Thomas Merton, Peacemaker

Overview

"The God of peace is never glorified by human violence.” -- Thomas Merton (1915-1968)

"John Dear convincingly argues, as Merton's entire witness argues, that the true contemplative is a peacemaker. . . . Here is a testament for a new generation, a clarion call to wake up, do justice, and become instruments of peace.” -- Jonathan Montaldo, editor, Choosing to Love the World: Thomas Merton on Contemplation

In the centenary year of Merton's birth, longtime peace activist and author John Dear reflects on Merton's profound contributions to the practice and spirituality of peacemaking.

Beginning in the early 1960s the famous Trappist monk broke new ground through his prophetic writings on nuclear weapons, war, and racism. For Merton, these issues were not only moral challenges: they reflected a deeper spiritual crisis afflicting the world.

Here, John Dear invites us to take up Merton's journey and become mature spiritual seekers, breaking beyond the norms of religious obligation into a universal compassion so that we, too, might become peacemakers, the beloved children of the God of peace.

John Dear is a priest, activist, lecturer, and author of thirty books including Lazarus Come Forth!, You Will Be My Witnesses (with icons by William Hart McNichols) and his autobiography, A Persistent Peace. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He lives in California. www.johndear.org