Patrick Hart, OCSO, (1925-2019), a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, entered the Abbey of Gethsemani in 1951 and served as secretary to Thomas Merton during the last year of his life. He edited many books by and about Thomas Merton during the thirty-eight years since the latter's death on December 10, 1968. He had served on the board of directors for Cistercian Publications for the past thirty years.

• ContentsAcknowledgements  viForeword by Brother Patrick Hart  viiPreface by the Trustees of the Merton Legacy Trust  xiPART I  The Monastic VocationWhat is the Monastic Life?   3Basic Principles of Monastic Spirituality   11Monastic Peace   39PART II  Monastic ThemeThe Humanity of Christ in Monastic Prayer   87Conversion of Life   107Monastic Attitudes: A matter of Choice   121PART III  The Solitary LifeProject for a Hermitage   135Wilderness and Paradise   144The Solitary Life   151APPENDIXESMonastic Renewal:  A Memorandum   165A Letter on the Contemplative Life   169Contemplatives and the Crisis of Faith   174NOTES   181select bibliography   185

Patrick Hart, OCSO, (1925-2019), a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, entered the Abbey of Gethsemani in 1951 and served as secretary to Thomas Merton during the last year of his life. He edited many books by and about Thomas Merton during the thirty-eight years since the latter's death on December 10, 1968. He had served on the board of directors for Cistercian Publications for the past thirty years.

• ContentsAcknowledgements  viForeword by Brother Patrick Hart  viiPreface by the Trustees of the Merton Legacy Trust  xiPART I  The Monastic VocationWhat is the Monastic Life?   3Basic Principles of Monastic Spirituality   11Monastic Peace   39PART II  Monastic ThemeThe Humanity of Christ in Monastic Prayer   87Conversion of Life   107Monastic Attitudes: A matter of Choice   121PART III  The Solitary LifeProject for a Hermitage   135Wilderness and Paradise   144The Solitary Life   151APPENDIXESMonastic Renewal:  A Memorandum   165A Letter on the Contemplative Life   169Contemplatives and the Crisis of Faith   174NOTES   181select bibliography   185