Love and Living

by Thomas Merton, Naomi Burton Stone (Editor), Patrick Hart (Editor)

A posthumously published collection of Merton’s essays and meditations centering on the need for love in learning to live. “Love is the revelation of our deepest personal meaning, value, and identity.” Edited by Naomi Burton Stone and Brother Patrick Hart.

Genres: Spirituality, Theology, Nonfiction, Religion, Christian, Essays, Love

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1979

About the author

Thomas 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.

Reviews

[Simona · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite book of his. his insights transcend dogma and move into mysticism

[Misael Galdámez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m realizing how much I love Thomas Merton. This is the third book I’ve read by him (in addition to “The Life You Save May Not Be Your Own”).

His theology and writing ultimately get to experience: an experience of love and mercy, of quiet and inner communion with God. That doesn’t mean his writing is removed from “theology” or “scripture” but rather on personal experience of scripture.

This series of essays centers on love and knowing God and others (for they are the same!). I was most moved by the messages of forgiveness and mercy; of the need for men to forgive and commune with one another! I also loved the idea that we all need one another and cannot live apart from human beings. For this is part of what it means to be made in the divine image.

[Brian Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If patriotism is approved, chauvinism is not. The Christian is reminded that his allegiance is first of all to the entire human family, and that he must not appeal to Christian principles in order to justify a patriotism which, in fact, is dangerous or harmful to the universal good of the human race."

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book while on a long bus ride, and I otherwise might have put it down, but it kept me adequately entertained. My favorite essay in it is "The Streets Were Made for Celebrating," which is about communities. The others kind of all blend together and are pretty familiar territory if you know Merton or any modern-ish contemplative writers.

[Desmond Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published eleven years after Thomas Merton's death, this is a collection of essays edited by his friend Naomi Burton Stone and Brother Patrick Hart, his last secretary. As with many essay collections, the quality varies greatly, and for at least one I doubted the wisdom of publishing it. (The Street is for Celebration - did we really need these dated ramblings, and references to "the fuzz"?) Some of the essays on love are difficult to read, given what we know about his relationship with a young woman during his last years. But there is much more that is interesting and powerful, enough to remind of us of what was lost when Merton left us. The long middle section, 7 Words, is Merton at his best, acting as interlocutor between Catholic moral/ethical teaching and modern psychological man. The essay on the cargo cults is genius; and his exposition of some of the documents of Vatican II should be required reading for those misguided souls who lament it ever happened. There is a moving essay on the importance of mercy, and a discussion of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, acknowledging his genius and importance while also accepting that some of his work is beyond understanding, and perhaps just nonsense. The great essays make the whole book worth reading.

[Andy Oram · Rating 5 out of 5]

These lovely essays show several unusual and even quirky of Merton's explorations. Topics range from his beloved silence to urgent questions about war and economic oppression. Many of his concerns are very relevant in 2023; others are dated.

Merton's musings on the role of Christ in the world are not so much of interest to me because I'm not Christian, but I find them inspiring and intellectually challenging, understanding they are integral to Merton's thought.

He quotes other thinkers judiciously, but leaves out some that I thought he should draw on. How can Merton talk about the power of symbols to integrate the self without mentioning C.G. Jung, or the domination of technology without citing Jacques Elul? Why does Merton try to talk about marriage at all? He did, perhaps anticipate Jane Jacobs in talking about making streets livable.

[Ignacio Unamuno · Rating 3 out of 5]

El libro es una recolección de diversos ensayos, que realmente entre ellos tienen poca conexión. A pesar de que Merton es un escritor intuitivo, sus ideas no terminan de cuajar. No sé muy bien por qué esto es así. Tal vez sea el abuso de entimemas en su argumentación, o la recurrencia de lugares comunes sin analizarlos (lugares como "vivimos en una sociedad individualista", "estamos dominados por el Mercado", "la razón científica tiene hoy primacía"). Quizás un libro más consistente hubiera dejado mejores impresiones.

[Maria Corley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd heard of Thomas Merton, because one of my pastors had made reference to him in a sermon or two, but I'd never read his work. I picked up this book because a wonderful, spiritual fellow parishioner is giving away her library (she just turned 89). What an amazing writer, deep thinker, and fearless advocate for ideas that were probably unpopular. Sadly, his comments are still current, even though he died decades ago. Well worth the read even if you aren't Catholic (I'm not).

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

ⓒ 1979. 3 1/2 stars. A collection of essays published after Merton's death. I loved his essays on symbolism, solitude, and the cargo cults of the South Pacific. His reflections on Pierre Teilhard's work was great, too. But some essays were so traditional and orthodox there was really nothing new to get from them – I had a hard time paying attention.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Thomas Merton and this was a great read. The first half of the book was especially good. I admit that I was totally lost in the essays on Teilhard (this was my first exposure to Teilhard and I was having trouble grasping the content). Merton was so prescient, so wise, and his words still hold so much relevance to the world today.

[Jennifer Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best collection I’ve read from Merton thus far. Favorite chapters include:
- Love and Need: Is Love a Package or a Message?
- Symbolism: Communication or Communion?
- Cargo Cults of the South Pacific
- Christian Humanism
- Rebirth and the New Man in Christianity

[Brian Downie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of good insight and thought provoking wisdom about love and life, one of my favorites!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is quintessential Merton - bringing together philosophy, theology and issues of the day

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Love is in fact, an intensification of life, a completeness, a fullness, a wholeness of life.”❤️

[麗瑩 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gladly checked out that he was a Cambridge man after all my persistence.

[Brim_berries · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Love and Living essays were fantastic but I’ll skip the Seven Words and Christian Humanism sections entirely if I re-read it.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some favorite Merton quotes...

"Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone-we find it with another." -- Thomas Merton

"Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real." --
Thomas Merton

"The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another." -- Thomas Merton

[Skylar Burris · Rating 3 out of 5]

As is common in academic writing, Thomas Merton seems to use a lot of words to say few things. There are some highlight-worthy quotes, but I found this collection of reflections to be slow plodding. The essays varied in interest level and quality. “Love and Need” gave me the most food for thought. “The Street Is for Celebration” struck me as poetic. But other essays, such as the one on “Symbolism: Communication or Communion” seemed to me too esoteric.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was pretty good although in retrospect i wouldn't have picked a book published posthumously since it was piecing together separate essays he wrote. it makes me want to read more of his works, ones that are meant to be in a book together. particularly good are the chapters on love and mercy. some other stuff was a little heady for me.

[Anna Spanos · Rating 3 out of 5]

The essays in this book were really hit or miss and never formed a cohesive whole like the essays from his other books. It seemed like a bit of a stretch to force them all into one book - clearly pulled together posthumously in a way I doubt Merton intended, but worthwhile reading nonetheless.

[Hoyt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that concisely sums up the center of the Christian life. Smoother reading and less obtuse than some of Merton's other books, this is well done and worth the read.

[Mel]

Picked up and put down more than once - another one for the donation pile. I typically have a hard time ploughing through collections of nonfiction essays that are all by one author.

[Nathan Anderson]

3.5/5