Customer Reviews

A Book of Hours

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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

This is a marvelous collection of writings from the works of Thomas Merton, the Trappist Monk, assembled in the form of a book of hours. Even if you are not particularly knowledgable about Merton's writings, you will find his comments on so many aspects of the spiritual life meaningful and tantalizing, you will want to study his works further. The author does include an index that gives the source of each selection included for the particular time and day of the week. Although he lived from 1915 - 1968, you will feel he is writing for right now. Included are writings for Dawn, Day, Dusk and Dark on each day of the week. You might think that only seven days would not be enough to keep you interested. But, as with much of Holy Scripture, something new and fresh appears with repetition. The author includes an informed introduction to her selections for Thomas Merton: A Book of Hours.

This compact book allows me to bring these prayers whereever I go. When I need a bit of insight to stop & think, I take out this version. Separating the volume into days is perfect. I was looking for a prayer book of this kind for years.

Many of us get so busy each day that when we try to pray or meditate, the world crowds in on us. This book is simply a guide to meditation and prayer and has been a Godsend to me.

A small book (nice size to take along} loaded with images to enjoy, contemplate and put to use. Thomas Mertons writing is a nice mix of beautiful poetry and deep thoughts.

A fantastic Book of Hours from the writings of Thomas Merton, which includes passages from his poetry and other writings not encountered by those who have read his journals or his most popular books. This was a new side of Merton for me, and I found it to be wonderful. The prayers and readings in this book reflect new areas of encounter with God that I had not experienced in his writing before. Highly recommended!

Whether a reader of Merton's writing or not, this book is incredibly beautiful and inspiring in its poetic thought and stunning imagery. Regardless of one's faith base, the calling to internal dialogue and contemplation are compelling. I purchased several for gifts for people of various practices and those with a meditation practice.
His occassional refections which were at the time focused on the Vietnam war and situations happening in our world, again speak volumes in our present world culture. Two weeks after purchase and I have already read it in total X 3.

I think this book of hours is probably a must for any Merton fan. It takes his years of questioning, writing, grappling with the tough issues of living and places them in a prayerful mode.