MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Arca de Sardiña, Evora
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Descriptive Summary
Record Group: Section A - Correspondence
Dates of materials: 1961-1966
Volume: 31 item(s); 56 pg(s)
Scope and Content
In this group of letters, Merton provides spiritual direction to a Cuban expatriate who fled after Fidel Castro came to power. Subjects of the letters include the Cuban Revolution, the Bay of Pigs Invasion, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Merton "Warn[s] her against those who would turn to violence but also against those who would embrace a comfortable and wealthy Catholicism" (Shannon, p. 77). (Source: Witness to Freedom.) Many letters from Merton are photocopies from the published letters. However, a few carbons of his letters and original handwritten letters from Evora Arca de Sardiña are present.
Biography
Evora Arca de Sardiña was born in Cuba, attended high school in New York, and returned to Cuba in 1950. In Cuba, she was involved in social work the poor. When Castro came to power in 1959, she fled to the United States with her husband and her five sons and settled in Miami. Her husband, Eugenio, was part of the CIA-trained anti-Castro assault force captured at the Bay of Pigs. (Source: Witness to Freedom.)
Usage Guidelines and Restrictions
Related Information and Links
See also Cold War Letters #27, #93, #109 and other letters from Merton to Arca de Sardiña published in Witness to Freedom, 76-85; and see also the "Rodríguez, Marta Elena" file.
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 |
| | 1961/04/10 | TLS[x] | from Kelty, Matthew | Father Louis would have me assure you of his prayers for your husband and for all who are fighting | |
| [from Fr. Matthew Kelty of Gethsemani] |
| | 1961/05/06 (#01) | HLS | to Merton | Te escribo para informarle que mi esposo y el novio de […] amiga Marta Elena Rodriquez a quien | |
| |
| | 1961/05/06 (#02) | transcript | to Merton | I am writing to tell you that my husband and the fiancé of my friend Marta Elena Rodriguez, whom you | |
| translation of letter in file |
| | 1961/05/15 | TLS[x] | from Merton | I write to you both as to friends, with deep compassion and concern in this moment of anguish. | Yes |
| |
| | 1961/07/26 (#01) | HLS | to Merton | Cuando escribe de cosas espirituales […] escribirle en español […] es más fácil para mi. | |
| |
| | 1961/07/26 (#02) | transcript | to Merton | When I write about spiritual things I would prefer to write you in Spanish as it is easier for me. | |
| translation of letter in file |
| | 1961/09/09 | TLS[x] | from Merton | I do not have time to give you a really full answer to your good letter, though I have waited in | Yes |
| |
| | 1961/11/27 | TLS[x] | from Merton | Have courage and faith. The advent liturgy will soon be reminding us that the Lord is very close to | |
| The main purpose of letter is to pass on name of Mario Casanas a potential entrant for Gethsemani |
| | 1961/12/no? | HCS | from Merton | All blessings and joy at Christmas. May God give you strength, patience, light and love | Yes |
| |
| | 1962/01/27 | HLS | to Merton | Yesterday while I was in church, after Holy Communion I tried to talk to Our Lord. Of course I did | |
| |
| | 1962/01/31 | TALS[x] | from Merton | This time I want to try to answer you immediately. I think you are quite right, and that the ideas | Yes |
| |
| | 1962/02/27 | TLS[x] | from Merton | If I answer you now it has to be a very quick answer. You cannot help suffering the way you do, and | Yes |
| |
| | 1962/05/24 | TLS[x] | from Merton | I deeply feel with you all the emotions that have shaken you, on meeting the prisoners returning | Yes |
| |
| | 1962/08/02 | TLS[x] | from Merton | I deeply feel with you all the emotions that have shaken you, on meeting the prisoners returning | Yes |
| [Cold War Letters #93] |
| | 1962/08/17 | TLS[x] | from Merton | I am sorry I have been busy and have not been able to write. This is just a note to say that I | Yes |
| |
| | 1962/09/19 | TLS[x] | from Merton | As this tense situation gets worse and worse, we must all realize that no strain or effort of ours | Yes |
| |
| | 1962/10/29 (#01) | TL[c] | from Merton | This is a troubled time, in which you are going to have to collect your forces and muster up even | Yes |
| [Cold War Letters #109] |
| | 1962/10/29 (#02) | TLS[x] | from Merton | This is a troubled time, in which you are going to have to collect your forces and muster up even | Yes |
| [Cold War Letters #109] |
| | 1963/01/01 | TLS[x] | from Merton | Well, this is the first letter dated 1963 that I have written, and by a miracle I put the right date | Yes |
| |
| | 1963/02/22 | TLS[x] | from Merton | Thanks for your two letters. The last one was particularly good, and I want to tell you at least | Yes |
| |
| | 1963/04/17 (#01) | TL[c] | from Merton | It was good to hear from you, both before and after Easter, with the copy of the letter from your | Yes |
| |
| | 1963/04/17 (#02) | TLS[x] | from Merton | It was good to hear from you, both before and after Easter, with the copy of the letter from your | Yes |
| |
| | 1963/07/25 | TLS[x] | from Merton | I have not forgotten your letter of June 6th, but summer is a very busy season. I have had a great | Yes |
| |
| | 1964/02/16 (#01) | TLS[x] | from Merton | Thanks for your letter, I had been thinking about you and wondering about you for a long time. | |
| |
| | 1964/02/16 (#02) | HLS[x] | to Hart, Patrick | Here are the letters from Merton that I promised to mail you. Father Shannon called me a few days | |
| [letter to Patrick Hart from Evora Arca de Sardiña regarding her correspondence and detailing which letters to restrict or publish] |
| | 1964/09/05 (#01) | TL[c] | from Merton | I am sorry your letter has gone so long without an answer, especially when you feel so lost and | Yes |
| |
| | 1964/09/05 (#02) | TLS[x] | from Merton | I am sorry your letter has gone so long without an answer, especially when you feel so lost and | Yes |
| |
| | 1966/12/no? | HCS[x] | from Merton | Peace and joy in the New Year. God bless you -- fear not. Blessings. | Yes |
| sent Christmas of 1966 |
| | 1992/09/no | other | from Sardinia Corp. / to William Shannon | EVORA ARCA SARDINIA | |
| biographical information |
| | undated/no/no (#01) | other | | Addresses | |
| addresses for Arca de Sardiña |
| | undated/no/no (#02) | TLS[x] | from Merton | I write to you both as to friends, with deep compassion and concern in this moment of anguish. Your | |
| letters to Evora Arca de Sardina - transcripts filed by date |
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