Sr. Patricia of Jesus writes from a Carmelite monastery in New York.
Mother M. Patricia was superior of the Monastery of the Poor Clares (Mosteiro das Pobres Clarrisas) in Paraiba, Brazil.
Prior Bernardin Patterson was a Benedictine monk of St. Maur's Priory in South Union, Kentucky. The monastery was unique in the United States as having been established as a racially integrated community when it was founded in 1947 on the grounds of a Shaker village. At the time of writing, he was working on a book entitled, «Religion on Trial».
Nancy-Lou Patterson was Director of Art at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, at the time of writing to Merton, where she was founder of the Department of Fine Art. Her poetry appeared in «America», «The Prairie Schooner», and other notable publications. Merton chose her poetry for volume three of «Monks Pond». She later published art criticism, including books about the relationship of art and literature. In addition, she published three novels and was commissioned for liturgical artwork, including murals and stained glass, for churches.
John Pauker was a poet, playwright, editor, and translator. He and his wife, Shoo-Shoo, ran an art gallery called the Fun House in Washington, D.C., where he displayed some of Merton's art in 1967. Pauker edited the quarterly «Furioso» from 1947-1953. He was later the American editor of «The Lugano Review». He published books of poetry, a Broadway play called "Moonbirds", and translated the Hungarian novel by Lajos Zilahy, «The Dukays», which was a nationwide bestseller.
Merton first wrote Giovanni B. Montini in 1949 while serving as Secretary of State for the Vatican under Pope Pius XII. Montini became Archbishop of Milan in 1955, was elevated to cardinal in 1958, and was elected Pope Paul VI in 1963. Paul VI read and appreciated Merton's writings. He had an active role in the Second Vatican Council before and after becoming pope. Merton was lending support to the Second Vatican Council's statement on interfaith dialog, which became «Nostra Aetate», the "Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions," which was proclaimed under Pope Paul VI. Merton was also pleased with Paul VI for his statement for peace before the United Nations in 1965. Merton wrote to delegates at Vatican II supporting Schema 13's provisions against modern war, later a part of «Gaudium et Spes», the "Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World".
C. G. Paulding was managing editor of «Commonweal» at the time Merton sumitted his essay to the publication.
Dom Humphrey Pawsey was a Carthusian monk from St. Hugh's Charterhouse in England. In the 1950's, he became superior of their American foundation at Sky Farm in Vermont.
Paul Peachey is a Mennonite scholar and Executive Secretary of the Church Peace Mission. He began this work shortly after the retirement of A. J. Muste and took over much of the group's coordination until it disbanded in 1967. Peachey was the author and editor of a number of books about Christianity and social justice. The Church Peace Mission was headquartered in Washington, D.C.
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 about quoting from «The Ascent of Mount Carmel» and of publishing the «Dark Night» [of the Soul].
Fr. Claude J. Peifer was a Benedictine monk from St. Bede Abbey in Peru, Illinois. He later served as abbot there from 2003-2011.
C. Alexander Peloquin was a composer of liturgical music who was one of the earliest to begin to write in a style that reflected the changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council. He spent many years as composer-in-residence at Boston College and directed student choral ensembles. He composed music for some of Merton's "Freedom Songs", poems inspired by Negro spirituals. The songs were originally intended to be sung by African-American baritone Robert Williams. Merton and Peloquin had trouble at a time with claims that Williams made over copyright of the songs.
Maria Antonia Penido Monteiro writes from Minas, Brazil.
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 M. Basil (Robert) Pennington was a Trappist monk, author, editor, lecturer and abbot. He joined St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts in 1951. In the early 1960's, he studied canon law at Gregorian University in Rome and returned to teach at Spencer. He began correspondence with Merton upon appointment in 1967 to reform the Trappist order's constitution. He was instrumental in launching Cistercian Publications (later Cistercian Studies) in the late 1960's. In the 1970's, he visited the Orthodox monks at Mt. Athos and began writing about Catholic-Orthodox dialogue. During this time, he also became interested in Centering Prayer and became one of its proponents, conducting numerous workshops on the subject. He spent eight years at Our Lady of Joy on Lantao Island near Hong Kong beginning in 1991. He traveled much through Asia and furthered interfaith dialogue with eastern religions. In 1999, he came back to the United States, briefly serving as superior of monasteries in Ava, Missouri, and Conyers, Georgia, before returning to Spencer. In March of 2005, he was in an accident from which he never fully recovered. In June of 2005, he succumbed to complications from the accident. He left behind a large corpus of writings. He wrote some reflections on Merton, including a book about a retreat he made at Merton's hermitage. (Source: "Dom M. Basil (Robert) Pennington, OCSO". Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. website. 2 Feb. 2006. ‹http://www.centeringprayer.com/newsltrs/basil.htm›.)
Poet Simon Perchik was an attorney living in Staten Island, New York, at the time of writing to Merton. He was born in New Jersey and now resides in East Hampton, New York. As a young man, he worked as a milkman and served as a bomber pilot during the Second World War. Merton includes him in the first volume of «Monks Pond». In the November 15, 2000 «Library Journal», Perchik was described as "the most widely published unknown poet in America..." (Source: "Simon Perchik Poetry Page". Perchik's website. 2 Feb. 2006. ‹http://www.geocities.com/simonthepoet/›)
Walker Percy was a novelist best known for «The Movie Goers», which he sent to Merton and which Merton liked very much. Born in Alabama, he grew up and lived most of the rest of his life in Louisiana. He was a convert to Catholicism and his faith influenced his writing, as did existentialism. Though a product of the South, he rebelled against the racism of the Old South but equally was skeptical of modern America and its materialistic ethic. Percy met Merton at his hermitage in the summer of 1967. The encounter was arranged since both were on the advisory board of «Katallagete». There was a strained feeling between the two men-- they were fans of each other but could not seem to find conversation; however, they continued writing to each other and Merton continues to praise Percy's novels. Walker Percy writes to Merton from Covington, Louisiana. (Source: "Percy, Walker." Obituary from Current Biography. 10 May 1990. Wilson Biographies Plus. Online. H.W. Wilson. Bellarmine University Library, Louisville, KY. 2 Feb. 2006. ‹http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com›.)
Dom Pedro Pérez was from the Benedictine Monasterio de las Condes in Santiago, Chile. In 1959, he asks some questions regarding the observance of the rule at Gethsemani and policies for novices. In 1964, he asks a number of questions regarding «aggiornamento», or reform, of religious life.
Anne Perkins worked for Harper and Brothers publishers while writing to Merton. She introduced Merton, via mail, to another author published by Harper, Abraham Heschel. She writes from New York.
Pheme Perkins was a graduate student in scripture and philosophy at the time of writing to Merton.
Dom Placide Pernot was a Benedictine monk writing from the monastery of Toumliline in Azrou, Morocco. At the time, he was sub-prior of the monastery.
Mother Peter of the Holy Face was a Carmelite nun and Prioress of the community in Louisville, Kentucky.
Barrie Peterson writes Merton from Princeton Theological Seminary about the idea of forming a "'radical Community' or commune".
Fr. Callistus Peterson was a Trappist monk, originally from Gethsemani Abbey. In the early letters, he was studying in Rome. Later, he was sent to the Trappist foundation in Las Condes, Chile.
At the time of writing, John R. Peterson was an assistant professor in the College of Architecture at Arizona State University.
Robert A. Peterson writes from Chicago, Illinois.
Fr. Ian Petit was a Benedictine monk from the Saint Louis Priory in St. Louis, Missouri.
Marianne Peyre translated Merton's essay "Blessed are the Meek" into French for publication in «Cahiers de la Réconciliation», a publication related to the International Movement of Reconciliation (M.I.R.) / International Fellowship of Reconcilation (I.F.O.R.).
Andrea Pfeiffenberger writes from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. After graduation, she continued studies at the University of York in England. Merton publishes a couple of her poems in the third volume of «Monks Pond».
Fr. Robert B. Pfisterer was a Franciscan priest of the Los Angeles Archdiocese.
At the time of correspondence, Fr. Gerald B. Phelan was a Basilian priest at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies (PIMS) at St. Michael's College, Toronto, Ontario.
Paul-Pierre Cardinal Philippe was a Dominican priest who initially taught at the Pontificium Athenaeum Angelicum in Rome. In 1959, he became secretary of the Vatican's Congregation for Religious. In 1967, he became secretary of Doctrine of the Faith for the Roman Curia, and was elevated to cardinal in 1973. Philippe had been to Gethsemani and spoke to the community.
Bernard S. Phillips was a professor in the Department of Religion at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the time of writing.
John-Francis Phipps wrote the book «Look Forward in Joy» and hoped Merton could help him find a publisher in the United States. He writes from Wimbleton, England.
John Pick was a professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was chairman of the University Committee on the Fine Arts and arranged to have a display of Merton's calligraphic drawings, entitled "Forty-Three Signatures", displayed at Marquette.
Barbara Pickett was a reference librarian at the Louisville Free Public Library in Kentucky. Merton contributes a piece to their staff newsletter, «Staff Log», entitled, "My Visits to the Secular Bookhouse".
Roscoe M. Pierson was librarian of the Bosworth Memorial Library at the College of the Bible (later known as Lexington Theological Seminary, Disciples of Christ) in Lexington, Kentucky.
Mara Ann Pinto was a high school student from South Euclid, Ohio, who had recently read «The Seven Storey Mountain». She mentions her initial "aversion to reading books by priests and nuns"; however, she was glad to have read the book and mentions its profound effect on her.
Br. M. Placid was a Trappist monk of the Southern Star Abbey in Kopua, New Zealand. He asks Merton some questions regarding monastic formation, solitude, Dechanet's book on yoga, and the "Prayer of Jesus.
Allen Planz and Carl Larsen were editing an anthology of poems concerning race and civil rights in the United States. They ask for Merton's contributions. Allen Planz writes from New York.
Fr. Thomas Plassmann was a Franciscan priest and President of St. Bonaventure College in New York.
Leslie M. Pockell was articles editor for «Avant-Garde» magazine and writes from New York.
Joseph Polansky writes from St. Anthony's Church in Pollansbee, West Virginia.
Fr. Alfred Pooler was a Passionist priest that helped in the early years of the Thomas Merton Center in contacting people who had been in correspondence with Thomas Merton.
Richard M. Pope was a professor of church history at the College of the Bible, later Lexington Theological Seminary, in Lexington, Kentucky. He and some of his students came to visit Merton at Gethsemani, and Merton lectured on monasticism.
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.
Arabel J. Porter was senior editor of the New American Library (NAL), publishers of the various Signet series among others. He writes from New York. Merton send them his manuscript for «Faith and Violence».
Fr. Thomas Aquinas Porter was one of the Cistercian censors that needed to approve Merton's writings before publication. He writes from Holy Trinity Abbey in Huntsville, Utah.
Fr. Alexius T. Portz was the founding director of the St. John's University Institude for Mental Health in Collegeville, Minnesota.
The poet Clarence Poulin wrote to Merton from Penacook, New Hampshire.