The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

Ruth and Baby Tom

  

Thomas Merton

January 31st 1915 - January 31st 2015


Baby Tom

Centenary Events

Events to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Thomas Merton will be taking place around the world. Check back regularly for the latest updates...

Centenary Exhibits

Centenary Publications

Centenary Salutes

Centenary press release

Tom with teddy bear - 1916

Thomas Merton Commemorative Stamp

The U.S. Postal Service's Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee has agreed to consider the issuance of a Thomas Merton commemorative stamp in honor of the 100th anniversary of Merton's birth.

 At this point, we need to take action to show public support for the proposal.

 Suggestion 1:    Write letters

 As you might expect, the U.S. Postal Service does not want to receive e-mails about a commemorative stamp. If you would like to send a letter of support, sign and date your letter and mail it to:

Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee

Stamp Development

U.S. Postal Service

475 L'Enfant Plaza SW Room 3300

Washington DC  20260-3501

 

Click here for a sample letter, written by an ITMS past President and longtime editor of The Merton Seasonal, Pat O'Connell, which can be used by you or can inspire your own letter.

Suggestion 2:  Petition Drives

If you attend or teach at a school/university/college, or belong to place of worship or community organization, start a petition campaign to show support for a Thomas Merton commemorative stamp.

If you are an American member of the ITMS, we have been advised by a Congressional staffer that you do NOT contact your member of Congress to lobby for support for the following reason:

 "Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee is the sole conduit to direct stamp naming requests.  Congress has no input in stamp selection; in fact, the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee has even gone so far as to discourage the consideration of commemorative stamp legislation.  So politicians have no voice in the matter." 

centenary calendar

Merton Centenary

 
Watch this space for news of upcoming events....

ITMS 2015

The fourteenth general meeting of the International Thomas Merton Society took place from June 4-7, 2015 at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky.

Merton 100: Living the Legacy


Centenary Publications

An unprecedented number of new books are being published to coincide with the centenary - check out the current list here.



Centenary Icon painted by
John Giuliani


Collect for the
Feast of
Thomas Merton

from the New Zealand
Anglican Calendar

Gracious God, you called your monk Thomas Merton to proclaim your justice out of silence,
and moved him in his contemplative writings
to perceive and value Christ at work in the faiths of others:
Keep us, like him, steadfast in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ;
who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.