Biography

Thomas Merton lived from 1915 to 1968. He was born in France and died in Thailand but lived in America. He attended Columbia University. After earning BA and MA degrees, he became a Catholic monk. He studied Zen, American Indian spirituality, and the Desert Fathers. He developed an appreciation and tolerance for other religions. A pacifist and mystic, Merton's legacy includes over 50 books, many of which deal with spirituality and social issues. The Seven Storey Mountain is his autobiography and his bestselling book. Today, Bellarmine campus in Louisville, Kentucky, houses much of Merton's works in the Thomas Merton Center.

Wailand Groenendyk
CCEL Staff Writer