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What I Am Living For: Lessons from the Life and Writings of Thomas Merton
"If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, and ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for." — Thomas Merton
Some of today's most popular spiritual writers—including Rev. James Martin, S.J.; Bishop Robert Barron; Robert Ellsberg; Rev. Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M.; and Kaya Oakes—explore the meaning of life and what we live for using Thomas Merton's life and writings as a guide.
In his address before the US Congress, Pope Francis praised Merton as one of four exemplary Americans. This was no surprise to the thousands who already know and appreciate the twentieth-century monk, but there were many listening that day who still have no idea who Merton is.
What I Am Living For offers readers new to Merton, as well as longtime enthusiasts, an opportunity to see how the influential twentieth-century monk and writer continues to encourage the awakening of faith in the twenty-first century.
The book is in two parts. Each contributor to part one focuses on an aspect of the spiritual life that is of vital importance today and on which Merton made a profound impact. These
Part two features shorter, often more personal reflections on the future of faith, the life and teachings of Merton, and what he still says to anyone who seeks a relationship with God.
Contributors include such well-known writers as Barron; Sue Monk Kidd; Pico Iyer; Paula Huston; Ilia Delio, O.F.M.; Paul Quenon, O.C.S.O.; and Sylvia Boorstein.
Some of today's most popular spiritual writers—including Rev. James Martin, S.J.; Bishop Robert Barron; Robert Ellsberg; Rev. Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M.; and Kaya Oakes—explore the meaning of life and what we live for using Thomas Merton's life and writings as a guide.
In his address before the US Congress, Pope Francis praised Merton as one of four exemplary Americans. This was no surprise to the thousands who already know and appreciate the twentieth-century monk, but there were many listening that day who still have no idea who Merton is.
What I Am Living For offers readers new to Merton, as well as longtime enthusiasts, an opportunity to see how the influential twentieth-century monk and writer continues to encourage the awakening of faith in the twenty-first century.
The book is in two parts. Each contributor to part one focuses on an aspect of the spiritual life that is of vital importance today and on which Merton made a profound impact. These
Part two features shorter, often more personal reflections on the future of faith, the life and teachings of Merton, and what he still says to anyone who seeks a relationship with God.
Contributors include such well-known writers as Barron; Sue Monk Kidd; Pico Iyer; Paula Huston; Ilia Delio, O.F.M.; Paul Quenon, O.C.S.O.; and Sylvia Boorstein.
224 pages, Paperback
Published March 16, 2018
37 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Jon M. Sweeney
110 books85 followersJon M. Sweeney is an independent scholar and writer of popular history. He is married, the father of three, and lives in Montpelier, Vermont. He has worked in book publishing for 25 years: after co-founding SkyLight Paths Publishing, he was the editor in chief and publisher at Paraclete Press, and in August 2015 became editorial director at Franciscan Media Books.
He has written more than 20 books, seven about Francis of Assisi, including "When Saint Francis Saved the Church" and "The Complete Francis of Assisi." HBO has optioned the film rights to "The Pope Who Quit."
Jon's first 20 years were spent as an involved evangelical (a story told in the memoir "Born Again and Again"); he then spent 22 years as an active Episcopalian (see "Almost Catholic," among others); and on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi in 2009 he was received into the Catholic Church. Today, Jon is a practicing Catholic who also prays regularly with his wife, a rabbi. He loves the church, the synagogue, and other aspects of organized religion. He would never say that he's "spiritual but not religious."
In all of his writing, Jon is drawn to the ancient and medieval (see "The Road to Assisi," and "Inventing Hell"). Many of his books have been selections of the History Book Club, Book-of-the-Month Club, and Quality Paperback Book Club.
He has written more than 20 books, seven about Francis of Assisi, including "When Saint Francis Saved the Church" and "The Complete Francis of Assisi." HBO has optioned the film rights to "The Pope Who Quit."
Jon's first 20 years were spent as an involved evangelical (a story told in the memoir "Born Again and Again"); he then spent 22 years as an active Episcopalian (see "Almost Catholic," among others); and on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi in 2009 he was received into the Catholic Church. Today, Jon is a practicing Catholic who also prays regularly with his wife, a rabbi. He loves the church, the synagogue, and other aspects of organized religion. He would never say that he's "spiritual but not religious."
In all of his writing, Jon is drawn to the ancient and medieval (see "The Road to Assisi," and "Inventing Hell"). Many of his books have been selections of the History Book Club, Book-of-the-Month Club, and Quality Paperback Book Club.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 6, 2019
Absolutely outstanding! A series of very insightful essays on Merton and his thought, each essay contributing positively to the collection! Highly recommended!
December 3, 2018
Thomas Merton, for those of you unfamiliar with him, was a Trappist monk who lived at the Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky in the mid-twentieth century. He was a writer, philosopher, contemplative, social activist...quite simply, one of the most famous Catholic figures of the twentieth century because of how his writings and life resonated with the general public. Merton taught people how one could live a life of prayer, in a time when people didn’t really consider the idea that they could have a personal relationship with God.
I had heard of Thomas Merton here and there over the years, but did not really learn about him until I read Paul Elie’s epic The Life You Save May Be Your Own a few years ago. I found Merton’s story the most fascinating of those profiled in Elie’s book. I haven’t known where to start to learn more about Merton—whether to start with a biography of him, his journals, or his autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain. This new volume of essays on his life and writings was well-reviewed and seemed a good place to start.
Quite simply, I found this collection an incredible overview of Merton’s life and spirituality. James Martin’s essay at the beginning just blew me away. Ensuing essays, centering on a different theme or angle of Merton‘s life, are all moving and beautifully written. The chapter, “Merton’s Death as Seen from the Home Grounds,” is just, wow. (I’m glad I first learned the background and details of Merton’s death when I read Elie’s The Life You Save May Be Your Own).
I could share so many insights from this book, but I think I’ll just simply say that this is the book you want to pick up if you want to learn about Thomas Merton. And if you know about him already or have read a lot about him, you will learn even more here. These are writings I will want to revisit again. I feel I’m ready now to explore Merton’s own writings, and look forward to doing so with insights from these essays serving as guideposts.
I had heard of Thomas Merton here and there over the years, but did not really learn about him until I read Paul Elie’s epic The Life You Save May Be Your Own a few years ago. I found Merton’s story the most fascinating of those profiled in Elie’s book. I haven’t known where to start to learn more about Merton—whether to start with a biography of him, his journals, or his autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain. This new volume of essays on his life and writings was well-reviewed and seemed a good place to start.
Quite simply, I found this collection an incredible overview of Merton’s life and spirituality. James Martin’s essay at the beginning just blew me away. Ensuing essays, centering on a different theme or angle of Merton‘s life, are all moving and beautifully written. The chapter, “Merton’s Death as Seen from the Home Grounds,” is just, wow. (I’m glad I first learned the background and details of Merton’s death when I read Elie’s The Life You Save May Be Your Own).
I could share so many insights from this book, but I think I’ll just simply say that this is the book you want to pick up if you want to learn about Thomas Merton. And if you know about him already or have read a lot about him, you will learn even more here. These are writings I will want to revisit again. I feel I’m ready now to explore Merton’s own writings, and look forward to doing so with insights from these essays serving as guideposts.
February 28, 2021
The editor of this collection sent me an email asking if I wanted to write an essay on Thomas Merton and sex and I couldn't resist. Everything in it is good but I'm just amazed I worked the phrase "sex positive feminism" into a book published by Ave Maria Press.
April 7, 2018
Great introduction to Thomas Merton.
May 17, 2023
Read something very important. God is with me at all times. This is very comforting esp when lonely
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews