Msgr. Josiah George Chatham was a priest from Jackson, Mississippi, who had known Merton since their meeting at Gethsemani in 1940. They became friends and discussed Chatham's opposition to the war, his protests of nuclear weapons, and his support of… Read more
Fr. Serge Choupner writes from the Monastery of the Franciscan Fathers in Rennes, France.
Christine Bochen describes Napoleón Chow as "belong[ing] to the circle of Nicaraguan poets that included Ernesto Cardenal, Pablo Antonio Cuadra, Angel Martinez, José Coronel Urtecho, and others" (Source: «The Courage for Truth», pp. 167).
Marie Therese Christie writes from London.
Br. Chrysostom was a monk of Gethsemani at the time of writing.
Fr. Basilio Colasito was a Benedictine monk writing from Montserrat Abbey in Manila, Philippines.
Fr. Brendan Connolly was Director of Libraries for Boston College at the time of correspondence.
Séamus Cooney was a professor at the Indiana University Department of English in 1968.
Miss Cuccia seems to be from New York from a geographical reference Merton makes in the letter.
Merton mentions that Eileen Curns was a papal volunteer in Brazil. After returning from the trip from Brazil, she attempts to publish an account of her trip, delivers speeches, and does typing for Merton. She writes from Waukegan, Illinois.
Fr. John Daly was President of Songang Jesuit College and an admirer of Merton's writings.
Henri Daniel-Rops was the author of a number of books, especially focusing on faith history.
Mother Myriam Dardenne founded Redwoods Abbey, a Trappist community of women, in White Thorn, California. Merton met her on her way to found it in 1962. Later, he visited Redwoods before continuing his trip to Asia. They discuss Merton's travel plans and… Read more
Fr. Hubert Daubechies is a Jesuit and chief editor of «Revista Mensaje» and wants to translate Merton's "The Black Revolution" article into Spanish for his magazine. He writes from Santiago, Chile.
Arthur J. Davidson writes from New York.
Mary Ann Davis and Donna Gunty write from Chicago, Illinois.
Richard De Martino was writing from the Temple University Department of Religion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Along with Abe Masao and Nishitani Keiji, he was involved in the return in 1965 of «The Eastern Buddhist», which was originally started in… Read more
Remi J. De Roo was Bishop of Victoria, British Columbia in Canada. He gave permission for Dom Jacques Winandy, O.S.B. to establish a "community" of hermits, the Hermits of St. John the Baptist, in his diocese in 1964. The hermits lived and prayed… Read more
Mara de Sylva was a woman who had been nearly blind for 80 years. She writes to Merton to pray for her son, Joaquim Oscar de Sylva, who is suffering health problems from fumes he was exposed to at work.
Poet and writer Catherine de Vinck was born in Belgium. She was married to Baron José de Vinck in 1945, and they moved to the United States in 1948. A Catholic, she has authored a number of books of mystical and devotional poetry and other spiritual… Read more
Fr. Edwin Deane was a Franciscan priest and master of cleric novices at St. Anthony Friary in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Br. Alberic Delaney was a monk of Gethsemani.
Angelo Cardinal Dell'Acqua writes on behalf of three Popes as "Sostituto", similar to an interior minister for Vatican City.
Barbara Deming writes from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She was an American author and activist interested in non-violence, war resistance, civil rights, feminism, and gay and lesbian rights. (Source: Biography from «Deming, Barbara, 1917- . Papers, 1908-… Read more
Ruby Dennison was originally from Ireland and working with the Legion of Mary in South Africa.
Fr. Placide Deseille was a Trappist of the Abbey of Bellefontaine in France.
Don Devereux translated "Nocturne" by late 19th Century minor French poet, Jules Tellier, which appeared in the third edition of «Monks Pond». Devereux moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1962 where he worked with programs to assist migrant workers. He was… Read more
Professor Leslie Dewart was born in Spain, raised in Cuba, and moved to Canada in 1942 to serve as pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He later spent a long career in the philosophy and religion departments of St. Michael's College at the University… Read more
Frank G. Dickey was president of University of Kentucky at the time of correspondence with Merton.
Mr. L. T. Dickson was bookstore manager at the University of Delaware.
Dorothy Dohen was a sociologist, author and professor at Fordham University in New York.
Irene Dohmen was the editor of a high school newspaper.
Mother Carole Neri was a Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Albany, New York. At the time of writing to Merton, she was not yet the superior (still Sr. Carole) and was Mistress of Novices.
Donald Nicholl was from the History Department at University of Keele in Staffordshire, England.
Rena Niles was the wife of John Jacob Niles, the composer of the Niles-Merton Song Cycle, with poetry by Merton and music by John Jacob Niles. She writes from their farm in Lexington, Kentucky.
Keiji Nishitani was Editor of «The Eastern Buddhist», a magazine founded by D. T. Suzuki to promote East-West understanding. Nishitani asks for Merton's contribution for a memorial issue on Dr. Suzuki. Keiji Nishitani writes from Kyoto, Japan.
Fr. Gregory Norris was Benedictine priest writing from Saint Gregory's Priory in Three Rivers, Michigan.
Thomas J. O'Brien served with John Paul Merton (Thomas' younger brother) in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Canada and instructed John Paul in flying. Later, O'Brien applied for entry to the Trappists at Gethsemani, but was denied entry. Merton mentions him… Read more
Celina Agnes O'Shea was 72 at the time of writing. She was preparing materials for a book about enfolding events supporting the Fatima prophecies, the apparition of the Virgin Mary claimed to be seen by girls in Portugal in 1917.
Dorothea Olmstead was one of the children of Beatrice Olmstead (see "Olmstead, Beatrice" file).
Lenore Olmstead was one of the children of Beatrice Olmstead (see "Olmstead, Beatrice" file).
Nadia Osman writes from Nîmes, France.
Marco Pallis was a mountain climber, scholar on Tibetan Buddhism, and author of books about his travels, Eastern religions, and the Buddhist-Christian dialogue. He is most known for his book, «Peaks and Llamas». Pallis was born of parents of Greek origin,… Read more
Linda Parsons, born Miroslav Prozak (also spelled Miroslava Projak), was a Catholic convert in her thirties who underwent powerful ecstasies of religious experience. Parsons and Martha Crampton of McGill University in Montreal, Canada, organized the R. M.… Read more
E. Allison Peers was professor at the Institute of Hispanic Studies at the University of Liverpool in England. Peers had published translations of the works of Spanish mystics including St. John of the Cross. Merton asked in a letter from July 30, 1948… Read more
Dom Basílio Penido was Abbot of the Benedictine community of São Bento de Olinda in Recife, Brazil. He wrote some prefaces for Portuguese versions of Merton's books released in Brazil.
Dom Jean Baptiste Porion was a French Carthusian monk of Le Grande Chartreuse, who later served as Procurator General for the Carthusians in Rome, Italy.
Fr. Alexius T. Portz was the founding director of the St. John's University Institude for Mental Health in Collegeville, Minnesota.
Fr. Neil Predovich was a Jesuit priest and Director of Novices for the Detroit province. He writes from Colombiere College in Clarkston, Michigan. He wrote a small book called «The Changing Religious», which he sends to Merton.
Rod Prince writes from «Peace News» from London, England.
Sr. Prisca was a Benedictine nun of Regina Laudis Abbey in Bethlehem, Connecticut, but was not bound to the enclosure at the time of writing. She and another sister visited the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Community in New Gloucester, Maine.
Adele Pullman writes from Mayfield, Pennsylvania.
Georg Rapp was one of the directors of Rapp and Whiting publishers of London, England.
Anna T. Reidy writes from Worcester, Massachusetts.
Molly Rhodes writes from Buckingham, England.
Sr. Jane Marie Richardson was a Sister of Loretto. She accompanied another friend and correspondence of Merton, Sr. Mary Luke Tobin, at the Second Vatican Council. She participated in some of the conferences Merton gave to the neighboring Loretto… Read more
Edna Richman writes from Kentucky. She had a book that she hoped Merton could get published. He makes some recommendations to her.
Fr. Robert was a Trappist priest from the Abbaye Sainte Marie du Désert in Bellegarde, France.
Fr. Robert was a Trappist priest from Our Lady of the Genesee Abbey in Piffard, New York.
Born in Le Havre, France, Archbishop Thomas Roberts was a Jesuit and the former archbishop of Bombay, India. He was in London, England, at the time of writing to Merton.
Anne Robertson writes from the magazine, «The Commonweal», in New York.
Fr. Vernon Robertson was a priest of the Louisville Archdiocese in Kentucky. He converted to Roman Catholicism, having been an Episcopalian. He thanks Merton for celebrating a Mass for him on the occasion of his ordination to the priesthood after… Read more
Violet Robertson writes from the Jesuit Missions in New York.
Louise Rocke writes from East Hampton, New York.
Susan Rogers was a senior in high school at Lacordaire Academy in Montclaire, New Jersey. She writes in praise of Merton's article, "Can We Survive Nihilism?"
Sr. Rosaire of Christ was a Carmelite nun from Waterbeach, Cambridge.
Sr. Rose-Marie was a Dominican nun and Prioress of the monastery of Notre-Dame du Rosaire in Berthierville, Quebec, Canada. She was president of the Organisme des Moniales (the Monastic Organization).
Sr. M. Rosita was a Marianite of the Holy Cross from Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans, Louisiana. She asks Merton's help in how to respond to the questions of her 20 year old cousin who has some theological questions that she cannot answer.
Theodore Roszak writes from London, England, as the editor of «Peace News».
Gerald P. Roucoulet was a college seminarian in his early twenties studying for the diocesan priesthood at Christ the King Seminary in St. Bonaventure, New York. He was considering the monastic life and asks for Merton's advice.
Fr. Richard W. Rousseau was a Jesuit priest and associate professor of theology at Fairfield University in Connecticut.
