Robert E. Rambusch and Merton discuss sacred art and liturgy.
Robert Rambusch was a Liturgical Design Consultant, who having trained with Frank Kacmarcik, later consulted for numerous cathedral designs and renovations. In his younger life, after the Second World War, Rambusch got involved in Catholic Action groups. He later studied liturgy and attended the Center for Sacred Art in Paris. Rambusch and his friend Frank Kacmarcik and his friend 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).
See also the "Kacmarcik, Frank" and "Hovda, Robert" files.
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. |
1957/11/01 |
TLS to Merton |
May I thank you, Father Hilary, and Brother Giles for a most pleasant visit to Gethsemani. I did |
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«detailed view» |
| 2. |
1958/04/24 |
TLS to Merton |
I come to you to ask for a great favor. Sheed and Ward has asked Walter Kerr (drama critic of New |
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«detailed view» |
| 3. |
1959/02/16 |
TLS to Merton |
During my last visit you mentioned that JUBILEE does not always get to you. Since this issue |
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«detailed view» |
| 4. |
1959/no/no |
HPCS to Merton |
The beauty and peace of Maria Laach are an inspiration! Saw a wonderful IKON of Elias |
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[verso: black and white photograph of the exterior of Maria Laach Abbey in Germany]
«detailed view» |
| 5. |
1960/01/15 |
TLS to Merton |
I am enclosing a copy of a talk Nancy gave on the spiritual formation of children. I thought its |
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«detailed view» |
| 6. |
1960/04/14 |
TLS to Merton |
This letter has been a long time in coming in answer to your letter written on Shrove Tuesday. |
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«detailed view» |
| 7. |
1960/07/18 |
TLS to Merton |
I am enclosing a copy of the last Fine Arts Section Newsletter that has been sent to different |
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«detailed view» |
| 8. |
1960/08/12 |
TLS to Merton |
Many thanks for your kind letter, which I have delayed in answering. I am so pleased to read |
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«detailed view» |
| 9. |
1960/09/06 |
TLS to Merton |
It would be difficult to describe the Fine Arts Section meeting at St. John's except to say that |
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«detailed view» |
| 10. |
1960/09/30 |
TLS to Merton |
Frank Kacmarcik and I are going to be visiting St. Bede's Abbey in Alabama on Tuesday and Wednesday, |
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«detailed view» |
| 11. |
1960/10/10 |
TPCS to Merton |
We look forward to seeing you on our visit to the Abbey. Brother Giles was here in New York |
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[verso: black and white reproduction of painting by Ugolino Lorenzetti, "The Nativity", at the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University]
«detailed view» |
| 12. |
1961/04/02? |
TPCS to Merton |
A very Joyous and Holy Easter! I am amazed at the absolute poverty of good Easter cards, not even |
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[verso: color reproduction of a Byzantine painting of the anastasis]
«detailed view» |
| 13. |
1962/12/23 |
HPCS to Merton |
See what 5 GOOD Cistercian architects could do in 1152 without interference of committees |
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[verso: black and white photograph of the nave of a monastery in Portugal]
«detailed view» |
| 14. |
1963/08/11? |
HLS to Merton |
A postcard is not sufficient - so this letter is to fill in much more details. I manage to buy 2 |
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«detailed view» |
| 15. |
1963/11/no? |
HPCS to Merton |
Mosaic in the apse conch in the monastery of St Luke the Hermit (11 century) of the Theatakos - 1963 |
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[verso: black and white photograph of a mosaic from a church on Mt. Athos in Greece]
«detailed view» |
| 16. |
1963/12/no? |
HPCS to Merton |
Our Christmas travels end here in Paris - and how wonderful to see our favorite "Pieta". |
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[verso: color reproduction of a Pieta from the "École de Provence" in the Louvre - Paris, France]
«detailed view» |
| 17. |
1964/09/21 |
HPCS to Merton |
This Goya is at the Spanish Pavilion of the Word's Fair - your Holy Founder, my namesake- |
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[verso: color reproduction of Goya painting of St. Bernard and St. Robert - exhibited at the 1964 New York World's Fair]
«detailed view» |
| 18. |
1965/01/25 |
HPCS to Merton |
Will be in Louisville on a panel with James Baldwin on "Why the artist has lost contact with |
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[verso: color photograph of St. Catherine Abbey in the Sinai]
«detailed view» |
| 19. |
1967/09/18 |
TLS to Merton |
This is an old copy of Connaissance magazine that I found in browsing through a book store. |
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«detailed view» |
| 20. |
1967/09/20 |
TL[c] from Merton |
It was good to hear from you and this time I am going to make sure I get your address into my |
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«detailed view» |
| 21. |
undated/no/no |
HCS to Merton |
O God, Thou art the Sower of good seed, [-] and the Cultivator of Chosen branches; |
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«detailed view» |
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