When the Trees Say Nothing: Writings on Nature (2003)

by Thomas Merton, Kathleen Deignan (Editor)

Other authors: Thomas Berry (Foreword), John Giuliani (Illustrator)

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The first collection of Merton's writings on nature. Over 300 of his nature writings are grouped into thematic sections on the seasons, elements, creatures, and other topics. These writings serve as a primer on eco-spirituality, revealing Merton's approach to ecology as a spiritual issue that exposes the degree of human alienation from the sacredness of the planet.… (more)

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Kathleen Deignan sheds new light on Merton by focusing on a neglected theme of his writing: the natural world as a manifestation of the divine.
Drawing from Merton's voluminous writing on nature, Deignan has thematically assembled a collection of lucid, poetic reflections.

StFrancisofAssisi | Mar 21, 2020 |

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Thomas Merton	—	primary author	all editions	calculated
Deignan, Kathleen	Editor	main author	all editions	confirmed
Berry, Thomas	Foreword	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Giuliani, John	Illustrator	secondary author	all editions	confirmed

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When the Trees Say Nothing: Writings on Nature

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2003

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Epigraph

Dedication

For Ann Christian Deignan - beautiful epiphany of Earth's poetry and healing. For Vin Giuliani - whose soul speaks the language of silence.

First words

The mystery of Thomas Merton's marriage to the forest is a rich and overlooked sub-theme in one of the most celebrated spiritual stories of modern times. (from Intro - "The Forest Is My Bride")

Quotations

Down there in the wooded hollow full of cedars I hear a great outcry of bluejays, and yonder is one of the snipes that are always flying and ducking around Saint Joseph's hill. In all this I am reassured by the sweet constant melody of my red cardinals, who sing their less worldly tunes with no regard for any other sound on earth. And now the jays have stopped. Their tribulations rarely lasts very long.

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Kathleen Deignan

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The first collection of Merton's writings on nature. Over 300 of his nature writings are grouped into thematic sections on the seasons, elements, creatures, and other topics. These writings serve as a primer on eco-spirituality, revealing Merton's approach to ecology as a spiritual issue that exposes the degree of human alienation from the sacredness of the planet.

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Ruminations of Merton on nature: living things, seasons, elements, firmament, creatures, festivals, presences, sanctuary. Postscript: Sophia. Extractions from his writings and edited by Kathleen Deignan. Drawings by John Giuliani. Foreward by Thomas Berry. 20 page Introduction by Deignan "The Forest Is My Bride": Franciscan Soul, Cistercian Heart, Celtic Spirit, Zen Mind, The Recovery of Paradise, Merton's Reflections on Nature

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