The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Portz, Alexius, Fr., O.S.B.

Click here to exit print-formated view.

Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1956-1960

Volume: 25 item(s); 32 pg(s)

Scope and Content

Fr. Portz discusses seminars on pastoral psychology held at St. John's in Collegeville with Dom James Fox, Gethsemani's abbot during the time of correspondence, and with Fr. John Eudes Bamberger and Thomas Merton.

Biography

Fr. Alexius T. Portz was the founding director of the St. John's University Institude for Mental Health in Collegeville, Minnesota.

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Letters written by Fr. Portz require permission for use by the St. John's University Archives.

Related Information and Links

See also the "Fox, James" file, Series 29, for letters between Dom James Fox and Dom Baldwin Dworschak, O.S.B., Abbot of St. John's Abbey at the time of correspondence in regards to the initial invitations to come to Collegeville for the psychiatric seminars.

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
 1956/01/18 TN[x]to Dworschak, Baldwin, Dom, O.S.B.Dr. Zilboorg has written that he will be in the Bahamas January 20-29 and would like to be  background and professional profile of Dr. Gregory Zilboorg for Bishop Leonard
 1956/05/16 TALS[x]from Zilboorg, GregoryThis is a confidential letter with a petition for some help. I hate to bother you at this time  plans to invite Thomas Merton to the institute on pastoral psychology at Collegeville - questions about whether Dom James Fox would approve / Bishop Leonard
 1956/05/25 TL[x]to Zilboorg, GregoryFather Abbot was happy to write to Abbot James Fox of Gethsemani inviting him to send Father Louis   
 1956/06/13 TLS[x]from Zilboorg, GregoryYour letter with the copy of your invitation to Father Illych is here. Thank you so much.  Fr. Ivan Illich / Merton's fame and the request of Dom James Fox to keep his invitation silent to avoid too much notoriety
 1956/06/26 TLS[x]from Zilboorg, GregoryThis is my last week in New York before moving to Cape Cod for a rest, before I proceed to St.  regarding Merton - "horribile dictu he just freely expect to spend with me one hour a day which is a tough assignment"
 1956/07/10 TL[x]to Fox, JamesWith the beginning of the Pastoral Psychology program less than two weeks away, I would like   
 1956/07/17 TLS[x]from Fox, JamesWe received your kind letter of July 10. On Sunday, July 22, Father Louis and Father John Eudes, who  Merton and Bamberger arriving July 22 and Fox arriving July 29
 1956/07/19 TL[x]to Fox, JamesWe will make arrangements to meet Fathers Louis and John at the Minneapolis airport this coming   
 1956/09/25 TL[x]from Zilboorg, GregoryDom James, the Abbot of Gethsemani is coming to see me this afternoon. A letter from Father Louis  possibliity of not being able to attend the summer institute at Collegeville in 1957 or in future years due to other commitments / "The Trappists are now settled more or less. Deo gratias."
 1956/11/24 TLS[x]from Fox, JamesWe received your kind letter of July 10. On Sunday, July 22, Father Louis and Father John Eudes, who  Merton's suggested topics as novice master for seminar on pastoral psychology in the summer of 1957: perfectionism, inferiority complex, psycho-somatic illness, emotional immaturity, and narcissism
 1956/12/04 TL[x]to Zilboorg, GregoryThanks very much for arranging your schedule to be with us next summer. I think we will have a very  plans to schedule Zilboorg with Paul Meehl for 1957 summer sessions / Hamm Foundation not interested in funding Trappists to attend institute
 1957/01/08 TLS[x]from MertonLast summer I had the privilege of attending the workshop in Pastoral Care and Psychotherapy,  worried that last summer "the Trappists caused themselves to be remembered by their loquacity and perhaps their tendency to speak heatedly off the point. Among those who did this I was perhaps one of the worst offenders." / asking about the possibility of returning for another summer workshop while Dr. Zilboorg is in attendance
 1957/02/28 TL[x]to Fox, JamesThis is a very belated thanks for the letters and questionnaires which you and Fathers Louis  currently situation of not being able to host religious superiors, teachers, or former recipients because funding comes from the Hamm Foundation whose board was interested in funding only clergy who interact with the public as chaplains or pastors
 1957/04/11 (#01)TL[x]to MertonAnswering your January 8th letter is very difficult because, at least for the present, I must defer   
 1957/04/11 (#02)TL[x]to Bamberger, John EudesWhen the enclosed form letter was ready, I sent it to Father Abbot James, with the letter saying   
 1957/09/24 TL[x]to Fox, JamesWe have received a grant for next summer which will include a workshop week for "religious superiors   
 1957/09/28 TL[x]to Mailloux, NoelThank you for your September 24 letter which I am happy about, not because of the position you take  Portz states his belief that Zilboorg was the cause of the tension evident between himself and Paul Meehl / lists other issues with Zilboorg: "subtle rudeness to Protestant ministers", too much deference given to abbots and others in authority, requires too much personal attention, attendees afraid to bring up certain topics, and the distorted view Zilboorg showed of the client-centered therapy expressed in a position on Carl Rogers
 1957/10/10 TL[x]to Mailloux, NoelLast time I wrote to you as a friend, a priest of God, and an angel of peace. Your reply shows you   
 1957/10/29 TLS[x]from Zilboorg, GregoryYour letter of October 25th just arrived and I am deeply grateful to you for having written me so  Zilboorg refutes accusations that he had attacked or was unfair or uncoorperative with Paul Meehl
 1958/02/06 TLS[x]from Zilboorg, GregoryYour last letter (of November fourteenth) has been on my desk all this time. I had hoped that I   
 1958/03/13 TL[x]to Fox, JamesLast September I wrote you about the special workshop session for religious superiors which were   
 1958/07/25 TLS[x]from Fox, JamesHere it is almost the middle of the summer and your workshops are beginning already.  sending regrets about not coming to the summer workshops
 1959/03/10 TL[x]to Fox, JamesWe are offering a second workshop this summer for major superiors and Protestant executives  workshop for religius superiors sponsored by Peter W. Bartholome, Bishop of St. Cloud /
 1959/04/20 TLS[x]from Fox, JamesMy, my, here before me is your letter of March 10 still unanswered! Well, you've heard the axiom  sending regrets about not coming to the summer workshops
 1960/04/30 TLS[x]from Fox, JamesWe are very grateful for your kindness in extending an invitation to good Faters Louis, John Eudes  sending regrets about not coming to the summer workshops
        

    The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University | 2001 Newburg Rd, Louisville KY, 40205 | 502-272-8187

    Copyright © The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University. All rights reserved.