MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Porter, Thomas Aquinas, Fr., O.C.S.O.
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Descriptive Summary
Record Group: Section A - Correspondence
Dates of materials: 1956-1961
Volume: 13 item(s); 14 pg(s)
Scope and Content
Merton responds to Porter's criticism of his brochure "Basic Principles of Monastic Spirituality". Later letters between Dom James Fox and Porter were added from a collection of letters from a file kept at Gethsemani by Fox regarding censorship of Merton's essays and books.
Biography
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.
Usage Guidelines and Restrictions
Related Information and Links
See also one published letter from Merton to Porter in The School of Charity, pp. 96-97.
Other Finding Aids
If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
Series List
This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.
Container List
| Series | Date | Type | To/From | First Lines | Pub | Full Text | Notes |
| | 1956/07/20 (#01) | TLS[x] | from Merton | It would be simpler if I called you by your name as I never have the slightest difficulty | |
| [addressed to "Father Censor no 2" - likely Fr. Thomas Aquinas Porter, O.C.S.O. from context, see also letter from Merton to Porter dated 1956/08/27] |
| | 1956/07/20 (#02) | other[x] | | CHANGES Basic Principles of Monastic Spirituality. 1- Page 4, second paragraph: delete paragraph and | |
| [addressed to "Father Censor no 2" - likely Fr. Thomas Aquinas Porter, O.C.S.O. from context, see also letter from Merton to Porter dated 1956/08/27] |
| | 1956/08/27 | TLS[x] | from Merton | When I was at Collegeville recently, Dr. [Gregory] Zilboorg, who is a good judge of character, | Yes |
| [from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files] |
| | 1959/01/19 | TLS | to Fox, James | Just a line to accompany Fr. Louis' Ms. Entitled <u>What Should I Do</u>?, and to say that all goes | |
| "Wisdom of the Desert" [book / draft title, "What Should I Do?"] |
| | 1960/01/15 | TLS | to Fox, James | Just a few lines with the enclosed Ms. Of Fr. Louis to tell you that we finished our retreat | |
| [referenced manuscript is not extant] |
| | 1961/03/11 | TLS | to Fox, James | All my best wishes for an abundant increase of the grace of this feast! I am returning Fr. Louis' | |
| Merton essay, "The English Mystics" |
| | 1961/03/15 | TLS | to Fox, James | The day before yesterday I received your letter containing the three "little articles" by Fr. Louis, | |
| "New Seeds of Contemplation" and "The Behavior of Titans" [books] |
| | 1961/03/28 | TLS | to Fox, James | The censorship report is mailed Romewards containing my fullest approval of the New Seeds. | |
| "Virginity and Humanism in the Fathers" [essay] and "Life and Holiness" [book / previously censored under the title, "Christian Perfection"] |
| | 1961/06/15 | other[x] | by Sortais, Gabriel | THE ENGLISH MYSTICS article du Père Louis Merton, N.D. de GethsemanI. NIHIL OBSTAT: fr. M Thomas | |
| Merton essay, "The English Mystics" / Nihil Obstat and Imprimi Potest statement |
| | 1961/06/20 | HLS | from Fox, James | The "little articles," the introduction to Pere Francois' book, written by fr. Louis was forwarded | |
| Merton essay, "The English Mystics" |
| | 1961/06/23 | TALS[x] | from Fox, James | My, my, my, what a surprise to receive your letter from Norwood, Ohio! Congratulations and prayerful | |
| Merton essays, "Two Chinese Classics" and "The English Mystics" |
| | 1961/06/26 | TL[c] | from Fox, James | You thought you had escaped us, but here we follow you over the waters.. Your good Rev. Father, Dom | |
| Merton essay, "Two Chinese Classics" |
| | 1961/07/11 | HLS | to Fox, James | Just a line to say that I have read the two latest "little articles" of Fr. Louis and I am now | |
| Merton essay, "Two Chinese Classics" |
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