tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11485432.post2562567755260988221..comments2012-01-02T16:33:58.373-05:00Comments on Prayer of Fire: The REAL Tragedy of Thomas Merton-Part One~Cephas~http://www.blogger.com/profile/16933701242574655582noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11485432.post-52618655796609230652012-01-02T16:33:58.373-05:002012-01-02T16:33:58.373-05:00Hilary
I thought I responded to this, but do not s...Hilary<br />I thought I responded to this, but do not see it so forgive me if you get 2 similar responses. My first comment is that you have never met the above Saints have you? You are basing your response by way of their writings and writings about them. All the ones you've mentioned had great humility, but your faulty assumption is that they were born that way, enjoyed humiliations and craved for more with nary a complaint. If I know anything about the spiritual life is that people grow and mature in it. Your assumption that they always and forever enjoyed humiliations lacks credulity. At the point that Von Hildebrand made this comment, Merton was not yet a Catholic or even a practicing Christian. I was basing my comment about enjoying humiliations based on that. Also, you are confusing someone who accepts and relishes humiliations for the good of their souls and someone who enjoys being humiliated. One is a Saint the other a person with psychological pathology. If you've read any Merton whatsoever, then you probably realize that Merton possessed great humility. Yes, he wrestled with it at times, but nonetheless it was there.~Cephas~https://www.blogger.com/profile/16933701242574655582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11485432.post-46098079801987519982012-01-02T15:28:56.645-05:002012-01-02T15:28:56.645-05:00"I do not think that I have met one person in..."I do not think that I have met one person in my life who enjoys humiliations! Does Dr. Von Hildebrand? I frankly do not see the relevance of this as a possible problem in the character of Thomas Merton."<br /><br />Yes, I do know such people: St. Faustina, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Francis of Assisi, St. John of the Cross (who, when a crucifix told him to ask for a reward, asked to be despised). Humility is the special mark of sanctity, and part of humility is a willingness and in some people even a desire to be humiliated by others. If Thomas Merton lacked humility, that is extremely relevant because it indicates a serious and dangerous failing in spirituality, as anyone deeply read in Catholic spirituality must know.Hilarynoreply@blogger.com