Bellarmine Interviews: One of Four

By: Jaley Adkins, Ashlyn Martin, and Susannah Sowell

In 2015, Pope Francis addressed the United States Congress and acknowledged “four great Americans” that dedicated their life to advocacy and serving others. Included in those four was Thomas Merton, a Catholic activist and author. After this speech, the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University was buzzing with calls and visits.

Bellarmine University has the largest collection of Thomas Merton artifacts which includes his personal library and copies of his correspondence with people such as Rachel Carson. The collection is also comprised of his jacket, art, and other personal items. All of these artifacts were given their home at Bellarmine by Thomas Merton. He left these items to the school in his will after being inspired by his friend, Father John Loftis. Loftis encouraged Merton to give his works to a university rather than a seminary so that it could be used as a source of research, rather than things admired on a retreat.

This wish has, in fact, been fulfilled. The staff of the Thomas Merton Center, located on the second floor of Bellarmine’s library, receive many emails each week asking about information on Merton and his works for doctoral and masters work. There are also many visitors to the center, some for graduate school work, and others just to appreciate Merton. During the school year the Merton Center is utilized by many classes; physical therapy will come in to discuss the wholeness of the body, business visits to learn about ethics, and the required religious classes also come by to learn. Merton continues to be remembered and celebrated because of this Center.

Religion Merton was a rambunctious young person who was in and out of jail, an avid drinker, and even had a child outside of marriage. While at Columbia University he converted to catholicism and changed his life. He became a monk at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky when he was 26, and stayed with them for the rest of his life. He struggled with the idea of pursuing writing because it didn’t align with the beliefs of the monastery, and would make him stand out from his brothers. However, his abbot thought it would be a good idea, and his autobiography resulted as success. Especially since all royalties of his writings went to the monastery, and still do. He later asked to switch monasteries to join one in Mexico whose goal was to pursue justice in Central America, however this request was denied. So, he continued to stay in Gethsemani, and later became the first hermit from his monastery.

His devotion to the Catholic faith is obvious, but he also had an interest in many middle eastern religions, specifically Buddhism and Hinduism. According to Mark Meade, Assistant Director of the Thomas Merton Center, Merton had many interfaith and interdenominational relationships. He in fact had frequent visits with the Dalai Lama. The two mutually admired each other for their service and leadership. He has since made a point to visit the Merton Center at least twice in the past two decades as Meade recalls.

Writing Pursuits

Merton devoted his life to his writings, publishing hundreds of books, poems, and articles during his time. Bellarmine’s vast Thomas Merton collection of over 50,000 items include these writings as well as his many correspondences. According to Meade, for Merton’s last five years of life he made a carbon copy of all his letters he sent. His first publishes were poetry collections, but his biggest success came in the form of an autobiography: The Seven Storey Mountain. He continued to write an array articles and books beloved by many. Even now, many books have been published posthumously, as he had many writings that were never seen by the public. Most recently the title, Letters to Pat, was published in 2017 with an introduction written by Dr. Paul Pearson, the director of the Thomas Merton Center.

These many publications were about his positions on a variety of political topics; he always advocated for peace and unity. Meade believes that Merton is unique in his writings as he was a white ally from the religious community and was able to weave his many passionate positions together in a positive and religious light.

Artifacts found in the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine 

Influence on Politics Merton spoke outwardly against the Vietnam War, calling it an “overwhelming atrocity” which sparked controversy. He advocated strongly against nuclear proliferation and factory farming. He was a key voice in the civil rights movement and was a friend to Martin Luther King, Jr. He wrote several essays and published them as a collection in Ishi Means Man to defend Native American rights. His advocacy was outspoken and bold, his positions usually did not align with President Lyndon B. Johnson. He took frequent risks to speak on behalf of those who couldn’t and was admired by many for doing so.

Assistant Director of the Thomas Merton Center, Mark Meade, said Merton would be “very disappointed” in politics today. He would be upset to know he would still be advocating for some of the same things he was speaking for over fifty years ago.

Death Investigations

At the age of 53, Merton passed away, unexpectedly. He was found dead in a cottage in Thailand, where he was staying while attending a monastic conference. A floor fan was laying across his body and it was concluded that he died in a freak accident from electric shock. Many, however, are skeptical of this, especially considering the fact that he never received an autopsy. Electric shock doesn’t explain why Merton had a wound on the back of his head, which was bleeding profusely when he was found or why this wound wasn’t reported in his official death certificate. Not only this, the US Army obtained possession of his body soon after, embalmed it, and sent it back to the US in five days. His body was flown back to the US in a military plane that was transporting American casualties from the Vietnam war. To add to the irony of the situation, Merton died in 1968, the same year two other well known anti-war advocates: Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy. For these reasons, some have been lead to believe that Merton was assassinated by the CIA due to his opposition of the Vietnam War. According to Meade the FBI had files on Merton because he was so outspoken about the war. If Merton was assassinated, he was likely targeted because although he was never one to go out in the streets and stir people up, he was an influential objector of war. After all, as the war progressed, Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration had become increasingly unpopular among US citizens. Leaders such as Merton were detrimental to LBJ’s Vietnam War agenda.

Conclusion

"Above all things have charity, which is the bond of perfection and may the peace of Christ exult in your hearts in which you are called unto one Body,”

Merton wrote in, The Sign of Jonas. ​

“And be grateful. It seems to me that all mystical theology is contained in those two lines.”

Merton lived an inspiring life. He stirred in many a passion for their religion and a love for serving others. He was a light in a time of the darkness of war and conflict. His legacy lives on at the Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University.