Merton's friend of the Melkite Rite Catholic Church, Fr. Joseph Raya, sent José de Vinck a letter from Merton. Baron de Vinck asks Merton if part of the letter can be published in a leaflet to advertise the forthcoming publication of a Byzantine breviary. The later correspondence concerns a book entitled The Virtue of Sex, which was panned by a Jesuit critic. Baron de Vinck asks for a quote from Merton to help give the book some credibility in Catholic circles. Merton provides a quote in 1966 that appeared on the back of the book cover and in advertisements.
Baron José M. G. A. de Vinck was a publisher, editor, translator, writer, and owner of Alleluia Press. He wrote and translated books on philosophy and theology. He writes from Allendale, New Jersey.
Please click here for general restrictions concerning Merton's correspondence.
See also the "de Vinck, Catherine" and "Raya, Joseph-Marie" 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. |
1960/05/03 |
TLS to Merton |
My associate and friend, Father Joseph Raya, sent me your very kind letter of April 20. Now, such |
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«detailed view» |
2. |
1960/06/08 |
TLS from Merton |
Thank you for your good letter of May 3 and for the additional Byzantine liturgy which is very |
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«detailed view» |
3. |
1961/01/18 |
HPCS from Merton |
Very cordial thanks for the volume of St. Bonaventure's mystical treatises. This is very necessary |
|
«detailed view» |
4. |
1966/01/21 |
TLS[x] from Merton |
Remembering your extreme kindness to me in writing such an encouraging review on the BYZANTINE |
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«detailed view» |
5. |
1966/11/17 (#01) |
TALS to Merton |
I am writing to you in reference to my recent book THE VIRTUE OF SEX which you so kindly approved. |
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«detailed view» |
6. |
1966/11/17 (#02) |
other |
A MAJOR EVENT IN THE FIELD OF MEDIEVAL SCHOLARSHIP: Saint Anthony Guild Press |
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[advertisement for a series of translations of St. Bonaventure by De Vinck]
«detailed view» |
7. |
1966/11/29 |
TALS[d] from Merton |
I am sorry to have waited so long to answer your letter of November 17. For one thing I have had |
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[handwritten in pen by Merton: "not sent" - draft of letter sent on 1966/12/03]
«detailed view» |
8. |
1966/12/03 (#01) |
TALS from Merton |
Sorry for such a long delay in answering your letter. I have had an eye injury and have been held |
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[see 1966/11/29 letter for draft]
«detailed view» |
9. |
1966/12/03 (#02) |
TL[c] from Merton |
Sorry for such a long delay in answering your letter. I have had an eye injury and have been held |
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[see 1966/11/29 letter for draft]
«detailed view» |
10. |
1967/04/05 (#01) |
TLS to Merton |
As far as I know, the enclosed represents the first instance in which your kind review of THE VIRTUE |
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«detailed view» |
11. |
1967/04/05 (#02) |
other |
THE VIRTUE OF SEX [-] José de Vinck [-] A SONG OF SONGS FOR THE CLEAN OF HEART |
✉ |
[book flap - includes acknowledgement of praise by Merton on back cover]
«detailed view» |
12. |
1971/02/02 (#01) |
TLS[x] to Center from De Vinck, José |
In response to your circular, I am enclosing copy of a letter I received from Thomas Merton |
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«detailed view» |
13. |
1971/02/02 (#02) |
other |
How Come You Missed This One? [-] The Virtue of Sex by José de Vinck Doctor of Laws, |
✉ |
[book advertisement with more extensive acknowledgement of praise by Merton than appeared on the book's cover]
«detailed view» |
14. |
1973/04/17 (#01) |
TLS[x] to Center from De Vinck, José |
Further to our correspondence of February 1971: Looking through my files, I came across two |
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«detailed view» |
15. |
1973/04/17 (#02) |
TLS[x] to Center from De Vinck, José |
Copy of part of letter addressed on April 20 1960 by Thomas Merton to Father Joseph Raya, |
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[contains partial letter from Merton to Fr. Joseph Raya of 1960/04/20 (see the "Raya, Joseph-Marie" file)]
«detailed view» |
16. |
1973/05/01 |
TL[x] from Center to De Vinck, José |
Thank you for sharing with us your correspondence with Thomas Merton. The letters indicate some |
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«detailed view» |
17. |
undated/no/no |
other |
BYZANTINE DAILY WORSHIP by the Most Reverend Joseph Raya, Archbishop of Aka, Haifa, |
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[advertisement and price list for items from Alleluia Press, including Byzantine Daily Worship by Joseph Raya and José de Vinck]
«detailed view» |
18. |
undated/no/no |
other |
THE WORKS OF BONAVENTURE [-] BONAVENTURE IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE NEWS |
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«detailed view» |
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