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Merton's Correspondence with:

Sr. M. Irmã Emmanuel de Souza e Silva; Sr. Emmanuel da Virgem de Souza e Silva

Silva, M. Irmã Emmanuel de Souza e, Sr., O.S.B., 1912-2002  printer

 
 

Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence
Dates of materials: 1955-1984, bulk 1955-1968
Volume: 126 item(s); 250 pg(s)

Scope and Content

This is a file in the correspondence of Thomas Merton under the heading: "Silva, M. Irmã Emmanuel de Souza e, Sr., O.S.B.".

Biography

Sr. Emmanuel de Souza e Silva was a Brazilian nun of the monastery of the Virgin Mary in Petropolis (whose order joined with the Benedictines during their correspondence) and long-time translator of Merton's works into Portuguese. Although born in Brazil, she had spent some of her academic studies in England and France. She was also a social worker in her home of Rio de Janeiro before religious life. (Source: The Hidden Ground of Love, p. 181.)

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Please click here for general restrictions concerning Merton's correspondence.

Usage permission for letters to Merton from Columbia University must be obtained from the Columbia University Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Related Information and Links

See also Cold War Letters #22, published in The Hidden Ground of Love, pp.181-201.

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

Click icons for links: ✓="Published | Library Record", ✉="Scanned" | 🗷="Scanned, Viewable Only at Merton Center"

#DateFrom/ToFirst LinesPub ✓Notes
 y/m/dMerton Scan ✉ 
1. 1955/02/28 TALS[x] from Merton A letter from a cloister, written on the feast of my beloved St Romuald, and asking for a service ✓ «detailed view»
2. 1955/05/no HPCS to Merton Rev. Mother Prioress and each one of us wish to thank you for the kind permission, and to say we [verso: color photograph of a painting of a Madonna] «detailed view»
3. 1959/02/03 TLS[x] from Merton First of all thank you for your generous and careful work in translating the two books you have sent ✓ «detailed view»
4. 1959/09/29 HLS to Merton This is to let you know we have sent you by ordinary mail a copy of the translation of "Marthe, «detailed view»
5. 1959/10/24 TLS[x] from Merton I have received your nice letter and the copies of Martha Mary and Lazarus and What ✓ «detailed view»
6. 1960/05/16 HLS to Merton Please do forgive me this awful paper but it has been given me and "holy poverty" says I had better «detailed view»
7. 1960/07/28 TLS[x] from Merton This is terrible. How many months have passed since I received your last letter? And I still owed ✓ «detailed view»
8. 1960/09/05 HLS to Merton You can be sure I was much relieved and overjoyed when your letter of July 28th arrived. «detailed view»
9. 1960/09/08 (#01) HLS to Merton Forgive me for bothering you again. I had meant to say you were not to worry about answering my «detailed view»
10. 1960/09/08 (#02) HNS to Merton I forgot to say Alceu A.L. Told me he had been invited by the Editor of a Catholic magazine «detailed view»
11. 1960/09/16 TLS[x] from Merton I would really like to help Marina de Berg. She has had a hard time, and her book is basically «detailed view»
12. 1960/10/25 HLS to Merton When this reaches you, you will, I hope, have received the air-mail letter which I am trying to find «detailed view»
13. 1960/11/19 HLS to Merton As you see "Spiritual Direction and Meditation has arrived (on Oct. 12th) and I do like it «detailed view»
14. 1960/12/02 TLS[x] from Merton This is certainly your season-- Advent. Emmanuel da Virgem. I shall remember you especially ✓ «detailed view»
15. 1961/01/19 HLS to Merton Since Christmas I have been wanting so much to write to you to thank you for your letter of Dec 2nd «detailed view»
16. 1961/03/09 (#01) HLS[x] from Merton The Abbot General has sent us here the imprimi potest for your translation of ✓ «detailed view»
17. 1961/03/09 (#02) transcript from Merton The Abbot General has sent us here the imprimi potest for your translation of Thoughts ✓ [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters] «detailed view»
18. 1961/06/23 (#01) HLS to Merton I wrote to you sometime in April (I believe the 30th) thanking you for your March (2nd) letter, «detailed view»
19. 1961/06/23 (#02) HN to Merton Rev. Mother designed it and I spoilt it, trying to write Isaias 62, 11. -You see, Father, I'm [enclosure of a note and a card with a drawing of Jesus] «detailed view»
20. 1961/08/09 TALS[x] from Merton The chief reason for this letter is to inquire whether you received the books? I think very often ✓ [see note of 1961/08/21, which was attached to this letter] «detailed view»
21. 1961/08/20 HLS to Merton Yes the book did arrive. First, "Disp. Quests." by ari-mail on July 10th. Then on Aug. 9th, «detailed view»
22. 1961/08/21 (#01) TN[x] from Merton On July 3, 1961 we dispatched two pieces of Registered Mail, both with return receipts requested. [attached with note on verso to 1961/08/09 letter] «detailed view»
23. 1961/08/21 (#02) HNS from Alexander, Br., O.C.S.O. We are writing this at the suggestion of Father Louis, who is concerned about these pieces, there is [verso of 1961/08/09 note - attached to 1961/08/21 letter] «detailed view»
24. 1961/11/08 HLS to Merton I hope you received my letter dated Oct. 18th thanking you for the poems in Spanish. This is just «detailed view»
25. 1962/01/16 (#01) TLS[x] from Merton It is almost impossible for me to make sense out of my correspondence at the moment. Christmas ✓ [Cold War Letters #22] «detailed view»
26. 1962/01/16 (#02) transcript from Merton The poems of Dom Basilio are quite charming. The Advent one was particularly good. ✓ [Cold War Letters #22 - transcript from bound set] «detailed view»
27. 1962/02/10 HLS[x] to Merton Many thanks for your magnificent letter dated Jan. 16th. I agree, of course, with all «detailed view»
28. 1962/03/15 HLS to Merton You certainly keep me busy! Even during Lent... But I'm afraid you must say I try your patience «detailed view»
29. 1962/03/29 (#01) HLS[x] from Merton This morning all the books you asked for in your recent letter were sent out. I have not however [note attached to 1962/03/29 letter] «detailed view»
30. 1962/03/29 (#02) transcript from Alexander, Br., O.C.S.O.? Alas, the man at the [indecipherable word..] where I had the letters Xeroxed over looked the other [William Shannon's transcript for published letters of note attached to 1962/03/29 letter] «detailed view»
31. 1962/05/04 HLS[x] to Merton Many thanks for your very kind letter of March 16th which, as usual, I enjoyed very much. «detailed view»
32. 1962/06/18 TLS[x] from Merton I am glad some of the books finally reached you. I also sent copies of Blackfriars magazine ✓ «detailed view»
33. 1962/11/02 TLS[x] from Merton First, don't worry about censorship, or my reaction. I have no doubts about the unfeasonableness ✓ «detailed view»
34. 1962/11/05 (#01) HLS[x] from Merton By all means tell "Vozes" to send the contract. But I am not sure if New Directions is not the one «detailed view»
35. 1962/11/05 (#02) transcript from Merton By all means tell "Vozes" to send the contract. But I am not sure if New Directions is not the one [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters] «detailed view»
36. 1963/05/22 (#01) HNS[x] from Merton As to your letter about the photos. No - it would be better if this picture were not used. ✓ «detailed view»
37. 1963/05/22 (#02) transcript from Merton As to your letter about the photos, No - it would be better if this pivture [sic] were not ✓ [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters] «detailed view»
38. 1963/07/25 HLS to Merton I received the beautiful card ("Fliput to Egypt" reproduction of an illumination) you sent me on May «detailed view»
39. 1963/08/22 (#01) HLS[x] from Merton It would be a pleasure for us if you would be the translator of Life and Holiness ✓ «detailed view»
40. 1963/08/22 (#02) transcript from Merton It would be a pleasure for us if you would be the translator of Life and Holiness which is ✓ [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters] «detailed view»
41. 1963/12/13 HLS to Merton Many thanks for your great kindness. Yr. xmas card? Preface to Japanese editions arrived yesterday «detailed view»
42. 1964/01/17 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Thanks for your letter of December 13th and for the clippings. I hope my surface mail packet has ✓ «detailed view»
43. 1964/01/17 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton Thanks for your letter of December 13th and for the clippings. I hope my surface mail packet has ✓ «detailed view»
44. 1964/03/20 (#01) HLS[x] from Merton Thanks for your good letter. I also heard from Eileen. She has learned much!! You have been «detailed view»
45. 1964/03/20 (#02) transcript from Merton Thanks for your good letter. I also heard from Eileen. She has learned much!! You have been [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters] «detailed view»
46. 1964/04/30 (#01) HLS to Merton I am writing at full speed and do hope this will be readable... Since your letter of March 2nd «detailed view»
47. 1964/04/30 (#02) HCS to Merton This is one of the cards we designed (Rev. Mother) and printed for Christmas. Many people were [verso: red and white woodcut print with Madonna and Child Jesus and the words "Mãe de Deus [-] Mãe da Rússia"] «detailed view»
48. 1964/05/31 (#01) TL[c] from Merton As usual I have several letters that I have not answered. This batch goes back to the days when you ✓ «detailed view»
49. 1964/05/31 (#02) TALS[x] from Merton As usual I have several letters that I have not answered. This batch goes back to the days when you ✓ [contains annotations by Merton and handwritten notes by Silva about the context of the letter] «detailed view»
50. 1964/06/10 TLS[x] from Merton Since I last wrote you, Kabir has arrived. It is a totally precious book beautiful in every way, ✓ «detailed view»
51. 1964/06/25 (#01) HLS to Merton This is just to let you know I have received - with much joy! - The 3 copies of "Monk - Diaspora", «detailed view»
52. 1964/06/25 (#02) other   Poema de Celcilia Meireless [-] ELEGIA SOBRE A MORTE DE GANDHI [-] qui se detém as sercias [news clipping with a poem and picture of Cecilia Meireles see next record for annotation on the same clipping] «detailed view»
53. 1964/06/25 (#03) HNS   -She is my favorite of this generation. I prefer her to Drummonde de Andrade or Michael «detailed view»
54. 1964/07/22 HLS to Merton At last I can sit down and start a letter to you, but I don't know how long it will be before «detailed view»
55. 1964/07/28 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Your long letter arrived yesterday and I will try to do something about it before all of it has ✓ «detailed view»
56. 1964/07/28 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton Your long letter arrived yesterday and I will try to do something about it before all of it has ✓ [contains annotation about the letter by Silva] «detailed view»
57. 1964/08/03 (#01) HLS to Merton Please forgive me. I am really so sorry to have to pester you with my horrible letters «detailed view»
58. 1964/08/03 (#02) HLS to Merton Here are AAL's articles on your "L. or H." (He "stole", after humbly asking permission, then «detailed view»
59. 1964/08/23 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Thanks for your latest letter, in all its ramifications. And for the clippings of Alceu A.L. ✓ «detailed view»
60. 1964/08/23 (#02) TALS[x] from Merton Thanks for your latest letter, in all its ramifications. And for the clippings of Alceu A.L. ✓ «detailed view»
61. 1964/09/10 (#01) TL[c] from Merton This will have to be short. Poison ivy has taken the skin off my hands and if I type long ✓ «detailed view»
62. 1964/09/10 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton This will have to be short. Poison ivy has taken the skin off my hands and if I type long ✓ «detailed view»
63. 1964/12/02 (#01) TL[c] from Merton You get a brand new ribbon. It brings you my best wishes for Advent and Christmas. Thanks for your ✓ «detailed view»
64. 1964/12/02 (#02) TALS[x] from Merton You get a brand new ribbon. It brings you my best wishes for Advent and Christmas. Thanks for your ✓ «detailed view»
65. 1964/12/06 (#01) HLS[x] from Merton Here is a copy of the preface, and more will come by surface mail. Thanks for your letter. «detailed view»
66. 1964/12/06 (#02) transcript from Merton Here is a copy of the preface and more will come by surface mail. Thanks for your letter. [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters] «detailed view»
67. 1964/12/10 HCS to Merton Thanks for your letter of Dec. 2nd written with the brand new ribbon. I had been wondering how you [verso: color print of a drawing of a star and the biblical quote from Isaiah 9:1 - "O povo que andava nas trevas viu uma grande Luz"] «detailed view»
68. 1965/02/17 TNS[x] from Merton A letter came from Vozes about Seeds of Destruction. I wanted to check and see if it was all right ✓ «detailed view»
69. 1965/06/17 HLS to Merton I received your letter, or rather, card, of February 17th and at once let VOZES know they should «detailed view»
70. 1965/07/11 (#01) TL[c] from Merton I will not multiply lamentations about the mail situation. It gets worse and worse, since I get ✓ «detailed view»
71. 1965/07/11 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton I will not multiply lamentations about the mail situation. It gets worse and worse, since I get ✓ «detailed view»
72. 1965/09/17 HLS to Merton Many, many thanks for your v. good letter of July 11th also for the photos. All our friends «detailed view»
73. 1965/12/14 TLS[x] from Merton I am really sorry to be such a bad correspondent, but in the hermitage it is worse than ever now. ✓ «detailed view»
74. 1966/04/17 (#01) HLS[x] from Merton Thanks for your birthday - Holy-Thursday letter. And forgive my handwriting. I have recently got ✓ «detailed view»
75. 1966/04/17 (#02) transcript from Merton Thanks for your birthday -Holy thursday letter. And forgive my handwriting. I have recently got ✓ [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters] «detailed view»
76. 1966/06/13 TLS[x] from Merton Here is the article for the Jornal do Brasil. It was finished a couple of weeks ago but the typing ✓ «detailed view»
77. 1966/08/29 HLS to Merton I have been wanting to write to you for some time. But there were so many things I wanted to say. «detailed view»
78. 1966/10/06 (#01) TL[c] from Merton First, many things have arrived: Seeds of Destruction and New Man. ✓ «detailed view»
79. 1966/10/06 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton First, many things have arrived: Seeds of Destruction and New Man. ✓ «detailed view»
80. 1966/11/14 (#01) HLS[x] from Merton In a day or two I will be sending you a copy of the new book Conjectures of a Guilty «detailed view»
81. 1966/11/14 (#02) transcript from Merton In a day or two I will be sending you a copy of the new book Conjectures of a Guilty [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters] «detailed view»
82. 1967/04/28 HLS to Merton It is a such a long time since I have heard from you! Yr. last letter is dated Nov. 14th. «detailed view»
83. 1967/05/04 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Your letter came yesterday and I was delighted to hear you are now Benedictines. Welcome into our ✓ «detailed view»
84. 1967/05/04 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton Your letter came yesterday and I was delighted to hear you are now Benedictines. Welcome into our ✓ «detailed view»
85. 1967/05/11 HLS to Merton It was good to have yr. news! Many thanks for your letter of May 4th (Ascension Day. «detailed view»
86. 1967/05/30 (#01) TL[c] from Merton I have written to Doubleday to try to make sure that whoever does the publishing in Brazil, you will ✓ «detailed view»
87. 1967/05/30 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton I have written to Doubleday to try to make sure that whoever does the publishing in Brazil, you will ✓ «detailed view»
88. 1967/06/08 HLS to Merton It was really very kind of you to write (on May 30) and I am very ashamed of myself for putting you «detailed view»
89. 1967/06/18 (#01) HLS to Merton I have already thanked you for your v. kind letter of May 30th and have sent back (this, by surface «detailed view»
90. 1967/06/18 (#02) other   COMBINACÃO [-] QUE ENTRE SI FAZEM, DE UM LADO EDITÔRA VOZES LTDA., RUA «detailed view»
91. 1967/07/31 (#01) TL[c] from Merton First of all, in case I did not tell you before, I have the assurance of Doubleday that Lawrence ✓ «detailed view»
92. 1967/07/31 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton First of all, in case I did not tell you before, I have the assurance of Doubleday that Lawrence ✓ «detailed view»
93. 1967/08/10 TALS[x] from Merton You will know better than us here what to do about this offer from Portugal. I don't remember «detailed view»
94. 1967/09/22 HLS to Merton I have just received the addresses of the important "personnages" in this country who can «detailed view»
95. 1967/09/25 HLS to Merton I hope the Unesco letter from Paris mentioning one of our experts on African love and his wife, «detailed view»
96. 1967/10/30 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Here are some photos of the ikons. I think you can get some idea of how beautiful they are, ✓ «detailed view»
97. 1967/10/30 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton Here are some photos of the ikons. I think you can get some idea of how beautiful they are, ✓ «detailed view»
98. 1968/02/21 HLS to Merton I wrote this to you a few days ago but forgot to say a few things. I hope you will forgive me for «detailed view»
99. 1968/02/27 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Just a quick word before Lent. I hope to shut up a little more tomorrow for six weeks or so. «detailed view»
100. 1968/02/27 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton Just a quick word before Lent. I hope to shut up a little more tomorrow for six weeks or so. «detailed view»
101. 1968/03/04 TLS[x] from Merton I found a copy of the poem, so I am sending it along. Carmen de Mello is finally publishing ✓ «detailed view»
102. 1968/03/12 (#01) HLS to Merton I was hesitating about writing to you and intruding in yr. attempt to silence during Lent. But... «detailed view»
103. 1968/03/12 (#02) HCS to Merton United in thanksgiving and prayer, bless yr. brazilian translator [card commemorating Silva's Jubilee] «detailed view»
104. 1968/03/18 (#01) TL[c] from Merton Just a quick note to send you my congratulations and prayers and best wishes for the 25th. ✓ «detailed view»
105. 1968/03/18 (#02) TLS[x] from Merton Just a quick note to send you my congratulations and prayers and best wishes for the 25th. ✓ [a photograph of Merton's hermitage is photocopied onto the letter] «detailed view»
106. 1981/01/11 HPCS to Shannon, William This is a little picture of Sister M. Emmanuel's Dark with God's wonderful light always shining so [verso: color photograph of a sunset on a beach at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil] «detailed view»
107. 1982/02/18 HLS to Shannon, William I am glad to tell you that your wonderful book is being a success. Several different people have «detailed view»
108. 1982/03/05 TLS[x] from Shannon, William I was delighted to hear from you. I have received your post card and letter. I am happy that you «detailed view»
109. 1982/03/12 HLS[x] to Shannon, William Thanks for your very kind letter of March 5th. I was very glad to get it indeed-- as my answer felt «detailed view»
110. 1982/04/12 HLS[x] to Everett, Karen Greetings from Brazil! If you care to contact the Thomas Merton Legacy Trust, Mrs Anne McCormick «detailed view»
111. 1982/04/16 TLS[x]  from Shannon, William / to Karen Everett This morning I wrote to Nancy Miller asking her to contact you to see if you had been in touch with «detailed view»
112. 1982/08/22 TL[c] from Shannon, William You must thing by now that I have disappeared from the scene, since it has been so long since «detailed view»
113. 1982/09/11 HLS to Shannon, William I am afraid this has to be a hurried scribble and am very sorry cannot at present «detailed view»
114. 1982/09/27 TLS[x] from Shannon, William I very much regret that I cannot be in Brazil for the meeting you so kindly arranged for me with «detailed view»
115. 1982/10/07 HLS to Shannon, William Many thanks for your fine letter of Sept. 27 of course we feel sure you will manage to come «detailed view»
116. 1982/10/12 HLS to Shannon, William This is just to let you know a few things about the Merton letters in my possession: 1. I received «detailed view»
117. 1984/02/23 TALS[x] from Shannon, William I am sure you must be wondering what has happened to me and why you have not heard from me. «detailed view»
118. 1984/03/16 HLS to Shannon, William I received yr. letter of Feb. 23. I already knew through Bro Pat how very busy you are working hard «detailed view»
119. 1984/04/20 TLS[x] from Shannon, William I am most grateful to you for your long letter and for the time it must have required to write it. [dated "Good Friday, 1984"] «detailed view»
120. undated/01/21 HLS to Merton I wrote to you in 1957 about author rights for "Bread in the Wilderness" which I had been «detailed view»
121. undated/02/26 HLS to Merton I have been wanting, ever so much, to thank you for your interesting, kind and very appreciated «detailed view»
122. undated/04/01 HLS to Merton Many thanks for your very kind and most precious prayers of Mass, especially at East and for «detailed view»
123. undated/04/21 HLS to Merton I've got a horrible flu', something like the Asiatica «detailed view»
124. undated/09/18 HLS to Merton I do hope you are not horrified at my bombing you with letters. I sent you two very disgraceful «detailed view»
125. undated/no/no HPCS to Merton Inside, the church and Sacristy are v. beautiful, simple and recollected and majestic. [verso: color photograph of the Monastery of St. Benedict in Olinda (Recife), Brazil] «detailed view»
126. undated/no/no other   SISTER M. EMMANUEL [-] Sister M. Emmanuel de Souza e Silva was born in Rio de Janeiro. [William Shannon's biography of Silva for The Hidden Ground of Love] «detailed view»
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