The Franciscan Heart of Thomas Merton: A New Look at the Spiritual Inspiration of His Life, Thought, and Writing

by Daniel P. Horan

Overview

Daniel Horan, popular author of Dating God and other books on Franciscan themes—and expert on the spirituality of Thomas Merton—masterfully presents the untold story of how the most popular saint in Christian history inspired the most popular spiritual writer of the twentieth century, and how together they can inspire a new generation of Christians.

Millions of Christians and non-Christians look to Thomas Merton for spiritual wisdom and guidance, but to whom did Merton look? In The Franciscan Heart of Thomas Merton, author Daniel Horan shows how, both before and after he became a Trappist monk, Merton’s life was shaped by his love for St. Francis and for the Franciscan spiritual and intellectual tradition. Given recent renewed interest in St. Francis, this timely resource is both informative and practical, revealing a previously hidden side of Merton that will inspire a new generation of Christians to live richer, deeper, and more justice-minded lives of faith.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594714238
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	09/22/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Daniel P. Horan is director of the Center for Spirituality and professor of philosophy, religious studies, and theology at Saint Mary’s College. He previously served as the Duns Scotus professor of spirituality at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He is a columnist for National Catholic Reporter and the author of thirteen books, including The Franciscan Heart of Thomas Merton and Catholicity and Emerging Personhood, which received a 2020 Excellence in Publishing Award from the Association of Catholic Publishers.

Horan regularly lectures around the United States and abroad and serves on a number of university, academic, and publication editorial boards, including the St. Bonaventure University Board of Trustees, the Franciscan School of Theology Board of Regents, and the Board of Directors of the International Thomas Merton Society. He is cohost of The Francis Effect podcast.

He lives in the South Bend, Indiana, area.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction: On "Merton's Heart" xv

Part I Two Kindred Hearts

Chapter 1 The Medieval Mendicant: Francis of Assisi 3

Chapter 2 The Modern Monk: Thomas Merton 35

Part II Franciscan Foundations

Chapter 3 The Rise and Fall of a Vocation 55

Chapter 4 A Franciscan in Blue Jeans 79

Part III Reflections on Faith

Chapter 5 The "True Self": Getting to the Heart of Merton's Most Famous Insight 95

Chapter 6 The General Dance: Franciscan Christology and the Christ of Thomas Merton 117

Chapter 7 Paradise Consciousness: Modern Spirituality of Creation in a Franciscan Key 131

Part IV Engaging the World

Chapter 8 Seeing the World as It Really Is: Prophecy at the Heart of the Christian Vocation 159

Chapter 9 No Longer Strangers: Thomas Merton and Franciscan Interreligious Dialogue 173

Chapter 10 Becoming Instruments of Peace: How Francis and Merton Challenge Us to Live Today 199

Conclusion: Finding Francis in Unlikely Places 219

Appendix: Merton's Prayer to St. Francis of Assisi 223

Notes 227

Index 251