Merton
554 books1,900 followersThomas Merton, religious name M. Louis, was an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist and scholar of comparative religion. In December 1941 he entered the Trappist Abbey of Gethsemani and in May 1949 he was ordained to priesthood. He was a member of the convent of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, near Bardstown, Kentucky, living there from 1941 to his death.
Merton wrote more than 50 books in a period of 27 years, mostly on spirituality, social justice and a quiet pacifism, as well as scores of essays and reviews. Among Merton's most enduring works is his bestselling autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain (1948). His account of his spiritual journey inspired scores of World War II veterans, students, and teenagers to explore offerings of monasteries across the US. It is on National Review's list of the 100 best nonfiction books of the century.
Merton became a keen proponent of interfaith understanding, exploring Eastern religions through his study of mystic practice. His interfaith conversation, which preserved both Protestant and Catholic theological positions, helped to build mutual respect via their shared experiences at a period of heightened hostility. He is particularly known for having pioneered dialogue with prominent Asian spiritual figures, including the Dalai Lama XIV; Japanese writer D.T. Suzuki; Thai Buddhist monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, and Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh. He traveled extensively in the course of meeting with them and attending international conferences on religion. In addition, he wrote books on Zen Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, and how Christianity is related to them. This was highly unusual at the time in the United States, particularly within the religious orders.
Merton wrote more than 50 books in a period of 27 years, mostly on spirituality, social justice and a quiet pacifism, as well as scores of essays and reviews. Among Merton's most enduring works is his bestselling autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain (1948). His account of his spiritual journey inspired scores of World War II veterans, students, and teenagers to explore offerings of monasteries across the US. It is on National Review's list of the 100 best nonfiction books of the century.
Merton became a keen proponent of interfaith understanding, exploring Eastern religions through his study of mystic practice. His interfaith conversation, which preserved both Protestant and Catholic theological positions, helped to build mutual respect via their shared experiences at a period of heightened hostility. He is particularly known for having pioneered dialogue with prominent Asian spiritual figures, including the Dalai Lama XIV; Japanese writer D.T. Suzuki; Thai Buddhist monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, and Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh. He traveled extensively in the course of meeting with them and attending international conferences on religion. In addition, he wrote books on Zen Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, and how Christianity is related to them. This was highly unusual at the time in the United States, particularly within the religious orders.
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June 10, 2020Yeah, this is really good, and timely. I'd been writing a letter just after I started the book, and then, almost everything I'd been questioning about on in the letter (as one does in letters) seemed to be addressed. I don't want to rewrite the letter, but . . .dang, this book was helpful.
It's quite clear on holiness as absolutely emerging out of and working in and through and toward love. It asks everything, and yet also gives what it asks: "If we are called by God to holiness of life, and if holiness is beyond our natural power to achieve (which it certainly is) then it follows that God himself must give us the light, the strength, and the courage to fulfill the task he requires of us. He will certainly give us the grace we need. If we do not become saints it is because we do not avail ourselves of his gift" (11).
A few of the tones that made a book on discipleship so refreshing:
(1) this book insists on the fundamental truth that though contemplation and full commitment to God (abandoning oneself in his love) are central (and it's a gorgeous strain in the book, with many helpful statements), holiness is not holiness only through interiority, but reaches out, socially. How do we know the will of God? Not merely logically, nor merely subjectively, but through one another, through our mutual interdependence, consisting in love for each other (40-43). In "Work and Holiness," for example: "The individual Christian will do more to "sanctify" his work by becoming intelligently concerned with social order and with effective political means to improve social conditions, than he will ever be able to do by merely interior and personal spiritual efforts to overcome the tedium and meaninglessness of a subhuman battle for money" (127). In this way, throughout the book, Merton writes of holiness, the gift of God, as essentially humanist because of the incarnation.
(2) This book has a lovely, no-nonsense Hebrews feel of asking its readers to just grow up already: "Let us not therefore delude ourselves with easy and infantile conceptions of holiness" (15). There's even an essay called "Adult Christians," which, yes, I felt. It reminds Christians who have begun to grow up in the faith that they will inevitably have to face the failure of Christian communities to live up to Christ's love: "They do not realize that they have no come close to the real meaning of their Christian vocation, and that they are now in a position to make the sacrifice that is demanded of adult Christian men and women: the realistic acceptance of imperfection and of deficiency in themselves, in others, and in their most cherished institutions. They must face the truth of these imperfections, in order to see that the Church does not merely exist to do everything for them, to create a haven of peace and security for them, to sanctify them passively. On the contrary, it is now time for them to give to their community from their own heart's blood and to participate actively and generously in all its struggles. It is time to sacrifice themselves for others who may no longer seem to be very worthy" (57-58).
Points taken.
It's quite clear on holiness as absolutely emerging out of and working in and through and toward love. It asks everything, and yet also gives what it asks: "If we are called by God to holiness of life, and if holiness is beyond our natural power to achieve (which it certainly is) then it follows that God himself must give us the light, the strength, and the courage to fulfill the task he requires of us. He will certainly give us the grace we need. If we do not become saints it is because we do not avail ourselves of his gift" (11).
A few of the tones that made a book on discipleship so refreshing:
(1) this book insists on the fundamental truth that though contemplation and full commitment to God (abandoning oneself in his love) are central (and it's a gorgeous strain in the book, with many helpful statements), holiness is not holiness only through interiority, but reaches out, socially. How do we know the will of God? Not merely logically, nor merely subjectively, but through one another, through our mutual interdependence, consisting in love for each other (40-43). In "Work and Holiness," for example: "The individual Christian will do more to "sanctify" his work by becoming intelligently concerned with social order and with effective political means to improve social conditions, than he will ever be able to do by merely interior and personal spiritual efforts to overcome the tedium and meaninglessness of a subhuman battle for money" (127). In this way, throughout the book, Merton writes of holiness, the gift of God, as essentially humanist because of the incarnation.
(2) This book has a lovely, no-nonsense Hebrews feel of asking its readers to just grow up already: "Let us not therefore delude ourselves with easy and infantile conceptions of holiness" (15). There's even an essay called "Adult Christians," which, yes, I felt. It reminds Christians who have begun to grow up in the faith that they will inevitably have to face the failure of Christian communities to live up to Christ's love: "They do not realize that they have no come close to the real meaning of their Christian vocation, and that they are now in a position to make the sacrifice that is demanded of adult Christian men and women: the realistic acceptance of imperfection and of deficiency in themselves, in others, and in their most cherished institutions. They must face the truth of these imperfections, in order to see that the Church does not merely exist to do everything for them, to create a haven of peace and security for them, to sanctify them passively. On the contrary, it is now time for them to give to their community from their own heart's blood and to participate actively and generously in all its struggles. It is time to sacrifice themselves for others who may no longer seem to be very worthy" (57-58).
Points taken.
April 1, 2011
Merton reminds Christians that they are not to withdraw from the world, but rather to live by Christ's example and engage it, through love, charity, embracing poverty, and giving themselves to the will of God. This is a considerable challenge to the follower of Christ in the modern dehumanized materialist age, with its attendant pressures to deny Christ or change his teachings when those crimp an individual's style. Christian perfection is not attainable in this life, but that does not mean that it is not to be pursued.
June 14, 2025
A straightforward and refreshing reminder that holiness is lived in the mundane and that only complete reliance on the grace of the indwelling Spirit can teach us to "walk according the Spirit," not our own concerted flailing actions. Christian Perfection is not something we can grit our teeth and impose on ourselves. Rather, it bursts out of hearts fully transformed by the love of Christ.
Merton speaks boldly and succinctly yet not without care and diligent study. The only way I could like this book more is if I was a Roman Catholic and cared very much what Pope Cool Guy VIIX had to say.
"An activity that is based on the frenzies and impulsions of human ambition is a delusion and an obstacle to grace. It gets in the way of God's will, and it creates more problems than it solves. We must learn to distinguish between the pseudo spirituality of activism and the true vitality and energy of Christian action guided by the Spirit. At the same time, we must not create a split in the Christian life by assuming that all activity is somehow dangerous to spiritual life. The spiritual life is not a life of quiet withdrawal, a hothouse growth of artificial ascetic practices beyond the reach of people living ordinary lives. It is in the ordinary duties and labors of life that the Christian can and should develop his spiritual union with God."
Merton speaks boldly and succinctly yet not without care and diligent study. The only way I could like this book more is if I was a Roman Catholic and cared very much what Pope Cool Guy VIIX had to say.
"An activity that is based on the frenzies and impulsions of human ambition is a delusion and an obstacle to grace. It gets in the way of God's will, and it creates more problems than it solves. We must learn to distinguish between the pseudo spirituality of activism and the true vitality and energy of Christian action guided by the Spirit. At the same time, we must not create a split in the Christian life by assuming that all activity is somehow dangerous to spiritual life. The spiritual life is not a life of quiet withdrawal, a hothouse growth of artificial ascetic practices beyond the reach of people living ordinary lives. It is in the ordinary duties and labors of life that the Christian can and should develop his spiritual union with God."
May 26, 2021
Wow. Just wow. Sit and steep with this one forever.
December 29, 2024
Merton’s book takes some basic notions of Christian spirituality and applies them to anyone’s active life, a life that is essential, he writes, for everyone. Energy and will power are important in doing are important , but by themselves are not enough. Merton emphasizes that a religious dimension is needed as well. In theological terms, it is called “grace”, a quality of being made up of humility, love, and sense of service. These are gifts, not qualities that we can wish or will into existence. All we can to is to dispose ourselves to receive them by being open to such influences of the Holy Spirit. If we can combine this gift of grace with active self-motivation then we will succeed in being “holy” (not perfect) people.
Merton, of course, was a Trappist monk, but he repeatedly poins out that people who live in sheltered monasteries and people who live in the world share a commonality. Both have an obligation to understand the concerns and problems of the world in which all of u live. He recognizes that this is not easy, and writes:
“One of the great problems of our time is the lack of reliable and serious information and of a sound perspective on political and social affairs.” Merton wrote these words over 60 years ago, long before the spread of the internet with its ubiquitous disinformation.
He finds another tendency that exists with disinformation is that too many Christians can live with shockingly unjust conditions. They live compartmentalized lives of piety and are closed off from a wider comprehension of he world. Continued for any length of time, such lives lead to moral blindness and insensitivity and contribute to the death of a genuine Christianity. A false idea of “holiness” is an inward absorption which the needs and desires of others are simply ignored while the individual sinks into a state of self-satisfied tranquility.
Merton, I think, has some perceptive things to say about technology. It promises an earthly paradise of abundance and leisure and one has only to look at modern advertising to see how prevalent this message is. What’s necessary to obtain it is money and a fair amount of greed, and in the pursuit of this illusory utopia basic human values such as compassion are neglected.
In reading this short book, a reader can easily begin to feel a certain hopelessness – what can an individual do to improve the state of western civilization? Individual acts of goodness seem to have little effect. Merton shows an awareness of this attitude in his conclusion. It’s natural to look for quick results, but there are none. He writes, “The only answer is perfect faith, exultant hope, transformed by a completely spiritual love of Christ. We can dispose ourselves to receive it by fortitude, humility, patience, and, above all, by simple fidelity to his will in every circumstance of our ordinary life.” To me that means working in darkness, believing that your efforts will make a difference, even though you may never see their results.
Merton, of course, was a Trappist monk, but he repeatedly poins out that people who live in sheltered monasteries and people who live in the world share a commonality. Both have an obligation to understand the concerns and problems of the world in which all of u live. He recognizes that this is not easy, and writes:
“One of the great problems of our time is the lack of reliable and serious information and of a sound perspective on political and social affairs.” Merton wrote these words over 60 years ago, long before the spread of the internet with its ubiquitous disinformation.
He finds another tendency that exists with disinformation is that too many Christians can live with shockingly unjust conditions. They live compartmentalized lives of piety and are closed off from a wider comprehension of he world. Continued for any length of time, such lives lead to moral blindness and insensitivity and contribute to the death of a genuine Christianity. A false idea of “holiness” is an inward absorption which the needs and desires of others are simply ignored while the individual sinks into a state of self-satisfied tranquility.
Merton, I think, has some perceptive things to say about technology. It promises an earthly paradise of abundance and leisure and one has only to look at modern advertising to see how prevalent this message is. What’s necessary to obtain it is money and a fair amount of greed, and in the pursuit of this illusory utopia basic human values such as compassion are neglected.
In reading this short book, a reader can easily begin to feel a certain hopelessness – what can an individual do to improve the state of western civilization? Individual acts of goodness seem to have little effect. Merton shows an awareness of this attitude in his conclusion. It’s natural to look for quick results, but there are none. He writes, “The only answer is perfect faith, exultant hope, transformed by a completely spiritual love of Christ. We can dispose ourselves to receive it by fortitude, humility, patience, and, above all, by simple fidelity to his will in every circumstance of our ordinary life.” To me that means working in darkness, believing that your efforts will make a difference, even though you may never see their results.
November 28, 2025
Excellent. I look forward to reading more of Fr. Merton's work in the future.
September 6, 2013
Not the best Merton ever, for sure, but a lot of solid nuggets. I've been away from Merton for awhile. I think, amidst all the sexy mysticism and au courant engagement with Buddhism that characterized a lot of his middle and later work, its easy to forget just how solidly and thoroughly Roman Catholic he was, especially early on, but really throughout. This book is a reminder. His emphasis on sacrifice and self abnegation will sound harsh to our contemporary spiritual ear, used as we are to being stroked reassuringly by a therapeutic spirituality that says our only fault is we've allowed ourselves to be too bound by others, that we're falling short of our own self realization and the spiritual riches God has for us. Not Mertonesque territory.
June 4, 2024
Turns out this is a hard book to review. My read began by forcing me to reexamine my interior life (role of prayer in my personal spirituality, pursuit of piety or saintliness as an objective, good works as a neccesary response of gratitude that grows from relationship with Christ, what truly is faith?). Ended by forcing me to examine my exterior life as a Christian in this world. What are my social responsibilities to my country, my fellow man and my environmental responsibility to the earth in light of how my life is lived in response to Christ? How shall I then live? A lot still to think about, one of the best things I’ve read in the last year and likely the most thought provoking. Left dwelling especially on the radicalness of a faith that in its truest form chooses abject poverty and loss of self in order to be truly reliant on the all sufficient grace of Christ. Thanks Brother Merton, lots to stew on.
May 31, 2019
Really good book, not long and somewhat easy to get through. Merton urges Christians not to stand on the sidelines of faith but to jump into this messy world and do something about it. Which is interesting because he was a Catholic monk living in a monastery. Yet he saw his role as one of loving his fellow brother and praying on behalf of the world while calling the rest of Christianity to contemplation and account. Thoughtful and compelling.
August 3, 2022
I want to love Merton's writing. I try.
January 7, 2023
Mani pārsteidza, cik dziļi mani uzrunāja šī katoļu mūka grāmata.
November 30, 2023
For anyone who wishes to be guided through a consideration of their own motives for and ideas of holiness compared to what holiness actually is.
February 13, 2020
This should be required reading for anyone who has been a Christian for at least a few years. It’s beautiful, simple, and practical.
September 20, 2014
A brief and excellent introduction to the central tenets of Thomas Merton's philosophy of the Christian life. Simple and readable and yet profound. I'd recommend this to anyone who wanted an accessible introduction to Merton.
November 22, 2024
I found this to be just another recapitulation of known Catholic doctrine and dogma. Some of Merton’s statements are troublesome and dubious such as, “God’s existence…can be demonstrated scientifically”(94: 1963 edition).
It’s worth a quick scan. He does offer a critique of the normative view of the Saints as perfect and, ultimately inhuman if we do not account for their frailties and sins, which I enjoyed. I’m mixed about his assertions that God’s Will can be best discerned in the interdependence of Christians in groups. By this, he means the Church but does this not also allow for the Democratic Fallacy? Can the group/Church, following their agreed joint view of the gospels perpetuate practices that, though agreed upon “interdependently,” prove to be absolutely incorrect, harmful, and wrong?
I also enjoyed how he calls for humanism in Christianity while disparaging a form of it as an “external faith in human society with all its…assumptions and prejudices…based on fear of solitude and on the need to belong to the group…”(96) with lackluster enthusiasm. I wonder if he would consider modern secular Humanism, with its focus on “Good Without God” to be recognizing the “good that is his [God’s]” and have a more positive view (88)?
It’s worth a quick scan. He does offer a critique of the normative view of the Saints as perfect and, ultimately inhuman if we do not account for their frailties and sins, which I enjoyed. I’m mixed about his assertions that God’s Will can be best discerned in the interdependence of Christians in groups. By this, he means the Church but does this not also allow for the Democratic Fallacy? Can the group/Church, following their agreed joint view of the gospels perpetuate practices that, though agreed upon “interdependently,” prove to be absolutely incorrect, harmful, and wrong?
I also enjoyed how he calls for humanism in Christianity while disparaging a form of it as an “external faith in human society with all its…assumptions and prejudices…based on fear of solitude and on the need to belong to the group…”(96) with lackluster enthusiasm. I wonder if he would consider modern secular Humanism, with its focus on “Good Without God” to be recognizing the “good that is his [God’s]” and have a more positive view (88)?
May 18, 2017
This is a beginner's guide (or helpful refresher) to what life in Christ means. It is broken into four bigger sections that each contain smaller chapters. The bigger sections are Christian ideals (things Christians practice externally); Christ the way (why His life and death are necessary for our salvation); the life of faith (what does it practically mean to live by faith); and growth in Christ. I liked the last section least because he mentioned some weird ideas that definitely no one I know believes today (that married people might find it harder to be devout, that nuclear warfare is the greatest risk our nation faces). I understand he wrote this during the Cold War.
I would definitely give this to a new believer. Thomas Merton deeply understands God's love and grace and has a perspective that feels as fresh today as when he wrote it (save the stuff about nukes and marriage).
I would definitely give this to a new believer. Thomas Merton deeply understands God's love and grace and has a perspective that feels as fresh today as when he wrote it (save the stuff about nukes and marriage).
March 18, 2023
This Merton starts out slow. He begins by giving a very Pauline analysis on the meaning of holiness. However, this is all building up to two remarkable sections at the end of the book on faith and living out God’s love in the world. He reflects on what it means to be faithful when “the tendency of our modern society and of all its thought and culture is to deny and deride this simple, natural awareness.” While at the same time, he is clear that Christians cannot “devote themselves to a spirituality of evasion, a cult of other worldliness.” He points us toward becoming believers so aligned with God that “all things, whether they appear good or evil, are in actuality good. All things manifest the loving mercy of God. All things enable them to grow in love. All events serve to unite them closer to God. For [them] obstacles no longer exist.”
October 6, 2020
In the Introduction, Merton claims that Life and Holiness was written as an “elementary treatment of a few basic ideas in Christian spirituality.” He is true to that intention. Merton devotes little attention to contemplative prayer, which made this book feel strange to me. He wrote this book with a more sustained attention to the active life, rather than the religious life, so in that sense Life and Holiness would make a good first book for someone who has not read Merton before. But even for those of us who have, it is a good meditation on the spiritual value of work.
November 30, 2021
This book is a very good discussion of holiness and faith. Also he makes a case for authentic humanism which makes a lot of sense to me. There is an authentic humanism because Christ took on human nature. It is a full acceptance of those values which are essential to the human person created by God, those values which God has willed to preserve, rescue, and restore to their rightful order by taking them into God's self in Christ.
March 13, 2024
Read this while on retreat at Gethsemani and found it engaging and thoughtful. There is a lot on the idea of what is meant by perfection in terms of how a follower of Jesus lives their life. This was a really helpful unpacking as it adds useful depth to the idea of perfecting our faith. Also very much appreciated the way Merton points away from an individualized way of thinking about faith to a faith that finds its fullest expression in community.
August 19, 2018
This is a nice introduction to Merton. It is also a practical guide to spirituality and engagement in "the world," the call to social justice. Thomas Merton was one of the leading Catholic writers of the 20th Century, and one of the great Christian apologists. Merton was also a great thinker -- Period -- be he in the role of biographer, poet, activist, or religious thinker.
November 15, 2022
thomas merton will forever be my biggest inspiration , and most adored author I have ever come a cross.
his life is nothing short of poetic , his words , his heart , his soul is a true reflection of the holy spirit and the goodness and joy that God is.
I thank Jesus for him and the life he lived.
God bless you Thomas Merton
his life is nothing short of poetic , his words , his heart , his soul is a true reflection of the holy spirit and the goodness and joy that God is.
I thank Jesus for him and the life he lived.
God bless you Thomas Merton
December 2, 2023
Almost gave this five stars because I loved it so much. The only reason I didn’t is because Merton uses a lot of axioms that are uniquely Roman Catholic and a Protestant like me has to slow down so as not to misunderstand him. This was not as easy of a read as his monograph in monastic prayer, but I loved the depth of his thoughts here.
June 12, 2024
This book probably deserves more than 3 stars, but I couldn’t quite give it 4. It has some moments of brilliance, but then some other parts that just felt bogged down or like Merton was trying to hard to second guess his own points. Some of that may simply have been the fact that I am not a Roman Catholic so I couldn’t quite connect with all of his perspectives, though.
February 2, 2019
Such a good book and so relevant in so many areas. A great read for those trying to figure out what faith is all about - a clear eyed and honest look at it. I love how Merton can hold the paradox that is the difficulty of the Christian call and the beauty of it at the same time.
April 19, 2019
Very easy read.
Merton is able to touch upon complex theological ideas and the many intricacies of a life with Christ in fairly simple language, and in concise analogies.
Great for a Lenten read, especially as we reflect on Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.
Merton is able to touch upon complex theological ideas and the many intricacies of a life with Christ in fairly simple language, and in concise analogies.
Great for a Lenten read, especially as we reflect on Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.
August 26, 2022
Self-righteous and judgmental/harsh in parts, but also had spots of accepting the flaws/hypocrisy of Christianity. It tried to speak to holiness and Godliness, but to me it was more life and religion.
September 7, 2017
Some excellent thoughts on Christian spirituality. Though written 50 years ago, Merton provides a timely message on the intersection of personal piety and faith lived out in this world.
January 26, 2018
Merton at his most accessible. Very applicable to modern life.
March 28, 2018
Outstanding.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews