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…]
The next meeting of the Grand Rapids chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society will be Wednesday, July 12th, at 7pm at Baker Book House near the corner of 28th Street and East Paris in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We will discuss chapters 5, 6, and 7 of Thomas Merton’s book Contemplative Prayer. Here are some … [Read more…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
We meet on the second Wednesday of every month, always at Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There is one month, however, in which we cannot meet on the second Wednesday: June. Because Beth and I will be out of state on that Tuesday and Wednesday, we will meet in June on the first … [Read more…]
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…]