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This is a file in the correspondence of Thomas Merton under the heading: "Kacmarcik, Frank, Obl.S.B.".
On later letters to Merton, Frank Kacmarcik's letterhead stated he was an "artist, designer, consultant in the sacred arts". After a few years of corresponding with Merton, Kacmarcik and his friend Bob Rambusch visit Gethsemani in October of 1960. Merton notes in his personal journal of being "a little suspicious of the intense activation and restlessness of some of these liturgical enthusiasts", although noting he has "[n]othing against liturgy" (personal journals, 1960/10/16). Kacmarcik became a Benedictine novice at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota, in 1940, but left the order and became an assistant chaplain in World War II. After the war, he stayed in Paris and studied at the Académie de la Grand Chaumière and the Centre d'Art Sacré. In 1950, he came back to the United States teaching art for a few years at St. John's University in Collegeville. He did book design and was the longtime artistic director for Worship magazine and was a graphic artist for Liturgical Press. He collaborated with Hungarian Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer. St. John's welcomed him back to their community in 1988 as a claustral oblate, where he remained until his death in 2004.
Please click here for general restrictions concerning Merton's correspondence.
See also the "Rambusch, Robert" and the "Robinson, John-David" files; and see also "Three prayers : written for Frank Kacmarcik" from Volume 18 of The Merton Annual.
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. |
1957/11/10 |
HLS to Merton |
Again I am trying your patience with a very long delay. It seems with even my very best intentions |
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«detailed view» |
| 2. |
1957/12/17 |
HLS to Merton |
Thank you for your very kind and patient letter which brought with it delight with your current news |
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«detailed view» |
| 3. |
1957/12/21 |
HCS to Merton |
No doubt you by this time have the Kerygma proofs which Al has sent you. In recent days Al has |
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[verso: "A very rare white-light woodcut from the title of Pelbart's Stellarium Corone Benedicte Maria Virginis, printed by J. Omar in Augsburg, 1502, from the library of Frank Kacmarcik, the Arca Artis]
«detailed view» |
| 4. |
1958/03/02 |
HLS to Merton |
Thank you for your letters. Why don't we postpone discussion on the tabernacle and its design |
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«detailed view» |
| 5. |
1958/03/16 (#01) |
HLS to Merton |
No doubt you have passed all the tests for monastic patience that border on the heroic - to you |
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«detailed view» |
| 6. |
1958/03/16 (#02) |
other |
The rough sketches for Monastic Peace to be in Pen in line rather than my usual |
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[two sketches by Kacmarcik - one of Gethsemani's church and monastic enclosure - one of a crucifix (with Christ in monk's robe and scapular) and candles]
«detailed view» |
| 7. |
1958/05/25 |
HLS to Merton |
Do please forgive me for delaying so in reply to your two delightful letters - especially |
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«detailed view» |
| 8. |
1958/07/02 |
HLS to Merton |
What a delight - such a huge piece of Trappist cheese and what excellent cheese it is too. |
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«detailed view» |
| 9. |
1958/09/28 |
HLS to Merton |
Enclosed please find the two slides that promised for your consideration as the |
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[enclosed are two identical holy cards - recto: woodcut of Saint Altfrid and a monastery - verso: short biography of St. Altfrid]
«detailed view» |
| 10. |
1959/01/26 (#01) |
HLS to Merton |
Thank you for your good letters and that of Fr. Novice Hilarion. I was not upset about the picture |
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«detailed view» |
| 11. |
1959/01/26 (#02) |
other |
I am quite sure you do not need this for your Southern Books Comp but here it is if you need |
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[biographical information on Kacmarcik]
«detailed view» |
| 12. |
1960/02/29 |
HLS to Merton |
I'm shocked - I just looked at the date of your delightful letter Jan. 8 and I intended to reply |
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«detailed view» |
| 13. |
1960/03/03 |
HCS to Merton |
Our letters met en route - I am delighted to hear again from you. Also to know that you liked |
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[verso: a design of an altar and cross by Kacmarcik and the text "Behold I Make All Things New"]
«detailed view» |
| 14. |
1960/08/24 |
HPCS to Merton |
I am still in New York post liturgical week negotiating art for |
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[verso: black and white photograph of a statue "Virgin and Child" from "The Cloisters - a branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art]
«detailed view» |
| 15. |
1960/09/12 |
HLS to Merton |
No doubt your schedule is as busy and hectic as mine since you have not yet replied to my two |
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«detailed view» |
| 16. |
1960/12/12 |
HLS to Merton |
I found my visit to Gethsemani delightful and inspiring as did Bob Rambusch. Unfortunately |
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«detailed view» |
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