The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton

(New York: Harcourt, 1947), 462

Chapter 2

  • Description at the beginning of chapter 2 how France possesses such a diversity and perfection of accomplishments, from bridge building to prayer to logic to theology
  • His dad had catholic friends but they were too inarticulate to be able to tell him anything about the church and they were too shy --> we must not be like this
  • End of part II: beautiful description of the sacrifice of the liturgy
  • Discussion of the importance of catholic schools and importance of sending your children so they don't grow up by the standards of the world

Chapter 3

  • The more you try to avoid suffering the more you suffer
  • Souls are like athletes - they need opponents worthy of them

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

  • Literature, poetry, etc make statements about the fundamentals of life that can be made in no other way
  • 976
  • Virtues are the powers by which we come to acquire happiness

Chapter 3

  • Description of the saints and how they are all different but all show us a piece of God
  • He knew it was time to move on from St. Bonaventure when it was easy and comfortable and there was not challenging cross to bear
  • "And I was enclosed in the four walls of my new freedom"
  • When you have grace you are free
  • Chapter 3 book 3 description of saints
  • Just before epilogue: poem about his brother

Epilogue

  • We are called to both contemplation and action in perfection
  • Pure contemplation is pure love

Source:

Bibliography

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Created: 2014-12-10
Updated: 2023-01-04-Wed