The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Decroix, Francis, Abbot

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1967

Volume: 5 item(s); 10 pg(s)

Scope and Content

This is a file in the correspondence of Thomas Merton under the heading: "Decroix, Francis, Abbot".

Biography

Abbot Francis De Croix was at the Cistercian Abbey in Frattocchie, Italy, of the Madonna del SS. Sacramento.

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See also published letters from Merton to Decroix in The Hidden Ground of Love, pp. 154-159; see also one of the same letters previously published in The Monastic Journey. Merton's letter written Agust 21, 1967 was published in 1969 in both Cistercian Studies (4) and Collectanea Cisterciensia (31), entitled "As Man to Man."

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

SeriesDateTypeTo/FromFirst LinesPubFull TextNotes
 1967/08/14 TALSto MertonOn Saturday, August 12th, the Holy Father invited Fra Filiberto and me for a long conversation  Pope Paul VI's approval of Merton's works - sends papal blessing / De Croix and the Pope asking for Merton's input about the contemplative life and concerns about the assault on faith presented by those espousing atheist theologies
 1967/08/21 TL[c]from MertonThis morning I received your letter of August 14th and I realize I must answer it immediatelyYes [two copies of the complete carbons] how to address people in the modern age with humility and a sense of relevance to their existence - the experience of seeing a couple of thousand men come and go from Gethsemani, often leaving in bitterness / "God is not a 'problem'" and not to try to "solve 'the problem of God'"
 1967/08/22 (#01)TL[x]from MertonSince the letter I wrote yesterday was too late for yesterday's mail I am adding this one which  (see transcript)
 1967/08/22 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonSince the letter I wrote yesterday was too late for yesterday's mail, I am sending this one whichYes [copy from published letters] tone should not be apologetic about the contemplative life - against Marx's critique that God was distant, should stress the contact with God in this life through prayer - truth and love beyond legalism - "Far from being the cause of alienation, true religion in spirit is a liberating force..."
 undated/no/no other DOM FRANCIS DECROIX  biographical information
        

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