The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Maritain, Jacques, 1882-1973

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1948-1974

Volume: 136 item(s); 226 pg(s)

Scope and Content

This file contains letters between Jacques Maritain to Merton, and letters from Maritain to Robert Giroux. A letter from John Howard Griffin to Maritain appears in the "Griffin, John Howard" file.

Biography

Jacques Maritain was a philosopher and Catholic humanist writer who was quite influential in 20th century "new scholasticism", taking the writings of Thomas Aquinas and applying them to modern societal issues in philosophy and science. Born in Paris, he attended the Sorbonne and married Raïssa Oumancoff (1883-1960), who was a Jewish emigrée from Russia. Raïssa Maritain later achieved notoriety as a mystical poet and philosopher. Influenced by Léon Bloy, they were both baptized Catholic in 1906. A few years later, after having studied biology and mathematics at the University of Heidelberg, Jacques Maritain returned to France and discovered Aquinas' Summa Theologica, which helped launch the direction of his writing. He would go on to write a number of influential books.

Merton was first met Maritain at a lecture Maritain delivered at Catholic Book Club, where Dan Walsh introduced them. During Maritain's time as a professor at Princeton from 1948-1960, Merton and Maritain first wrote to each other. In 1949, Merton was struggling with thoughts of leaving the Trappists and joining the Carthusians. In Merton's later life, after he had achieved his desire for more solitude at a hermitage at Gethsemani, Maritain visited him at the hermitage in 1966. Since 1961, after Raïssa's death the previous year, Jacques Maritain had been living with the Little Brothers of Jesus in Toulouse. He took vows with them in 1971 and died there in 1973. (Sources: The Courage for Truth, pp. 22-23; and "Maritain, Jacques." World Authors." 1996. Wilson Biographies Plus. Online. H.W. Wilson. Bellarmine University Library, Louisville, KY. 30 Nov. 2005. ‹http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com›.)

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

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 published letters from Merton to Maritain in The Courage for Truth, pp. 22-53; and see also the "Giroux, Robert" and "Griffin, John Howard" (Series 2) files.

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
 1948/12/28 TALS[x]from MertonOf all the inspiring things that have happened to me this Christmas, in the form of letters   
 1949/01/29 HLS[x]to MertonOnce again I have been prevented by work from writing you as soon as I wished.   
 1949/02/10 TLS[x]from MertonMany thanks for your second letter. I have sent off the books you suggested, to Rome.Yes  
 1949/05/26 HCS[x]from MertonTo Jacques and Raïssa Maritain with the blessings of God [-] f m Louis OCR.  [photocopy of three printed cards celebrating Merton's priestly ordination, one with a note for the Maritains]
 1949/06/08 TLS[x]from MertonI take a fleeting opportunity to write to you because Dan Walsh assured me that you would not be   
 1949/06/30 HLS[x]to MertonI received your letter of June 8 just before leaving L'Eau Vive for Paris.   
 1949/07/09 TLS[x]from MertonMany thanks for your kind letter and your consent to write a preface for the French editions of theYes  
 1949/07/22 HLS[x]to MertonThank you most cordially for your kind letter. Albin Michel is a good publisher.   
 1949/09/17 TLS[x]from MertonBy now I suppose you are well installed again at Princeton, so I am writing to you after a long   
 1949/10/12 HLS[x]to MertonI just received today your letter of Sept. 7. Pardon me for writing in a hurry.   
 1949/10/31 TALS[x]from MertonMany thanks for your letter of the 12th but above all for the <u>Quatre Essais</u>.   
 1949/11/28 HLS[x]to MertonJe viens de recevoir le précieux exemplaire des <u>Tears of the Blind Lions</u>, avec l'inscription   
 1950/02/04 TLS[x]from MertonThis is a belated answer to your charming letter of November 28th. I am swamped with work   
 1950/07/14 TLS[x]from MertonHere is a letter to celebrate the national holiday of France! I still feel as if I were more French   
 1950/07/26 HLS[x]to MertonMerci de tout coeur de votre lettre. Je suis si touché que vous   
 1950/09/09 (#01)TLS[x]from MertonTime has gone by so fast since your last letter that I no longer know where to find you.   
 1950/09/09 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonIncidemment, il y a une dette que je voulais payer depuis un long moment, mais je n'ai cessé  [transcript from published letters in the French journal, <u>Nunc</u> (#6, November 2004, pp. 25-37), translation from original English into French by Florian Michel - original letter seems to be from the Maritain archives in Kolbsheim, France]
 1950/10/25 HLS[x]to MertonVotre si chère lettre de septembre est arrivée à Princeton un peu avant nous.   
 1951/03/07 TLS[x]from MertonFinally, on the feast of the Angelic Doctor, I have a chance to write to you. There are many nice   
 1951/03/14 HCS[x]from Merton+to Jacques with affection [-] f m Louis  [prayer card with no date - envelope postmarked March 14, 1951]
 1951/03/23 HLS[x]to MertonI received few days ago your admirable letter written on the feast of the Angelic Doctor.  [dated "Good Friday" - postmarked 1951/03/23]
 1951/03/30 transcriptfrom MertonCe serait une grande perte pour nous si vous deviez rentrer en France. C'est vrai : vous avez une  [transcript from published letters in the French journal, <u>Nunc</u> (#6, November 2004, pp. 25-37), translation from original English into French by Florian Michel - original letter seems to be from the Maritain archives in Kolbsheim, France]
 1951/05/09 HLS[x]to Merton(permit me to use your nom de baptisme, and tell me if I should rather call you Father Louis)   
 1951/06/09 transcriptfrom MertonVous avais-je dit que j'avais été nommé à un nouvel emploi ici? Je suis maître des novices.  [transcript from published letters in the French journal, <u>Nunc</u> (#6, November 2004, pp. 25-37), translation from original English into French by Florian Michel - original letter seems to be from the Maritain archives in Kolbsheim, France]
 1951/07/13 HLS[x]to MertonI am so happy to have your letters. I am writing a few lines in haste to tell you that Father   
 1951/09/10 HLS[x]to MertonJ'ai reçu <u>The Ascent to Truth</u> il y a quelques jours, et je viens de le lire d'un trait.,   
 1952/07/01 TLS[x]from MertonSome time ago the French translation of <u>Seeds of Contemplation</u> reached me--   
 1952/09/01 HLS[x]from MertonForgive me for waiting so long to reply to your good letter from Kolbsheim. I am sending this   
 1952/09/27 HLS[x]from MertonJe crois pouvoir vous trouver encore à Princeton. J'y envoie cette lettre à votre ancienne addresse.   
 1952/10/12 (#01)TL[c]to Giroux, RobertI thank you cordially for having sent me the proofs of THE SIGN OF JONAS. What do I think of this  [to Robert Giroux, editor at Harcourt, Brace and Co., New York]
 1952/10/12 (#02)TL[c]to Giroux, RobertJe vous remercie cordialement de m'avoir envoyé les épreuves de <u>The Sign of Jonas</u>.  [to Robert Giroux, editor at Harcourt, Brace and Co., New York - French version of the letter from the same date]
 1953/02/20 TLS[x]to Giroux, RobertI thank you most cordially for the beautifully bound copy of <u>The Sign of Jonas</u> you were so   
 1955/04/25 TLS[x]from MertonJust a word to say I am sending you and Riassa [sic] belatedly a copy of <u>No Man is an Island</u>.   
 1955/05/18 HLS[x]to MertonRaïssa et moi vous remercions de tout coeur de votre lettre et de votre <u>No Man Is An Island</u>.   
 1955/10/24 TLS[x]from MertonA long time ago I wrote you about my book on the Blessed Sacrament, the <u>Living Bread</u>.   
 1955/11/19 HLS[x]to MertonMerci de tout coeur de votre bonne lettre. J'aurai grande joie à lire les épreuves de the Living   
 1956/03/28 TL[x]to MertonPardon me for writing a business letter today. It is about <u>The Living Bread</u>   
 1956/04/10 TLS[x]from MertonI am sure everything will be all right about Alsatia and the <u>Living Bread</u>. I have heard fromYes  
 1957/08/29 HCS[x]from MertonDan is here and we have spoken much of you, and I have told some I hope so much that you may come  [addressed to Jacques and Raïssa Maritain]
 1958/08/28 HLS[x]to MertonTrop fatigué ces jours-ci pour vous écrive comme je voudrais, je tiens cependant à vous   
 1958/10/09 TLS[x]from MertonJ'ai tardé un peu a repondre a votre tres belle lettre du 28 aout, a East Hampton. Je suis vraimentYes  
 1960/01/11 HLSto MertonJe n'ai pas vous écrire plus tôt, tant j'étais accablé. Notre chère soeur   
 1960/01/30 HLS[x]from MertonJe suis désolé pour la nouvelle que m'apporte votre lettre du 12.Yes  
 1960/02/16 HLSto MertonMerci de votre lettre, merci de vous souvenir de nous trois à la sainte messe.   
 1960/02/22 TLS[x]from MertonMany thanks for your valuable little book on Liturgy and Contemplation. I have read it withYes  
 1960/04/08 (#01)TALS[x]from MertonJe viens vous demander votre conseil et votre aide dans use affaire assez importante.Yes  
 1960/04/08 (#02)TALS[x]from MertonJe viens vous demander votre conseil et votre aide dans une affaire assez importante.Yes  
 1960/04/18 HLSto MertonJ'ai beaucoup réfléchi à l'avis que vous voulez bien me demander. Je pense qu'en soi un Dialogue   
 1960/05/20 TLS[x]from MertonMany thanks for your kind and wise letter. I sent it on to our Father General, but meanwhile he hadYes  
 1960/06/04 HLSto MertonPardonnez-moi de répondre en hâte à votre bonne lettre.   
 1960/06/15 HLSto MertonJe viens de recevoir une lettre d'Henry Bars, il me dit que son éditeur a signé un contrat pour la   
 1960/06/30 HLS[x]from MertonI am writing this in a hospital - nothing serious, just some tests and X-rays. The articles byYes  
 1960/07/28 HLSto MertonVotre bonne lettre   
 1960/08/17 TLS[x]from MertonI am shocked and pained to hear of Raissa's painful illness and your difficult situation in Paris.Yes  
 1960/10/10 TLS[x]from MertonIt is good to have your Paris address and to be able to send you just a word to say that I thinkYes  
 1960/10/24 HLSto MertonMerci de votre lettre si   
 1960/11/03 HLS[x]from MertonYour most moving letter has united me ever more deeply with you in your suffering with Raïssa.   
 1960/11/09 HLS[x]from MertonDan Walsh tells me your birthday is on the 17th. That is the day after my own birthday in Christ,   
 1960/11/16 TLS[x]from MertonThe news has reached me of Raïssa going to a better life in the Lord. This was not unexpected,   
 1960/11/21 HLSto MertonJe suis trop accablé pour écrire longuement, mais je tiens   
 1962/12/12 HLSto MertonJohn Griffin m'écrit qu'il vous a vu récomment et que vous lui avez parlé de Raïssa avec beaucoup   
 1962/12/18 TAL[c]from MertonJe suis bouleverse par le Journal de Raissa. Comment vous le dire? Vous devez bein le savoirYes  
 1962/12/25? HLS[x]to Griffin, John HowardBení soit votre chère et lumineuse famille, my Dearest John!  [dated "Noël 1962 - letter to Griffin with a message for Merton]
 1962/12/26 TAL[c]from MertonJ'ai reçu votre lettre après le livre. Je vous assure que je garderai le secret, d'autant plusYes  
 1962/12/31 HLSto MertonCombien votre lettre m'a ému. La seule joie qui ma reste sur terre, c'est celle qui me vient   
 1963/01/24 HCS[x]from MertonHere are a few translations from Raïssa's poems. You will see I have in some places been quite free.  [sent with a typescript of "Some poems of Raissa Maritain, translated by Thomas Merton" with a handwritten note on the cover sheet with an inscription and note for Jacques Maritain]
 1963/01/30 HLSto MertonComment vous remercier? Comment vous dire à quel point je suis ému? Je viens de recevoir   
 1963/02/10 HLSto MertonJe viens de recevoir, et de lire avec une vive admiration, votre <u>Hagia Sophia</u>, et je suis   
 1963/02/12 TAL[c]from MertonThank you for your warm and wonderful letter, written the day before my birthday. It was a greatYes  
 1963/02/20 HLSto MertonJ'allais vous écrire quand votre lettre si bonne m'est arrivée. Je voulais vous remercier   
 1963/03/02 TLS[x]from MertonThis is a good time to write to you, as John Griffin is just visiting us here.   
 1963/03/12 HLSto MertonVoilà au moins deux semaines que je veux vous écrire, et ensuis   
 1963/03/28 TLS[x]from MertonI am so sorry to hear that you have been ill, but I hope that the rest in bed was both enjoyableYes  
 1963/04/20 HCS[x]from MertonThe wonderful pictures from Chartres, so full of love and compassion, have arrived and they are  [there is also a typed transcript of this letter]
 1963/06/01 HLSto MertonVoilà des semaines que je n'ai pas vous écrire.   
 1963/06/11 TAL[c]from MertonI was deeply touched by your most recent letter, and moved that you should think of writing to meYes  
 1963/09/21 HLSto MertonC'est pour introduire après   
 1963/10/17 TAL[c]from MertonI am sorry for my long silence. Last month I was in the hospital, for nothing serious, and haveYes  
 1963/10/21 HLSto MertonJe suis heureux que vous soyez sorti de l'hôpital, mais fâché que vous   
 1963/11/03 HLSto MertonQuand je vous ai télégraphié un sujet de votre Introduction, j'étais trop fatigué   
 1963/11/08 TAL[c]from MertonYour cablegram was much appreciated, and now your letter. Thank you so much. I hate to thinkYes  
 1963/11/25 transcriptto MertonI am going to write you concerning your article in Ramparts, which struck me so much by its  [two slightly different copies of the same letter (each one page)]
 1963/12/02 TL[x]from MertonI have been planning to write and thank you for the new edition of Raissa's <u>Journal</u> whichYes  
 1963/12/13 HLSto MertonJ'ai été profondément touché par votre lettre, et je vous dis   
 1964/01/09 TAL[c]from MertonThe new year is here and the news about the Pope's visit to Palestine has been in many ways moving,Yes  
 1964/05/24 TAL[c]from MertonIt was very good of you to ask Scribners to send me your great newly translated book on "MoralYes  
 1964/09/04? HLS[x]to Griffin, John HowardJe reçois ce matin votre lettre du 1<sup>er</sup> septembre.  [reference to Merton]
 1964/09/12 (#01)HLSto MertonVoilà bien longtemps que je veux vous écrire, et que j'en suis empêché par le surmenage et ma   
 1964/09/12 (#02)transcriptto Merton<u>ETABLISSEMENT DU TEXTE</u> -- #1 [-] <u>ENVELOPE</u>: POSTMARKED: Kolbsheim, Bas  [English translation of 1964/09/12 letter with notes]
 1965/04/21 HLS[x]to Griffin, John HowardEnfin des marvelles de vous, mon très cher John! Merci de m'avoir écrit.  [reference to Merton (Maritain heard that Merton was sick)]
 1965/09/05 TLS[x]from MertonIt has been a terribly long time since I have written to you or heard from you, and I am not sureYes  
 1965/09/26 HLS[x]from MertonI have been reading your <u>Carnets</u> and especially the splendid pages onYes  
 1965/09/27 HLSto MertonMerci de tout coeur de votre lettre, mon très cher ami. Elle m'a été très   
 1965/10/06 TL[c]from MertonAs soon as I got your letter the other day I wrote immediately to Doubleday about Raissa's Journal.Yes  
 1965/10/23 HLSto MertonDe tout mon coeur merci de votre lettre du 6, que je viens de recevoir. Je vous suis   
 1966/01/24 TALS[x]from MertonThe other day your new book, the collection of Essays on Israel, arrived. I will read it with great   
 1966/02/11 HLS[x]to Griffin, John HowardVotre chère et admirable lettre du 1<sup>er</sup> février m'a touché au fond du coeur.  [reference to Merton]
 1966/02/18 HLSto MertonJe suis honteux de n'avoir pas encore repondre à votre lettre si bonne,   
 1966/03/07 (#01)TL[c]from MertonThis is just a quick note to wish you joy and light on St Thoma[s'] day, which is no longer evenYes  
 1966/03/07 (#02)TALS[x]from MertonThis is just a quick note to wish you joy and light on St Thomas' day, which is no longer evenYes  
 1966/05/02 HLS[x]from MertonImportant news. An Anglican friend of mine in Oxford says she has a very good chance of interesting   
 1966/08/15 HLS[x]to Griffin, John HowardComme je suis heureux qu'enfin vous alliez mieux, et que les  [reference to Merton]
 1966/10/11 HLSto MertonComment vous dire la joié et l'émotion que j'ai   
 1966/10/13 HLS[x]from MertonMerci de vos paroles et de votre affectionYes  
 1966/10/21 telegramfrom Fox, JamesDORA COME ANYTIME AFTER NOV 2ND. PLEASE NOTIFY EXACT TIME OF ARRIVAL IN LOUISVILLE  [see "Dana, Doris" file for telegram - message from Dom James Fox, Abbot of Gethsemani, to Jacques Maritain to notify Doris Dana about arrangements to visit Gethsemani Abbey]
 1966/10/29 TL[c]from MertonMy letter of the other day was inadequate but I wanted to reply quickly. I have still heard nothingYes  
 1966/11/10 HLSto MertonVotre bonne lettre du 29 Octobre vient de m'arrives. Merci du   
 1966/11/18 TL[c]from MertonMany thanks for your fineletter [sic]. I can quite understand your cry: " a Paris j'etouffe".Yes  
 1966/11/22 HLS[x]to Griffin, John HowardMerci de tu chère lettre, du 8 et du 14. Je t'écris en hâte,  [reference to Merton]
 1966/12/07 TLSto Merton (via John H. Griffin)Si tu as l'occasion écrire a Tom Merton, dis-lui combien je suis heureux qu'il veuille bien jeter  [see "Griffin, John Howard" file for the letter send by Griffin to Merton, relaying messages by Maritain]
 1966/12/20 TL[c]from MertonI want to get this letter off to you right away because with Christmas my mail is getting impossibleYes  
 1966/12/24 HLSto MertonJe ne sais plus si j'ai répondu à votre lettre du 18 novembre, qui a été si   
 1967/01/22 TLS[x] from Merton to Friends (circular letter)Several wrote that they liked my mimeographed Christmas letter and urged me to go on mimeographing  [labeled "Septuagesima Sunday 1967"]
 1967/01/26 HLSto MertonPardonnez-moi de ne pas vous avoir remercié plus tôt de votre chère lettre du 20 décembre.   
 1967/01/30 TL[c]from MertonThe ms of Raissa's Journal will be mailed out to Princeton in the same mail as this letter. I thinkYes  
 1967/02/06 HLSto MertonMerci de tout coeur de votre chère lettre du 30 janvier, mon très cher Tom.   
 1967/02/24 HLSto MertonJe vous envoié aujourd'hui quelques documents concernant Jean   
 1967/04/07 TL[c]from MertonI am returning the clippings and other material on Fr Pascal, so that you will be able to get themYes  
 1967/06/24 TALS[c]from Griffin, John HowardJe te joins une lettre que je viens d'écrire a Tom Merton en réponse a une lettre qu'il m'a  [see "Griffin, John Howard" file - carbon copy enclosed to Merton of a letter from Griffin to Jacques Maritain]
 1967/08/13 TL[c]from MertonI have been meaning to write for a long time, but rarely have I had such trouble answering mail asYes  
 1968/12/11 telegram[x]from Burns, FlavianREGRET TO INFORM YOU OF THE DEATH OF FATHER THOMAS MERTON   
 1968/12/26 HLS[x]to Griffin, John HowardMerci de tout coeur de tes chères lettres, mon bien-aimé John.  [reference to Merton]
 1970/07/18 HLS[x]to Griffin, John HowardMerci de m'avois écrit. Ta lettre  [reference to Merton]
 1971/05/16 TLS[x]to Center from Evans, Joseph W.Thank you very much for your letter of May 14. I would be very happy to receive copies of your  [from Joseph Evans of the Jacques Maritain Center at Notre Dame University, Indiana]
 1971/09/14 TL[x]from Center to Evans, Joseph W.Enclosed are the copies of our Merton-Maritain correspondence. Since you had requested that I wait   
 1971/09/23 TLS[x]to Center from Evans, Joseph W.Thank you ever so much for the copies of your Merton-Maritain correspondence. I am most happy   
 1973/08/28 TLS[x]to Center from Laughlin, JamesIt occurs to me that one of you may well be away on vacation, so I am addressing this letter to both   
 1974/01/28 TL[x]from Center to Grunelius, AntoinetteI am the Merton Trustee who is actively involved in the classification of Father Merton's   
 1974/02/14 (#01)HLS[x]to Center from Grunelius, AntoinetteJe vous remercie beaucoup de   
 1974/02/14? (#02)TL[x]from Center to Grunelius, AntoinetteMerci de votre lettre de 14 fevrier. J'épere que votre vacannes va bien. Toute de suite   
 1974/02/18 TL[x]from Center to Evans, Joseph W.Sorry to have pushed the panic button - like - do you have any originals (as I found out immediately   
 undated/no/no other[x]to Center from Evans, Joseph W.<u>Dates of Merton-Maritain Correspondence</u>  [list of letters at Notre Dame University]
 undated/no/no (#01)HCSto MertonAvec nos mieux affectueux et nos fidèles pensées [-] Jacques et Raïssa Maritain  [verso: color picture of an angel with the word "NOEL"]
 undated/no/no (#02)HCSto MertonChristmas Greetings and the best of all good wishes for the New Year [-] Jacques and Raïssa Maritain  [verso: black and white picture of a building with the words "Old Nassau"]
 undated/no/no (#03)HCSto MertonCombien souvent je pense à vous, et avec quelle tendre gratitude! J'ai beaucoup travaillé,   
 undated/no/no (#04)TNSfrom MertonMany thanks for your kindness in writing to me, and especially in praying for me.  [verso: "Mater Misericordiae" - photo of a statue of the Virgin Mary and Jesus from La Grande Trappe Abbey, sculpted by Fr. Marie Bernard / unclear whether this is to Maritain, addressed "Dear Jacques"] thanks for sending photograph of the cloiser at St. Michel
        

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