Thomas Merton was the most popular proponent of the Christian contemplative tradition in the twentieth century. Now, for the first time, some of his most lyrical and prayerful writings have been arranged into A Book of Hours, a rich resource for daily prayer and contemplation that imitates the increasingly popular ancient monastic practice of "praying the hours". Editor Kathleen Deignan mined Merton's voluminous writings, arranging prayers for Dawn, Day, Dusk, and Dark for each of the days of the week. A Book of Hours allows for a slice of monastic contemplation in the midst of hectic modern life, with psalms, prayers, readings, and reflections.
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A Book of Hours reveals in ways I have never experienced the hidden wellspring of Merton's contemplative life and art. This is a gorgeous book, beautifully conceived and intelligently executed. Deignan has woven a tapestry of Merton's prayer, prose, and poetry at their most ardent so as to re-educate our awareness that God is Beautiful and most worthy of our daily praise. This five-star book will snugly fit the pocket of your heart.
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195 of 200 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It feels presumptuous to comment on a gracefully written and illustrated work based on the words of one of the twentieth century's greatest spiritual writers. Nonetheless, my take on this prayer book may add a little something to the high praise expressed by Merton scholars in the foreword and jacket remarks.
Kathleen Deignan's introduction, in addition to providing background on Thomas Merton, describes the practice of praying a Book of Hours. Her version consists of excerpts from a variety of Merton's works presented as familiar liturgical elements such as psalms, litanies, intercessions, hymns, and epistles. She invites us to "let this breviary serve our soul-needs" using whatever elements appeal to us during the time we have.
The first time I prayed with the book, I was drawn to these words from the Lesson: "Keep your eyes clean and your ears quiet and your mind serene." What would it mean for me to do each of those, and could I add other, similar cautions? Maybe lips or tongue or mouth in relation to fasting and praying? During a later session, I discovered an antiphon that exemplifies Merton's moments of pure exuberance in the midst of more formal expression: "You have to be all the time cooperating with the love and love sets a fast pace even at the beginning and, if you don't keep up, you'll get dropped." I was grateful that Deignan included this one, and also a long passage from Merton's Fire Walk story, considered by many to be the greatest piece of spiritual writing of its time.
Although this Book of Hours is in itself enough material for unlimited reflection, the author has wisely understood that many readers will want more Merton. To help them, she has added a simple system for identifying the source of each passage at the end of the book.
Kathleen Deignan's introduction, in addition to providing background on Thomas Merton, describes the practice of praying a Book of Hours. Her version consists of excerpts from a variety of Merton's works presented as familiar liturgical elements such as psalms, litanies, intercessions, hymns, and epistles. She invites us to "let this breviary serve our soul-needs" using whatever elements appeal to us during the time we have.
The first time I prayed with the book, I was drawn to these words from the Lesson: "Keep your eyes clean and your ears quiet and your mind serene." What would it mean for me to do each of those, and could I add other, similar cautions? Maybe lips or tongue or mouth in relation to fasting and praying? During a later session, I discovered an antiphon that exemplifies Merton's moments of pure exuberance in the midst of more formal expression: "You have to be all the time cooperating with the love and love sets a fast pace even at the beginning and, if you don't keep up, you'll get dropped." I was grateful that Deignan included this one, and also a long passage from Merton's Fire Walk story, considered by many to be the greatest piece of spiritual writing of its time.
Although this Book of Hours is in itself enough material for unlimited reflection, the author has wisely understood that many readers will want more Merton. To help them, she has added a simple system for identifying the source of each passage at the end of the book.
74 of 75 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a great read for Lent. Just received this book a couple of days ago. The various writings of Merton are arranged in a Liturgy of the Hours format. This book is like an old friend, comfortable, deep, and something to "sit" with. I am buying another copy for my daughter and will recommend it highly to my Centering Prayer group.
54 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Book of Hours by Thomas Merton called me to a deeper sense of myself. Each day of the week, Merton's thoughts, meditations, and prayers pulled me into a journey of love. Merton is considered one of the great spiritual directors of the 20th century. The anguish and joy through his own journey toward the mystery we call God acts as a guidepost for those who wish to find the peace that only God can offer. This little gem of a book enables those who want to find a more penetrating prayer time to find words and images that help in the journey to the "small light that burns within each of us, that light being God."
The editors manipulated a wealth of Merton's poetry, letters, canticles and journal entries to meld into a liturgically poetic book of hours or opus dei for the every day. The reader is presented with a week's worth of prayers and meditations organized in the traditional monastic style. However, instead of the seven hours or calls to prayer in the day, the editors shaped the daily prayer into four notable "hours:" Dawn, Day, Dusk, and Dark. Each part of the day brings the reader a reason to move forward, a reason to be, a reason to love each other more.
Merton's writing is never an easy read. He demands much of his audience. Often a meditation or prayer needs to be reread to glean its potential meaning for the reader, but that is the beauty of reading the mind of a seeker of peace in this world and the next. For those new to Merton, there may be an urge to put the little tome down, but hang in there. With every paragraph, this monk provides another window for inspiration and contemplation. He even encourages creative responses to silence:
Night calls, the door opens;
Darkness envelops the walk.
Forest stars bring me home.
Frank Champine
Langhorne, PA
The editors manipulated a wealth of Merton's poetry, letters, canticles and journal entries to meld into a liturgically poetic book of hours or opus dei for the every day. The reader is presented with a week's worth of prayers and meditations organized in the traditional monastic style. However, instead of the seven hours or calls to prayer in the day, the editors shaped the daily prayer into four notable "hours:" Dawn, Day, Dusk, and Dark. Each part of the day brings the reader a reason to move forward, a reason to be, a reason to love each other more.
Merton's writing is never an easy read. He demands much of his audience. Often a meditation or prayer needs to be reread to glean its potential meaning for the reader, but that is the beauty of reading the mind of a seeker of peace in this world and the next. For those new to Merton, there may be an urge to put the little tome down, but hang in there. With every paragraph, this monk provides another window for inspiration and contemplation. He even encourages creative responses to silence:
Night calls, the door opens;
Darkness envelops the walk.
Forest stars bring me home.
Frank Champine
Langhorne, PA
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book of hours by THomas MErton
Very deep, amazingly poetic, a wonderful form of prayer. Merton invites the reader to share in his unfathomable love of God in all HIs forms, and to see Mary in a most loving... Read more
Published 25 days ago by Gloria Falconi
2.0 out of 5 stars
A monastic prayer manual
I thought this book would provide me an alternative to the Roman Breviary. But I found it too mystical and difficult to understand. It didn't enrich my prayer life.
Published 1 month ago by James R. Keating
5.0 out of 5 stars
A different way of seeing
If I use too many words to praise Thomas Merton's Book of Hours other readers would suspect that I had missed the point. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Maryalyce R Jenkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful book
A wonderful way to introduce oneself to the liturgy of the hours. Slowly, prayerfully not to be missed. Will buy more as gifts.
Published 2 months ago by grandy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful book
A soothing book to begin and end your day. Very well edited and put together. The beauty and wisdom of Merton's words helps me through the tough parts of life.
Published 5 months ago by Donna Skare
5.0 out of 5 stars
Merton at his best
I've always appreciated Merton's writing. This book provides the reader with some of his best writings in a format that allows you to read in concert with the prayer schedule of... Read more
Published 6 months ago by V. Pettus
5.0 out of 5 stars
Maintenance of a Spiritual Condition
I'm delighted that I discovered this book by one of my very favorite spiritual mentors. Having read him for 30+ years, I can identify with many of Thomas Merton's ideas, thoughts,... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Thomas Grzymala
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Book of Hours: for days
I used this book for a Men's Group retreat as the worship portion of a retreat introducing comtemplative prayer and meditation. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Clyde Beury
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hold on to Your Hat!
The wind of change will blow through you as you spend four times a day in this place of awe.
There a few Christian terms and the edition resonates for those of us that walk... Read more
There a few Christian terms and the edition resonates for those of us that walk... Read more
Published on August 21, 2010 by M. L. York
5.0 out of 5 stars
My spiritual guru
I ordered A Book of Hours and the CD which accompanies it. I am finding it very spiritually enriching and a good way to get back into Merton's contemplative spirit.
Published on January 15, 2010 by Lavender Lady
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