Thomas Merton's Hermitage / A Short Video

[cactussong]

corny music and too many people all at once trampling over sacred ground....definitely should be one or two at the most at any one time....take yer shoes off and reverence God and His servant that lived, prayed and cried here...

[Ingridsoleil1]

wonderful... interesting the music.... beauty in simplicity... I am deeply moved.... thank you all!

Ingrid Henzler

[MrOhjok]

I was a Trappist. I believe Fr. Lois would have laughed that people came as such. I understand and respect why, but I can hear him laughing. The music? Well intended but misses the target. he would have wanted the voices of his brothers chanting at Gethsemani.

[awreckingball]

Ruined by music.

[madisonelectronic]

0:30 Beer bottle or bug spray on bench?

[JoabAnias]

I was told by Br. Luke during Holy Week 2009 that the hermatege is now closed to visitors. Would have loved to have seen it.

[sweetredredwine]

@JoabAnias In January we heard that men were permitted to visit at times

[KCElstun]

I love the music.

[bapyou]

"Peace is not the absence of struggle or tension, but rather the presence of justice."

[4FTR]

It's the Catalina wine mixer!!!

[KCElstun]

I loved the music.

[suetre62]

Thanks for posting this video. My father built much of the original furniture for Merton's retreat. The pieces were designed by a mutual friend, Victor Hammer. As a woman, I will never be allowed to see the hermitage and my father's work, so this video was especially interesting to me.

[KristenWack777]

I love the music you chose. Thanks for posting it for us to enjoy. I may have a a rare opportunity to visit Gesthemani soon. Very excited about the prospect!

Yours in Christ,

[ryan82scott]

I think that the Cistercians at Gethsemani are fulfilling the words of Paul in 1 Cor. 9:19-23. They are finding common ground with other faiths and winning them over for Christ. Buddhism can teach the Christian about the nearly lost art of Meditation, espoused by many in the early church and nearly destroyed in the Reformation. Even Cardinal Ratzinger in "Truth and Tolerance" views other faiths as a procession toward Christ, much like the wise men that came at Christ's birth.

[oblatusosb]

@ryan82scott with due respect I totally disagree with you about the lost art of meditation in Christianity, it seems to me that you are familar with the Lectio divina of St. Benedict, practised in every Carthusian, Benedectine Camalduli's monasteries around the world, not to mention the Charmelites, and many other unafiliated hermites, 2 of them I was lucky and happy to visit for a few minutes in the Italian Alps. there still people that dedicate part of their time to pure meditation.

[ryan82scott]

@oblatusosb most certainly the different orders of monks and nuns have carried on the practice of meditation through the ages, but the use of meditation has been practiced less and less by the laity since the Reformation, and is all but ignored in most Protestant communities. Thomas Merton, with his writings, helped enkindle a renewed interested in this practice among the laity. If you disagree I accept that. I could be wrong, of course.

[oblatusosb]

@ryan82scott I do agree with you that since the Reformation or should we say the Council of Trento most of the laity has abondoned meditation, not of their fault, but the prists themselves had lost interest in what was once called: "conversatio nostra in coelis est."

[Opetlao]

I love it, i hope one day Christian could be awaken and merge with Buddhism which is the roots of Christianity. Christ and the Buddha are teaching one in the same thing just one different aspect of the coin. When I look at Issa I see the Buddha through him. Both of these religions are the only religion that have Monks and nuns, christ adopt this through Buddhism. Both religions need to open their heart up and merge with in.

[wonderlandcs]

I think the music is appropriate because it was your creative choice. The bigger picture of this video is the amazing honoring of Father Thomas Merton. An inspiration to many contemplatives of all faiths. Thank You Gethsemani3 :)

[lovegarbage]

I agree. The soundtrack is very nice but it is inappropriate to a silent contemplative hermitage.

[zasu442]

I treat it like life. Sometimes you have to turn the volume off.

[smoothgoomer]

lol right on

[DennisonBerwick]

Wasn't an earlier verison of this SILENT? The soudtrack is "nice" but intrusive. Allowing viewers to visit the hermitage in silence would be much more appropriate. There seems to be absolutely nowhere where silence is allowed today. What are we so afraid of that we feel compelled to fill it all the time?

[briteness]

Interesting to see this video footage of the hermitage. Thank you.

For over 20 years I have been a reader of Merton's work. He still seems like one of the most important voices of the last century. If we don't blow ourselves up, people will still be reading him in 500 years.

[hollywoodartchick]

So lovely to see all the monks of both traditions enjoying the peace of Merton's hermitage. I wish I could visit too.

[milesfan420]

But you have just done the very thing you claim to disdain. Furthermore, I was defending the video in the same spirit of your comment. Anyway, peace.

[sidewalkpilot]

great vids... but TERRIBLE song

[MijnOnzin]

Thank you I think Merton

would have been frightened, nauseated, and quite humored to see a band of monks

assaulting his home like a D-day invasion picking and prodding his bedding like a side show curiosity. Note the poor monk who gets his one chance to sit at Merton's desk only to have a camera shoved in his face. Had he known I think Merton would have put up a sign...Come one come all...see Father Louie's flatulent home of dysentery delights. To find Merton find St. Ann's shed.

[Stherese64]

One man's vinegar is another man's wine. I play this every morning, at least once. Greatly appreciated for visual and audio presentation.

[REGAZZA2007]

No entiendo porque tienen microondas y otras cosas, me gustan mas los cartujos , ellos si viven con gran austeridad.

[Mambisa50]

Cuando Merton vivia aqui, no tenia ni un lujo. Todo esto es nuevo porque personas invitadas pueden estacionarse aqui.

[Catholiques]

to bad, this would have been a great video except for the music

[Gethsemani3]

Sorry it didn't work for you... it was a creative choice on my part... I watched it a few times without music and it seemed a bit long.

[Catholiques]

no problem, it needs music i am sure, i just personally think its the wrong choice/type..and the fact it is a Hindu/buddhist/ pretty-hippie far eastern 'Syncretism' and 'Universalism'style sung by Trappists..., shows me how far the Trappists have fallen away from CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN Tradtion Monasticism.

Armand de Rancé must be weeping in heaven...

[VoiceOfModeration]

i dont think they became people-pleasing relativistic politically correct left-wing hippy dippy dingdongs. thats a common misunderstanding. they were advocates for ECUMENISM, not relativism. Healthy inter-faith dialogue. Not the same as diluting the faith and equating Buddha with Jesus

[milesfan420]

How do you draw the distinction between healthy inter-faith dialogue and diluting...that's a matter of personal interpretation. The faith has evolved radically over the last 2000 years and whether you like it or not, it will continue. What are so trying to protect? Please do tell...(peace)

[VoiceOfModeration]

If you honestly don't know the difference between relativism and ecumenism, the catechism should provide the definitions and explanations for you. If we believe that Jesus is God, then the Jews believing he was a liar sent to test their faith or the muslims believing he was just a prophet can not also be right. We don't have the right to judge, criticize or marginalize their beliefs. But we can't all be right, because that doesn't make sense.

[VoiceOfModeration]

I don't believe in fixating on how we are right and everyone else is wrong etc. either by the way. Because once ppl get stuck there, they worship their religion rather than God. This is why relativists have some legitimate concerns. What I'm trying to protect is the uniqueness of Christianity which I believe proves its veracity. I believe that the similarities between biblical narrative and mythology only bring out the differences. For more info, please read TheScapegoat by scholar Rene Girard

[milesfan420]

The uniqueness of Christianity ABSOLUTELY should be preserved. The traditions are rich in meaning and mystical power. I will read The Scapegoat and I appreciate the referral.

[milesfan420]

So I guess what I'm saying is that our traditions should be preserved but our egoic attachment to right or wrong, should be dismantled. I believe that the Jew who argues "the veracity argument" of Judaism is really in agreement with the Catholic arguing "the veracity argument" of Catholicism.While they may be different in the realm of the Ivory Tower-they are the same in matters of how they relate to the world--without judging their goodness, they'll probably only reach a certain spiritual level

[milesfan420]

Well I think from the perspective of God, we are all right. God is transcendent of logic. It's time this exercise in Catholic logic or scholasticism stop. It had its place and so I don't knock it.  But as humanity evolves we are seeing that logic, empiricism, etc has no place in the realm of spirit.

I WILL not adhere to a label. I am both a relativist and not a relativist depending on your vantage point.

[milesfan420]

And I must say, this whole logical argument for "our veracity", which seems to be the only area which you and I differ on--can open up a whole can of worms which will bely the very claim you are trying to make. Furthermore, I must say that there is a movement among Jewish Orthodoxy to reclaim Jesus as one of their own, claiming he never intended to create a new faith, was not concerned with institutions and as such only sought to reform Judaism and paganism alike.

[VoiceOfModeration]

thank you very much for your prompt response. You clearly demonstrate strong open-mindedness. But my concern is that open-mindedness/toleration has been confused with relativism, especially in the last 20 years. When speaking with other faiths, I believe we need to be respectful, diplomatic, tactful etc. Absolutely, we should rejoice in parallels and similarities. But we can not just sweep our differences under the rug.

[VoiceOfModeration]

You are right to believe that God is not tied down by logic, but he is not tied down by political correctness either. Although I am Catholic now, I was raised in the United Church, a denomination that is the paradigm of "liberal protestantism." The United Church teaches relativism. But it also was pro-abortion etc. If there is no right & wrong for everybody, then why should there be a right & wrong for anybody. Relativism quickly becomes nihilism.

[ammazzamoro]

@VoiceOfModeration

Please forgive me, this conversation is over a year old. I am responding not to fecund disagreement but to agree nearly wholeheartedly. Perhaps, we can take a look at the wording. God is not held down by logic. This is true since Christ is the Logic of God. Christ freely loves the Most High God. Yet, it can be misconstrued. Perhaps, we would be better saying God is not subject to human rationalism. Rationalism, a heresy of course, being less-than-complete-thoughts.

+++

[VoiceOfModeration]

I might not be able to convince you in a few little quick posts. I remember how long it took me to finally understand why relativism is problematic. I was brain-washed by the United Church. If every religion is the same, those who believe that would be "right" and people who didn't believe everyone could be right we considered "wrong." It's a self-imploding theory.

[VoiceOfModeration]

My friend, there was only one history of the world. It would be nice to think that we have control over history and that it's up to us to choose our own history. But because different religions make different contradicting claims about historical events, as well as many other things, this is why they can not all be right at once.

[milesfan420]

Morally, I am aligned with the Church. and understand the danger of relativism there. This is exactly where relatvivism should not be. I agree. Where I disagree is your one history argument. You are using logic in an area where logic ought not be used less we undermine everything. From a Historical standpoint, I'm a friad you are right--there is but one history, not the one told by the winners.-Roman Catholic Church was founded hundreds od years after Jesus died.. It was not the only faith.

[milesfan420]

Read any historians perspective--The Roman Church was but one sect of many. Of course they claim to be in the Apostolic Lineage but this is clearly not true. The key thing in Faith is nuance...that we are not tied to historical truths but to our Faith and our cultural traditions, moral codes, and theatre.,

[milesfan420]

The problem is that people get confused between confusing their conviction in faith with a conviction in history and logic. Keep logic in its world and when in it, respect it. Keep faith in it s world also and when in that, respect it. The two should not be mixed., less we undermine both and ourselves.

[VoiceOfModeration]

i agree. I know the roman church is but one sect of many. I believe in solidarity and inter-faith dialogue with the protestants, but we cant just sweep the differences under the rug because they're inconvenient. We believe things that they don't. Some of them believe we worship Mary, the saints etc. If they are right, then we are in the sin of idolatry. Again, it would be nice to think everyone can be right, but alas faith requires stepping outside the politically correct box.

[milesfan420]

Thanks for this dialog. You are true to your name here, a true moderate. I don't think any one, no matter the tradition seeks to dilute their faiths. I don't want my Catholicism diluted. Nor would I want the other's Buddhism's diluted because what would I have to learn from then?! I do think we are evolving to true unity of faiths without undermining the unique potency of each. Bless You!

[milesfan420]

And I agree. There is so much misunderstanding. A lot misinterpret what it means to worship in the Catholic faith. I think we misinterpret others too...Like Buddhist's don't stand opposed to the existence of God. They are just concerned more with here and now. Furthermore, their "emptiness" can be another name of "The Father"

[smoothgoomer]

Ahhh and this is a misconception of Buddhism that a lot of nonBuddhists have, due to not understanding the Buddhist point of view. Buddhists hold that there isn't a creator god, and deny the possibility of the existence of an omniscient all-powerful being. See the dialectics of the Madhyamaka-Prasangika school of Mahayana Buddhist philosophy. They simply assert that the Christian/ general theistic urge toward something greater than the individual is correct.

[milesfan420]

Afraid you're not keen to the context in which my comment was made (see the back and forth) But I must say, your comment oversimplifies both Christianity and Buddhism, as they're a multiplicity of viewpoints within each tradition--I think you are referring to a Mahayana viewpoint, but even within that view there are many diverse schools. To clarify, from the highest level of mystic Catholic tradition, there's not a belief in a creator god per se, but that this is only allegory for "emptiness"

[TheMenghi1]

@milesfan420 --You are mistaken when you say that at the highest levels of Catholic mysticism 'there is not a belief in a creator per se.' That is a charge that is leveled against John of the Cross, for example. WHen John speaks of emptying oneself of our preconceptions of God, it is not within the context of Easternn mysticism, rather allowing the Holy Spirit to fill the soul. Neither Teresa of Avila nor John of the Cross ever denied a belief in an omnipotent presence, God. '

[oblatusosb]

@Catholiques I agree with you toto corde; the problem that I have with Thomas Merton theology is his late almost boundless admiration of Hindu-Buddism practice and theology; and then all the walls of tradition came down to the new practices of Christianity. The new ordo liturgicum was a great disservice to Christendom. The only place that I still feel at home is the Abbay of Solesmes, or certain Carthusian monasteries whose motto is "Nemo reformata, nemo reformanda" .

[TheMenghi1]

@oblatusosb --You have very exclusive choices. THe only way to get into a Carthusian monastery is when they permit visitorss--normally aspirants to their order. As for Solesmes, if in France. I wholeheartedly agree with you about the Hindu-Buddhist fascination that some have in the West. However, we know that this is due to the fact that these religions are practically obligation-free, thus their appeal to secular Westerners.

[ammazzamoro]

@oblatusosb

I realize that I am a late joiner of the conversation. And, regarding "his late almost boundless" admiration of Hindu-Buddhism I can say a few things. At the first, it is in due part to a weakness of fascination Merton always had with the Far-Eastern thought. Yet, it was a Far-Eastern monk monk who told him that he should become a Catholic and not a chaser of Far-Eastern thought. At the second, in Merton's less-published writings he remains critical of the Far-Eastern thought.

[jhgosnell]

@Catholiques Probably because it was an ecumenical situation and not just a Christian one.

[Teachering]

@Gethsemani3 From my humble point of view, I enjoyed the accompanying music very much. Thomas Merton has been a hero of mine since my early teenage years. Your video and its music is marvelous.

[weemarky]

@Catholiques why not mute it...days should be to let the stream flow not to build a dam..mark maclellan

[GW4Ohio]

Did Thomas Merton's hermitage have electricity? Refrigerator and microwave?

If so, how did he pull that off in the context of Trappist austerity?

(Not that there's anything wrong with a refrigerator and microwave.)

[gandalfpres]

Due to his health problems, the Trappists allowed him some freedoms.

[Mambisa50]

When Merton lived there, there was no kitchen and no bathroom--in fact, no electricity. He had an outhouse and had to lug water and food from the monastery a mile away. They refurbished his hermitage because you can actually stay there. Modern people wanted modern conveniences.

[zenblue22000]

Beautiful. I was able to visit Saint Anne's by the gracious hospitality and empathy of a brother at Gethsemani, during a discernment retreat I made there in 2006. Thank you for bringing back the memories of those moments.