1938 also saw still yet the awareness of another Catholic by the name of Gerald Manley Hopkins (click here). Hopkins wrote a book about his conversion to Catholicism. This was at the same time Thomas Merton applied and was accepted to Columbia for his PhD. He moved to Greenwich Village and became a member of a church. Over the next few years he would take communion and be confirmed in his Roman Catholic Faith.
Let's put some of this into context. Thomas Merton was not a saintly man during his years at Columbia. He was a regular guy working in a field of study that attracted him.
In need of employment after graduation he was hired as an English teacher at St. Bonaventure. He wanted to work at St. Bonaventure because in the back of his mind he wanted to be a friar. He took a room on campus and gave up smoking, drinking and other self-satisfying activities.
He tried on a couple of attempts at joining a holy order and in 1941 he attended a retreat to the Trappist Monastery in Gethsemani, Kentucky. By December of 1941 he joined the monastery and began washing floors and other menial labor required by early applicants.
This was 1941. The USA was entering WWII. There is one report that states joining the monastery gave Thomas Merton a pass on being drafted, too.
Just sayin'.
Let's put some of this into context. Thomas Merton was not a saintly man during his years at Columbia. He was a regular guy working in a field of study that attracted him.
In need of employment after graduation he was hired as an English teacher at St. Bonaventure. He wanted to work at St. Bonaventure because in the back of his mind he wanted to be a friar. He took a room on campus and gave up smoking, drinking and other self-satisfying activities.
He tried on a couple of attempts at joining a holy order and in 1941 he attended a retreat to the Trappist Monastery in Gethsemani, Kentucky. By December of 1941 he joined the monastery and began washing floors and other menial labor required by early applicants.
This was 1941. The USA was entering WWII. There is one report that states joining the monastery gave Thomas Merton a pass on being drafted, too.
Just sayin'.
