It makes so much sense that a lot of contemporary monks would have had Big Opinions about Thomas Merton, the most famousest monk of all, but it somehow never occurred to me that any of them would have been so catty about it? Monks: They’re Just Like Etc!
“I was never a fan of his.” Well. (I would recommend only skimming An Infinity Of Little Hours, because it drags in parts but is definitely worth picking up.)
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uhhh last I heard it’s in Dom Joseph’s contract that you never appear clothed before him
I grew up on a seminary campus and have been surrounded by clergy all my life. I’m only surprised this excerpt is as mild as it is.
*cackles* I am in divinity school now and know exactly what you mean.
Yeah, this is actually pretty chill.
Gr-r-r—there go, my heart’s abhorrence!
Scribble your damned belles-lettres, do!
If hate killed men, Brother Thomas,
God’s blood, would not mine kill you!
What? your memoir wants revision?
Oh, that poem has prior claims—
Need its leaden words precision?
Hell dry you up with its flames!
How does this not have 100+ likes MOST UNDERAPPRECIATED COMMENT EVER
OMG ALL THE LIKES
LIKE X 1000
i regret that i have but one thumbs-up to give to this comment
Ooh ooh, a time for Browning! Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister! Such venom, such monkness! (Not as good as my fave RB dramatic monologue Porphyria’s Lover, but still awesome) – if you haven’t read it lately, do.
Honestly, monks are one of my favorite classes to play in RPGs, especially when you get into upper levels, when–wait, different kind of monk? Oh, um.
Belt of +5 to beer making.
I thought you were talking about something more like this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ryA_RPiSPRw
I enjoyed this book, but I wish I’d been able to keep better track of who was who. I wanted to predict which monks would stay in the Charterhouse and which ones would leave, but as soon as they were given their religious names I forgot who everyone was.
If I read this book I will be sure to make a chart.
This making me think I should add reading books about monks to my current hobby of reading books about nuns.
Any recommendations for nun books?
I can heartily recommend Mary Johnson’s An Unquenchable Thirst, about her time as a nun (Sister Donata) with the Missionaries of Charity (founder is Mother Teresa of Calcutta).
I’m currently reading Through The Narrow Gate, which is brilliant, then I plan to start I Leapt The Wall (I thiiink that’s the correct title)
Ha, I am the opposite: I have read I Jump Over the Wall (good, but I wanted more stuff about being a contemplative nun and less about integrating into WW2 Britain society) and have Through the Narrow Gate on my list to read.
For fiction, I really love In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden. I’m also currently reading A Benedictine Tapestry by one of the nuns from the abbey it’s based on.
As a theology grad student, I am no longer surprised to find that monks are catty. #perks?
i just returned from a monastery for a retreat, and i have to say that monks are quite simply the best. was gonna save my experience for the open thread, but since Mallory brought up it up! i’ve actually started incorporating monastery bells into my work life for centering prayer, for leaving the office, for eating… it’s been amazing! we should all be monks.
Members of my family (and the parish priest) are trying to convince my baby brother that priesthood’s the right choice. I’m the only one pushing the whole concept of monkhood. “You can be the skiing monk, kid. Think it over.”
Please tell me he actually is enthusiastic about being a celibate clergyman. Otherwise, that feels like how some Catholic families back in the day would try to push one of the kids (usually sons) into religious life for bonus Holy PointsTM.
Well, technically he was baptized Byzantine Catholic, so the celibacy thing is completely optional unless he decides to switch rites. My family’s fun like that. Our last priest (in the family) was not only married with children, but also separated from his wife when she decided that amount of churching wasn’t for her.
Optional for priests, but don’t monks still have to be celibate?
If you are being called and you have to choose between being a parish priest and being a monk, monk is clearly the winner.
“No, I am sorry, I cannot see you today, I must commune with my god” *spends all day reading, thinking, and not engaging with society*
*spends all day reading, thinking, and not engaging with society* is my baby brother to a t. Whenever he starts getting swayed by seminary, I have to remind him the amount of dealing with people that that would require his spectrumed self to perform. He’s quite prepared to talk at people, but not so much to listen.
APPARENTLY my grandmother had an ongoing correspondence with Thomas Merton, which I sincerely wish I knew more about because it sounds amazing.
How did your family not preserve these? THAT IS AMAZING.
Yeah, right? Apparently she didn’t keep those letters! Or at least, she said she didn’t. It was back when he was in Western New York, which wasn’t long, and was apparently in the 1940s. So I’m not sure what happened.
But it’s even more amazing if you knew my grandmother. She was a devout Catholic, like most Italian grandmothers, but she would curse a mean streak and cheat at cards.
So…it’s a lot to imagine!
Was he at the Abbey of the Genesee? They still make terrific bread.
“whether he is a monk or a celebrity” there are so few situations where this phrase can be used
Monks!
One of my favorite living monks is Fr Thomas Keating, who once said that living in a monastery is like being married to 18 people you don’t like very much.
Br. Wayne Teasdale, who coined the the term “interspirituality” once invited a friend of mine over to meditate and watch Babylon 5.
“Just returned from visiting the monastery at Assisi. Saw Brother Francis as we toured the abbey. As usual he was accompanied by a variety of songbirds, woodland creatures, a timber wolf, and a marmot. A raven flew up and interposed itself, croaking, ‘No illuminated portraits, please,’ as the entourage passed. Frankly, I was never a fan of his. I’ve always thought he should make up his mind whether he is a monk or a ranger.”
Catty Novices Through History!
I actually have a shelf on my Goodreads devoted (somewhat inaccurately) to fiction about nuns.
I actually have a copy of this book on my shelf, picked up after I saw "Into Great Silence" and got briefly very fascinated by the Carthusians. Clearly I should actually read it.
"I'm sorry I didn't talk to you guys about my decision."
GUYS.
Having gone to Christian Brother schools and knowing some ex-monks over the years, I’m pretty sure that they only serve milk in saucers in the refrectory….
Thomas Merton is actually really interesting. I read his memoir, Seven Storey Mountain, and it was fascinating to see how he went from agnosticism to becoming a Trappist monk. Kind of a big turn around. At the end he actually complains about how they keep making him write books when he just wants to be a monk and live a simple monk-type life.