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This is a file in the correspondence of Thomas Merton under the heading: "Decroix, Francis, Abbot".
Abbot Francis De Croix was at the Cistercian Abbey in Frattocchie, Italy, of the Madonna del SS. Sacramento.
Please click here for general restrictions concerning Merton's correspondence.
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."
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.
This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.
Click icons for links: ✓="Published | Library Record", ✉="Scanned" | 🗷="Scanned, Viewable Only at Merton Center"
| # | Date | From/To | First Lines | Pub ✓ | Notes |
| | y/m/d | Merton | | Scan ✉ | |
| 1. |
1967/08/14 |
TALS to Merton |
On Saturday, August 12th, the Holy Father invited Fra Filiberto and me for a long conversation |
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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
«detailed view» |
| 2. |
1967/08/21 |
TL[c] from Merton |
This morning I received your letter of August 14th and I realize I must answer it immediately |
✓ |
[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'"
«detailed view» |
| 3. |
1967/08/22 (#01) |
TL[x] from Merton |
Since the letter I wrote yesterday was too late for yesterday's mail I am adding this one which |
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(see transcript)
«detailed view» |
| 4. |
1967/08/22 (#02) |
transcript from Merton |
Since the letter I wrote yesterday was too late for yesterday's mail, I am sending this one which |
✓ |
[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..."
«detailed view» |
| 5. |
undated/no/no |
other |
DOM FRANCIS DECROIX |
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biographical information
«detailed view» |
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