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First lines: "Cette lettre vous surprendra à première vue, mais plus dutout lorsque je vous aurai dit que je suis"...

First lines: "Could you please look over these two works of art (?) and tell me if they are too scandalously bad"... Contents index: [see "Censors Reports" file in correspondence for physical copy] "Saints for Now" by Clare Boothe Luce with an essay by Merton regarding St. John of the Cross [essay in book] - Merton submits two black ink brush drawings of St. John of the Cross and of St. Thérèse of Lisieux - reply by Fr. Paul Bourne is written on the bottom of Merton's letter (see Item #2 of the same date).

First lines: "to Fathe Vitus of the clerics of St. John's Abbey - from the scholastics of Our Lady of Gethsemani -"... Contents index: [inscription to Father Vitus of St. John Abbey (likely Fr. Vitus Bucher) with Latin text from the Rule of St. Benedict, "ut ab ipsius magisterio numquam discedentes in ejus doctrina usque ad mortem in monasterio perseverantes, passionibus Xti per patientiam participemus, ut et regno ejus mereamur esse consortes." Signed "f M Louis, O.C.S.O."].

First lines: "Many thanks for your kind and solicitous letter. If a cryptic sentence of mine led you to believe"... Contents index: clarification that Merton does not plan to leave Gethsemani / discussed ill match for Trappist lifestyle and his desire to live as a hermit at Gethsemani.

First lines: "I am rushing to you, tardily, an un-proofread article on St Bernard which has been accepted by"...

First lines: "Here is the completed draft of «Tower of Babel». I am sending it as a straight poem."...

First lines: "You will be glad to here that Harcourt Brace is bringing out the Encyclical, with one commentary -"...

First lines: "Silence in Heaven--- a note to the Father Censors. [-] This text was written for the Benedictine"... Contents index: [2 copies].

First lines: "Tengo el honor de pedirles, a Uds, ayuda en un asunto que interesera tal artista Ecuadoriano."... Contents index: [Merton writes to the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana in Quito, Ecuador - Dr. Julio Endara was President and he gave Merton's letter to Jaime Andrade].

First lines: "Le agradezco mucho su carta, y voy a explicarle mis ideas para la obra propuesta, de una estatua de"... Contents index: commissions and describes plan for a Statue of the Blessed Virgin for the Novitiate Library / vocation of artist and monk-priest / Nativity and Native Americans.

First lines: "I thank you very much for your letters, and I am going to explain to you my ideas about the work"... Contents index: translation of the 1958/03/03 letter to commission and describe a plan for a Statue of the Blessed Virgin for the novitiate library (translator's handwriting, not Merton's).

First lines: "Le agradezco mucho su carta, y voy a explicarle mis ideas para la obra propuesta, de una estatua de"... Contents index: commissions and describes plan for a Statue of the Blessed Virgin for the Novitiate Library / vocation of artist and monk-priest / Nativity and Native Americans.

First lines: "Le agradezco mucho su carta del 18, y tengo mucho gusto en decirle antesde todo que nuestro Padre"...

First lines: "He … de la biblioteca"...

First lines: "Since you understand English well, I can write to you in that language and thus save a little time."...

First lines: "It was very good to get your letter, the pictures, and especially the picture of the model"... Contents index: Merton's feedback and suggestions after seeing a picture of the model statue - other thoughts on American art / invitation to come to Gethsemani - Merton's desire to visit Ecuador / proposal for "a new form of monastic life" near Quito - in contact with life of the region and the soil, but also with the culture of the city / no monastic habit, no emphasis on apostolate or education / Merton "a revolutionist" but non-violent.

First lines: "If I were free to do what I thought best myself, or if I could get permission to do it somehow (and"... Contents index: [this is a fragment of a longer letter of the same date] proposal for "a new form of monastic life" near Quito - in contact with life of the region and the soil, but also with the culture of the city / no monastic habit, no emphasis on apostolate or education / Merton "a revolutionist" but non-violent.

First lines: "Gracias por su atenta carta de 18 de julio por el cheque de quinientos dólares que"...

First lines: "Your letter arrived this morning and I enjoyed all of it very much. I reply immediately to your"... Contents index: [verso of card: photo and text, "Statue of St. Bernard (by Peter Watts) Abbey of Gethsemani, Ky."].

First lines: "It was very good to get your delightful letter and to learn about all of you-- Sally, Taylor, Anne,"... Contents index: [verso: photo of statue of St. Bernard by Peter Watts / Abbey of Gethsemani] Mrs. Gaither / masses said for Merton.

First lines: "Circunstancia espacialísimas me han impedido escribí a usted dando contestación"... Contents index: [see 1958/11/16 letter for an English translation of this letter].

First lines: "I am grateful to you for your long and interesting letter, and for your thoughtful, sincere answer"... Contents index: Child in statue should be holding a "fruit, flower or leaf" indigenous to South America - not corn because of associations with bad art / acknowledges problems with the monastic mission in Ecuador, but sees value in a cultural and social mission to Indians - opposition from orthodox Communists.

First lines: "I am grateful to you for your long and interesting letter, and for your thoughtful, sincere answer"... Contents index: Child in statue should be holding a "fruit, flower or leaf" indigenous to South America - not corn because of associations with bad art / acknowledges problems with the monastic mission in Ecuador, but sees value in a cultural and social mission to Indians - opposition from orthodox Communists.

First lines: "This is a very late "Christmas" card to thank you for your kind letter and the Mass stipend which"... Contents index: ["Christmas Card 1958" - verso: "From a woodcut by Gerhard Marcks for the hand-press edition of Thomas Merton's 'The Tower of Babel,' printed for New Directions by R. von Sichowsky in Hamburg, Germany."].

First lines: "Your wonderfully welcome letter and the pictures came on my birthday and I was very happy to get"...

First lines: "By now you should have received my reply to your letter, with the check"...

First lines: "I was glad to get your letter and am replying immediately to say that we would like to have"...

First lines: "My Masses today and tomorrow are for your intention. God bless you - I wish you many graces."...

First lines: "The statue finally arrived safely three days ago and is now installed in the novitiate library."...

First lines: "La estatua de la Santísima Virgen y el Niño por Jaime Andrade ha sido recibida e instalada aquí,"...

First lines: "The statue of the Blessed Virgin and Child by Jaime Andrade has been received and installed here,"... Contents index: [English transcript of the same letter to Dr. Endara].

First lines: "Thank you for the surprise letter and for the gift which I shall use to good advantage -- I need"...

First lines: "It was a joy to get your letter and to see the photographs of the new work which is very impressive."...

First lines: "Since objections were raised to the article entitled Vocation to Solitude, the theme has been"...

First lines: "After all your notes and good wishes I know we are really friends, and I hope we will remain united"... Contents index: Merton sends a picture of himself but asks that they not focus on appearances in life - asks student to be true to themselves and what God wants for them / many ways to serve God - not all through being a priest or religious.

First lines: "I remember that Friday was a day on which a truck normally used to go to town and asked B. Clement"...

First lines: "It was a pleasure for me to receive your good letter and I am certainly grateful to our mutual"... Contents index: not sending «Seeds of Contemplation» due to early ignorance of Sufism that Merton hopes to correct in «New Seeds» / Husayn Mansur Hallaj and Rumi / Nwyia's book on John of the Cross and Ibn Abbad / recommended books / Imam Riza.

First lines: "to Abdul Aziz - very cordially T. Merton"... Contents index: [notecard with the poem, "Wisdom" and Merton's signature].

First lines: "It was very thoughtful of you to send me the piece about Cuba by Leroi Jones. It is very important"...

First lines: "It was indeed a pleasure to get your kind letter. I had been thinking of writing to you myself for"...

First lines: "J'ai été très touché par l'amitié avec laquelle vous avez bien voulu me faire parvenir un exemplaire"... Contents index: Boris Pasternak / «The Behavior of Titans».

First lines: "This morning I received a good long letter from Shirley Burden in California and some pictures he"...

First lines: "Your admirable letter of December 20th reached me promptly and I was deeply touched by your"... Contents index: Imam Riza - poem from Cincinnati Museum / Al Ansari / Taoism / Trappist life / solitary life at Gethsemani analogous to Sufis and orthodox Muslim community legalism / significance of Mary for Gethsemani and at Fatima / Islamic revival.

First lines: "Here is the threshold of holiness in the dust of the road / Where mighty kings have laid their heads"... Contents index: "Fragment of poem from the Tomb Cover of Imam Riza (Cincinnati Museum)", Xeroxed copy of attachment to 1961/01/30 letter.

First lines: "It is already over a month since I received your good letter. It was my intention to reply to it"...

First lines: "I have no hesitation in recommending Jaime Andrade, sculptor, of Quito Ecuador, as a worthy"...

First lines: "Your fine letter of December 8th has lain long in the drawer. I have thought about it a lot. We"...

First lines: "[…] thanks for your gift and for your good news at Easter. Glad to hear Anne and Tay are doing well"...

First lines: "It has been a long time since I received your good letter of March 8th. The books took a great"... Contents index: Titus Burckhardt on Sufism / reading Ibn Arabi to theology students / Sir M. Iqbal / criticism of John of the Cross and Moroccan mystic book / E. Allison Peers / Tawhid and Rhenish and Flemish mystics of the 14th century - Eckhart, influenced by Avicenna.

First lines: "I write to you both as to friends, with deep compassion and concern in this moment of anguish."...

First lines: "It is a terribly long time since you last wrote and since you sent the little book on the"...

First lines: "Thanks for your very good and kind letter. I am glad I gave you the books and that you liked them."...

First lines: "I do not have time to give you a really full answer to your good letter, though I have waited in"...

First lines: "It is a very long time since I have had a letter from you and I am beginning to think that something"... Contents index: Sufi book on truthfulness / Henri Corbin's book on Ibn Arabi / Greek fathers and the «theoria physike», "natural contemplation" / Wisdom (Sophia) / Kashf Al-Majub / sending Cuadra letter / nuclear weapons / Third World / situation in Pakistan.

First lines: "Thanks for your very fine letters and clipping. I am going to write you when I have a little time."... Contents index: [Xerox of note written at the top of the first page of an article - "The Machine Gun in the Fallout Shelter" by Merton].

First lines: "I am very glad to hear that the Pax movement is getting started in this country and that you are"... Contents index: need for action on the peace from / [lack of peace] an apostasy from Christ / New Directions anthology on peace - asking Berrigan for contributions - proposed contributors: Jerome Frank, Erich Fromm, Lewis Mumford, Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, Gordon Zahn, Bede Griffiths / proposed meeting on peace.

First lines: "Have courage and faith. The advent liturgy will soon be reminding us that the Lord is very close to"... Contents index: The main purpose of letter is to pass on name of Mario Casanas a potential entrant for Gethsemani.

First lines: "Thanks for your very fine letter and all the other things. I have not yet had a quiet moment in"... Contents index: Charles de Foucauld / Tony Walsh, Gordon Zahn, Lewis Mumford, Erich Fromm / young English Catholics and their book on nuclear weapons and Christian conscience / not yet written to Karl Meyer / proposed talks by Berrigan at Gethsemani, Bellarmine College, Loretto Motherhouse / nuclear war and the Church.

First lines: "As a matter of fact I know nothing about that Spiritual Life Institute. Fr. William"...

First lines: "Forgive please this very long delay in thanking you for the copy of «Shaker Furniture» which"... Contents index: Cold War Letter #12 / see also «Seeds of Destruction», "Letters in a Time of Crisis" #6.

First lines: "Forgive please this very long delay in thanking you for the copy of «Shaker Furniture» which"... Contents index: Cold War Letter #12 - transcript of letter as included in bound set of Cold War Letters.

First lines: "For several weeks I have wanted to find an opportunity to answer your letter with its one very"... Contents index: [Cold War Letters #15] responds to Burdick's question about "disinterested love" - charity, agape rather than eros - mysticism, the Zen tradition, Hassidim, Jewish tzaddiks of Central Europe and Poland (Buber) / Sigmund Freud - "a great puritan" / sending some writings of D. T. Suzuki.

First lines: "For several weeks I have wanted to find an opportunity to answer your letter with its one very"... Contents index: [Cold War Letters #15 - from mimeographed collection of letters] responds to Burdick's question about "disinterested love" - charity, agape rather than eros - mysticism, the Zen tradition, Hassidim, Jewish tzaddiks of Central Europe and Poland (Buber) / Sigmund Freud - "a great puritan" / D. T. Suzuki.

First lines: "(not for publication) "The way I would express it now is in purely religious and symbolic terms."... Contents index: [Cold War Letters #15 - excerpt (shorter version of others of the same date) labelled "not for publication" - fuller form of the letter was published].

First lines: "All blessings and joy at Christmas. May God give you strength, patience, light and love"...

First lines: "We will be looking forward to your Advent in August, around the 10th. By all means bring some of"... Contents index: Berrigan coming around August 10th / Gordon Zahn's contribution to «Das Buch» / Karl Meyer / Merton's peace writings and the censors / Berrigan's new book and similarities with «The New Man» / T. E. Maher, Jr..

First lines: "I need not tell you how I would love to be there on February 2nd. There are few earthly desires I"... Contents index: [Cold War Letters, # 24A] Shaker spiritual drawings / photos of Pleasant Hill Shaker Community / photo essay on the Shakers / Edward Deming Andrews / Merton's thoughts on the paradise myth of the Shakers as expressed in their art - different from secular paradise vision of streets of gold - spiritual and social vision.

First lines: "Many thanks - enjoyable to read such a fantastic writer -- [-] Happy New Year [-] In Xto"... Contents index: [verso: Bamberger notes that the fantastic writer Merton refers to is Paul Valéry and his «History of Politics»].

First lines: "This time I want to try to answer you immediately. I think you are quite right, and that the ideas"...

First lines: "If I answer you now it has to be a very quick answer. You cannot help suffering the way you do, and"...

First lines: "My correspondence is a kind of Sisyphus act: rolling the boulder up the hill and then having it"... Contents index: Berrigan's review of «The New Man» / Berrigan's poems / censors and peace articles / "Vocation" poems by Merton and by Berrigan / John Heidbrink / Douglas Steere / visits by people from Catholic Worker who now are in jail / Benedictine approach to prayer - Oriental approach / poem about the spaceman / Tom Maher.

First lines: "Many thanks for your letter of February 27th. I have of course been thinking seriously about your"... Contents index: creating list of peace articles for book / arrangements with Farrar Straus and Cudahy / «Blackfriars» article "Letter to Pablo Antonio Cuadra Concerning Giants" / peace book may not get imprimatur / "first strike attitude" in some Catholics - Communism will take the Church without more H-bombs.

First lines: "Finally I must answer your letters, at least briefly. A brief answer will be better than none at"... Contents index: article on English mystics / letter about "the Giants" / Gog and Magog in the Quran / Sufi religious psychology / notes on mystical theology / Eckhart / St. Basil's influence on St. Benedict / formalism / Al Hujswiri / biographical notes from Merton / book against nuclear war.

First lines: "Finally I must answer your letters, at least briefly. A brief answer will be better than none at"... Contents index: [same as other letter of this date, but from the collected Cold War Letters - Cold War Letters #67].

First lines: "SONG FOR THE DEATH OF AVERROËS (from Ibn Al Arabi, after the Spanish version of Asin Palacios.)"... Contents index: [Merton's poem "Song for the Death of Averroës," signed with a note to Aziz enclosed with 1962/April/04 letter].

First lines: "A LETTER TO PABLO ANTONIO CUADRA CONCERNING GIANTS [-] 1. [-] At a moment when all the"... Contents index: [Merton's letter/essay "A Letter to Pablo Antonio Cuadra Concerning Giants," signed with a note to Aziz enclosed with 1962/April/04 letter].

First lines: "MISCELLANEA MONASTICA [-] THE ENGLISH MYSTICS. In regard to some recent books"... Contents index: [First page of Merton's essay on "The English Mystics," signed with a note to Aziz enclosed with 1962/April/04 letter].

First lines: "SAN JUAN DE LA CRUZ [-] C.D. CANTOR DEL AMOR DIVINO [-] ¡Cuán manso y amoroso"... Contents index: [copy of the envelope sent to Aziz with a prayer card of St. John of the Cross enclosed with 1962/April/04 letter].

First lines: "As you know periodically my affairs get in an awful tangle, and they are in one now: about writing,"...

First lines: "I deeply feel with you all the emotions that have shaken you, on meeting the prisoners returning"...

First lines: "Sorry, bad news. My higher superiors have judged that it is not quite fitting for a Cistercian monk"... Contents index: nuclear war censorship of Merton's writings - obligation for obedience despite book already at Macmillan [«Peace in a Post-Christian Era»] / Merton must take back article sent to Barry on nuclear war / Cassian / article on Adam of Perseigne would not sit well with the "Black Benedictines" / Dutch mystic Hadewijch.

First lines: "Well, I finally have an answer for you on the Peace Book. The book is finished all right, but I am"... Contents index: Merton not able to publish book because of controversial nature / circulating copies of sections to friends as letters (what would become known as the Cold War Letters).

First lines: "I was happy and surprised to get your good letter, and very glad for you. Certainly the dimensions"... Contents index: true self versus false self / faith and crisis / suggested authors and publications to read to weather bad times.

First lines: "Probably by now you are in the middle of your retreat with the Protestants at Mount Saviour. May"... Contents index: book by Merton's "favorite Jesuit", Matthew Ricci, and Christian apostolate / "John Heidbrink's Mennonite minister who has translated a German Catholic book about Zen Buddhism" / Karl Meyer / book on peace - censors forbid "Target Equals City" / peace anthology / Phil Berrigan's study of segregation in «Catholic Worker».

First lines: "This is a quick one to confirm your arrangements. I will get a note into the guesthouse quick, and"... Contents index: Berrigan to arrive on August 13 and schedule of his proposed talks to novices / talks to novices can be more progressive than talks to the whole Gethsemani community / Merton [ironically] "sending some pro Jesuit propaganda" / books by Fr. Dunne and Fr. Adam Schall / Baptist from Louisville may come to hear Berrigan.

First lines: "This is not an adequate letter, but I do want to get some kind of reply into the mail for you, as"... Contents index: [Cold War Letter #19] the "retire" / von Hildebrand's «Transformation in Christ» and «Defense of Purity» / marriage and celibacy / books on monastic life and solitary life / Bouyer - «The Meaning of the Monastic Life» and «Introduction to Spirituality» / Jean Danielou / Gorres - «Hidden Face».

First lines: "This is not an adequate letter, but I do want to get some kind of reply into the mail for you, as"... Contents index: [Cold War Letter #19] the "retire" / von Hildebrand's «Transformation in Christ» and «Defense of Purity» / marriage and celibacy / books on monastic life and solitary life / Bouyer - «The Meaning of the Monastic Life» and «Introduction to Spirituality» / Jean Danielou / Gorres - «Hidden Face».

First lines: "Nearest airport Louisville. From there by bus to New Haven, Ky. From there by taxi. But maybe I"... Contents index: directions to Gethsemani / asks if Berrigan wants to give a talk to the sisters at Loretto.

First lines: "I deeply feel with you all the emotions that have shaken you, on meeting the prisoners returning"... Contents index: [Cold War Letters #93].

First lines: "Recently I have gone over a manuscript that has been waiting for revision, and I have completed the"... Contents index: «Principles of Prayer» - "draws… on patristic sources and Church documents" - more formal than «Seeds of Contemplation» / timetable for publishing with Macmillan.

First lines: "I will be over tomorrow after the High Mass, about 10.15. Could you give a first talk of about 1/2"... Contents index: speaking schedule for Daniel Berrigan at Gethsemani on August 13 / Tony Walsh from Labre House in Montreal giving a talk.

First lines: "I am sorry I have been busy and have not been able to write. This is just a note to say that I"...

First lines: "I have your letter and Fr. Gerard showed me the one you sent him. I am writing this from the"... Contents index: Berrigan's comments in favor of "small groups and personal contacts" over large movements with "totalitarian compulsions" - likes small groups like the Little Brothers and Damascus Winzen's monastery / remarks on Fr. Gerard's project / censors object to Merton's "Jesuits in China" / Tony Walsh.

First lines: "As this tense situation gets worse and worse, we must all realize that no strain or effort of ours"...

First lines: "Probably my silence is the result of a more or less frantic effort to preserve some simplicity in my"...

First lines: "Thanks for the good letter of the 14th. I see your point about making the additions before the book"... Contents index: chapter on "Liturgy and Social Concern" / visit from unexpected visitors like Jean Leclercq / foreign rights problems - Merton asking to handle foreign rights, except in Paris (Marie Tadié as translator and agent there) / Dagmar Henne - German agent.

First lines: "This is a troubled time, in which you are going to have to collect your forces and muster up even"... Contents index: [Cold War Letters #109].

First lines: "This is a troubled time, in which you are going to have to collect your forces and muster up even"... Contents index: [Cold War Letters #109].

First lines: "I believe I did not yet answer your letter about the publication of my letter to Fr Ronald. But as"... Contents index: Merton's abbot not in favor of publishing letter to Fr. Ronald concerning monastic formation and the priesthood / Serge Bolshakoff manuscript / Merton offering a review article on Dom Adalbert de Voguë's French book on the Rule of St. Benedict and the Rule of the Master.

First lines: "Just got your blanks from the Goggenbuch Stipend House. I will write you up a litany of praises"... Contents index: Berrigan's recommendation of a grant for the Guggenheim / Vatican Council II - debate on sources of Revelation / Cuba - "just war" question and our own "fabricated illusion" of needing to "press the button" - John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev - blending of American and Soviet materialism / Dorothy Day / Bob Lax.