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Merton responds to Porter's criticism of his brochure "Basic Principles of Monastic Spirituality". Later letters between Dom James Fox and Porter were added from a collection of letters from a file kept at Gethsemani by Fox regarding censorship of Merton's essays and books.
Fr. Thomas Aquinas Porter was one of the Cistercian censors that needed to approve Merton's writings before publication. He writes from Holy Trinity Abbey in Huntsville, Utah.
Please click here for general restrictions concerning Merton's correspondence.
See also one published letter from Merton to Porter in The School of Charity, pp. 96-97.
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. |
1956/07/20 (#01) |
TLS[x] from Merton |
It would be simpler if I called you by your name as I never have the slightest difficulty |
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[addressed to "Father Censor no 2" - likely Fr. Thomas Aquinas Porter, O.C.S.O. from context, see also letter from Merton to Porter dated 1956/08/27]
«detailed view» |
| 2. |
1956/07/20 (#02) |
other[x] |
CHANGES Basic Principles of Monastic Spirituality. 1- Page 4, second paragraph: delete paragraph and |
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[addressed to "Father Censor no 2" - likely Fr. Thomas Aquinas Porter, O.C.S.O. from context, see also letter from Merton to Porter dated 1956/08/27]
«detailed view» |
| 3. |
1956/08/27 |
TLS[x] from Merton |
When I was at Collegeville recently, Dr. [Gregory] Zilboorg, who is a good judge of character, |
✓ |
[from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files]
«detailed view» |
| 4. |
1959/01/19 |
TLS to Fox, James |
Just a line to accompany Fr. Louis' Ms. Entitled What Should I Do?, and to say that all goes |
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"Wisdom of the Desert" [book / draft title, "What Should I Do?"]
«detailed view» |
| 5. |
1960/01/15 |
TLS to Fox, James |
Just a few lines with the enclosed Ms. Of Fr. Louis to tell you that we finished our retreat |
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[referenced manuscript is not extant]
«detailed view» |
| 6. |
1961/03/11 |
TLS to Fox, James |
All my best wishes for an abundant increase of the grace of this feast! I am returning Fr. Louis' |
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Merton essay, "The English Mystics"
«detailed view» |
| 7. |
1961/03/15 |
TLS to Fox, James |
The day before yesterday I received your letter containing the three "little articles" by Fr. Louis, |
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"New Seeds of Contemplation" and "The Behavior of Titans" [books]
«detailed view» |
| 8. |
1961/03/28 |
TLS to Fox, James |
The censorship report is mailed Romewards containing my fullest approval of the New Seeds. |
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"Virginity and Humanism in the Fathers" [essay] and "Life and Holiness" [book / previously censored under the title, "Christian Perfection"]
«detailed view» |
| 9. |
1961/06/15 |
other[x] by Sortais, Gabriel |
THE ENGLISH MYSTICS article du Père Louis Merton, N.D. de GethsemanI. NIHIL OBSTAT: fr. M Thomas |
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Merton essay, "The English Mystics" / Nihil Obstat and Imprimi Potest statement
«detailed view» |
| 10. |
1961/06/20 |
HLS from Fox, James |
The "little articles," the introduction to Pere Francois' book, written by fr. Louis was forwarded |
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Merton essay, "The English Mystics"
«detailed view» |
| 11. |
1961/06/23 |
TALS[x] from Fox, James |
My, my, my, what a surprise to receive your letter from Norwood, Ohio! Congratulations and prayerful |
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Merton essays, "Two Chinese Classics" and "The English Mystics"
«detailed view» |
| 12. |
1961/06/26 |
TL[c] from Fox, James |
You thought you had escaped us, but here we follow you over the waters.. Your good Rev. Father, Dom |
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Merton essay, "Two Chinese Classics"
«detailed view» |
| 13. |
1961/07/11 |
HLS to Fox, James |
Just a line to say that I have read the two latest "little articles" of Fr. Louis and I am now |
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Merton essay, "Two Chinese Classics"
«detailed view» |
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