Monica R. Weis 
Thomas Merton and the Celts 
A New World Opening Up

Thomas Merton and the Celts offers a new lens through which to view Merton’s life and spirituality. By examining unpublished letters, notebooks, and taped conferences for the Trappist novices–previously unavailable to the general reader–the author breaks new ground in Merton studies, revealing Merton’s growing fascination with his Welsh ancestry, Celtic monasticism, and early Irish hermit poetry. Merton, having immersed himself in reading about Celtic Christianity–not just about liturgy, but about household rituals, illuminated manuscripts, high crosses, and hermit poetry as well–recognized in these ancient hermits who lived on ‘water and herbs, ‘ experienced kinship with creatures, and wrote poems about the birds a mirror of his own desires. Indeed, in a profound way and at a deep level, Merton discovered himself in Celtic Christianity.

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Bonnie Thurston is a native of southern West Virginia, and lives near Wheeling, WV, having resigned the William F. Orr Professorship in New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 2002. She earned the BA in English from Bethany College, and MA and Ph D degrees from the University of Virginia. Bonnie has written or edited eighteen theological books and many articles, has contributed to reference works in New Testament and taught at the university level for thirty years. Her scholarly interests in New Testament include the gospels of Mark and John, the Deutero-Pauline canon and, more generally, the history of Christian Spirituality and prayer. She was ordained in 1984 and has served as co-pastor, pastor, or interim of five churches and twice in overseas ministries. She is an experienced spiritual director and retreat leader. Her poetry frequently appears in religious periodicals, and she has authored five volumes of verse. Bonnie is a widow, an avid reader, gardener and cook, enjoys classical music and loves the West Virginia hills.