Thomas Merton

Date of Birth: January 31, 1915

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: December 10, 1968

Biography

Thomas Merton was an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist, and scholar of comparative religion. He was born in Prades, France, in 1915 to a New Zealand artist father and an American Quaker mother. Merton’s early life was marked by the loss of both his parents, leading to a somewhat tumultuous childhood and adolescence. He attended Cambridge University and later Columbia University, where he converted to Catholicism in 1938. In 1941, Merton entered the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, a move that profoundly shaped his life and work. He was ordained as a priest in 1949 and given the name Father Louis. Merton became widely known through his autobiography, “The Seven Storey Mountain,” which became a bestseller and influenced many to join religious life. Throughout his life, Merton wrote extensively on spirituality, social justice, and pacifism, authoring more than 70 books and numerous essays and reviews. His works continue to be influential in both religious and secular circles. Merton died in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1968, while attending an interfaith conference.

5 Interesting Facts about Thomas Merton

1. Thomas Merton’s autobiography, “The Seven Storey Mountain,” has been compared to St. Augustine’s “Confessions” for its impact on 20th-century Christianity.

2. He was a prolific writer, producing over 70 books and numerous essays, reviews, and poems.

3. Merton was deeply interested in Eastern religions and engaged in dialogues with prominent figures like the Dalai Lama.

4. He was an advocate for civil rights and anti-war movements, often writing about social justice and peace.

5. Merton died under mysterious circumstances, allegedly due to accidental electrocution by a faulty fan in his hotel room in Bangkok.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Thomas Merton

1. “The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image.”

2. “We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves.”

3. “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”

4. “In the end, it is the reality of personal relationship that saves everything.”

5. “Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Thomas Merton’s net worth is not well-documented, but as a Trappist monk, he lived a life of poverty and did not accumulate personal wealth. His works, however, have sold millions of copies worldwide, contributing significantly to the Abbey of Gethsemani and various charitable causes.