medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
In a recent book by Brian Gooch entitled _Godtalk_ there is chapter that
discusses his experiences visiting Gethsemane and other American Cistercian
monasteries (and Trappestine abbeys). I found it a fascinating account of
how things have developed in American Cistercian life since the death of
Thomas Merton in 1968. Although I tend to keep up on this subject generally,
there were a multitude of facts I didn't know: such as: Abbot James Fox,
having retired to a hermitage after his celebrated abbacy during much of
Merton's life at Gethsemane, one night was assaulted and terrorized by local
Kentucky youth. The incident helped end the hermit movement at Gethsemane
that Merton had been so instrumental in getting accepted. There are lots of
little factoids like this to recommend this account to any monastophiles out
there.
John B. Wickstrom
Kalamazoo College
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