Publisher Description

In this day of mindless distraction, we're desperate for reasons to put down our phones and reconnect with our spiritual selves. In time for the 50th anniversary of Thomas Merton's death in 1968, Silence, Joy is an invitation to slow down, take a breath, make a space for silence, and open up to joy.
Poet, monk, spiritual advisor, and social critic, Thomas Merton is a unique-and uniquely beloved-figure of the twentieth century, and this little rosary brings together his best-loved poems and prose. Drawn from classics like New Seeds Of Contemplation and The Way Of Chuang Tzu as well as less famous books, the writings in Silence, Joy offer the reader deep, calming stillness, flights of ecstatic praise, steadying words of wisdom, and openhearted laughter. Manna for Merton lovers and a warm embrace for novices, this slim collection is a delightful gift.

Author Biography

Thomas Merton (1915-1968) entered the Cistercian Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, following his conversion to Catholicism and was ordained in 1949. During the 1960s, he was increasingly drawn into a dialogue between Eastern and Western religions and was actively engaged with domestic issues of war and racism. ...

Review

"Silence, Joy is pocket-sized, but bursting with what made Merton great: he could be simultaneously dark and audaciously sentimental. So many of his lines ring perfectly true, even 50 years after his death." -- Nick Ripatrazone - The Millions
"Thomas Merton remains a source of spiritual inspiration and a guide for many people—he opened new horizons for souls and for the Church." -- Pope Francis
"Thomas Merton really is someone we can look up to. I always consider myself as one of his Buddhist brothers." -- The Dalai Lama
"Merton possessed an extraordinary ability to connect with deep, universal places inside of people." -- Sue Monk Kidd
"[This book] will help the reader address and overcome any one of a wide range of often common fears. . . . [W]hether the anxiety is minor or a more serious panic disorder, the good news is that one can address and overcome it." -- Thich Nhat Hanh

Review Quote

"Thomas Merton remains a source of spiritual inspiration and a guide for many people--he opened new horizons for souls and for the Church."

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