10 Thomas Merton Quotes To Celebrate The American Monk's Birthday

10 Mystical Quotes To Celebrate Thomas Merton's Birthday
Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk known world-wide as an author and philosopher, is shown in 1951. Merton is best known for his book "The Seven Story Mountain," a personal account of his conversion to Roman Catholicism. (AP Photo)
Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk known world-wide as an author and philosopher, is shown in 1951. Merton is best known for his book "The Seven Story Mountain," a personal account of his conversion to Roman Catholicism. (AP Photo)

Thomas Merton was a Catholic, a monk, a mystic, briefly a Communist, a civil rights activist and a prolific writer. Born on January 31, 1915, his life was cut short when he died by accidental electrocution while on a visit to Thailand. His work, however, has lived on.

Here is footage of Thomas Merton speaking on the fundamental nature of religiosity in the modern era:

Although the full scope of Merton's teachings cannot be condensed into sound bites, many of his statements powerfully stand on their own as life wisdom:

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