A Seven Day Journey With Thomas Merton

by Esther de Waal

Journey with Thomas Merton for 7 days, meditating on the best of his contemplative writings and savor-ing striking black & white photos taken my Merton himself. Let this book bring you to a greater aware-ness of yourself and Christ's presence in your world.

Genres: Spirituality, Prayer, Religion, Christian, Theology, Christianity

114 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy books by Thomas Merton. Everything I have read of his has been great. This book was ok, I think de Waal's observations on his writings are interesting and insightful, but lack anything profound. I think I will stick with books written by Merton, instead of books written about Merton or his writings.

[Ephrem Arcement · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a helpful companion to help one to enter more deeply into a personal retreat with Merton. It is, though, quite basic and the absence of references to the Merton quotes is a bit frustrating.

[Sophfronia Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this book: I enjoyed the practice of reading it every day for seven days and the material gave me much to contemplate. However I couldn't shake the feeling of the author standing between me and Thomas Merton. The book is filled with her thoughts, her journey, her interpretations of Merton, and her struggles. At a certain point she became a distraction to my process. I wanted to read Merton's words on my own and ponder his views of solitude, reverence and love on my own. So I will do just that: add more of Merton's work to my reading list and shape my own form of seven-day journey with him. However I do give credit to Ms. de Waal for opening the door and showing me the way to this spiritual exploration.

[Anne Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until I read this book I was unaware of the circumstances of Merton's death. And my instant thought on being apprised of the where and the how was not tragic accident but rather threshold covenant violation?

St Benedict knew very well the hazards of what he called 'murmuring'. Merton gave the original Latin word in Old English translation: grouching, griping, like cramps in the stomach, a kind of cramp or spasm that gets into the soul. (p14)

The ancient monastic of compunction refers to to being pierced by the awareness of our true state before God, a sense of pain, of stinging, a sensation of being pricked. Also being stung into action, aroused from torpor and complacency, with a reolsve to do better. (p51)

"You will not be able to take your own true name and countenance,
and you will be destroyed the event that was meant to be your fulfilment." (p61) New Seeds of Contemplation

Imperative to protect the spirit from ambushes of busyness and schedules. (p90)

[Paul M · Rating 5 out of 5]

a worthwhile 8 weeks, using Esther’s book with a weekly ZOOM.

It had me reading Seven Storey Mountain to retrieve his early journey. Then I bought Caryll Houselander’s book A Rocking Horse Catholic, another mystic.

Using the chapters over the 8 weeks enabled me to slow down and reflect. I also used ChatGBT to amplify my own thoughts and see what “another” thought about my thoughts.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I occasionally disagreed with some of De Waal's interpretations of Merton's writing. I was also mislead to believe that all the photos in the book were Merton's and they're not. I prefer just plain Thomas Merton rather than someone else's opinion of little chunks of what he wrote.

[Joy-Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always love reading the words of Merton and seeing his pictures. This book however was not enough Merton for me. Lovely book for Christian readers, however.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gift from Aunt Joanne, wonderful.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great devotional. one to go back to time and time again.