The greatest tribute to Merton might be the offhanded comment of an eminent

The greatest tribute to Merton might be the offhanded comment of an eminent theologian we know: Merton may not have been a great monk, but he was an honest man. Whatever he was, his literary achievements and influence on a huge spectrum of Christian spirituality the last half-century are undeniable, and demand recognition and evaluation. What do we know of Merton? We know that he was a monk, a man who sought God. We know he was a poet, a writer, a man of profound literary acquaintances. We know he was a translator, a preserver of texts of human compassion and wisdom. We know that he loved to live and died tragically in the midst of this love. Merton was a man who so passionately sought God that as he developed in the disciplines of spirituality and obedience, he never stagnated, but continually shed form to press more deeply into communion with God. The studies, essays, letters, anthologies and poems that remain with us from him challenge us with beauty and power continually and repeatedly to live; to dig deeply into our existence and proceed passionately, even dangerously, near to God. In New Seeds of Contemplation, Merton presents meditations to wake us to ourselves, our lives, and God. 297 pp. Binding firm, underlining and marginalia throughout first half of book, cover shows some shelfwear and age-toning.