The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Brandt, Charles, Br., O.C.S.O., 1923-2020

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1964

Volume: 4 item(s); 9 pg(s)

Scope and Content

Biography

Br. Charles Brandt was writing from the Trappist monastery of Our Lady of New Melleray in Dubuque, Iowa. After leaving the Trappists he became a priest and hermit on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See one published letter from Merton to Br. Charles Brandt (published as "Brother C.") in The School of Charity, pp. 241-3.

Other Finding Aids

If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
   

Series List

This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.

Container List

SeriesDateTypeTo/FromFirst LinesPubFull TextNotes
 1964/09/14 TLSto MertonPerhaps you will remember me. Back in Easter, '56, when Fr. Hilary was guestmaster, I spent about 8  advise on contemplative vocation / background of meeting Merton before entering, and when thinking about, Trappist vocation / life first with the Anglican Benedictines / desire to join Camaldolese - need for greater solitude in nature (Thoreau a childhood hero) / time with Fr. Minard in South Carolina / Dom Winandy / authenticity of Merton's vocation to the solitary life and recommendations to others - stay with Trappists or look elsewhere? / Merton's article on the eremitical life
 1964/09/27 (#01)TL[c]from MertonIt was good to hear from you, and I think I have a fairly clear memory of your visit, though it wasYes Trappist monastic life - good on promoting the <i>vita activa</i> (active life) of work and active communal prayer, but not good at promoting true solitude - will drive away those looking for solitude unless eremitical life is allowed - suggests Fr. Minard's group / Merton looking for a solution for more solitude within the Order
 1964/09/27 (#02)TL[c]from MertonIt was good to hear from you, and I think I have a fairly clear memory of your visit, though it wasYes [copied from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2] Trappist monastic life - good on promoting the <i>vita activa</i> (active life) of work and active communal prayer, but not good at promoting true solitude - will drive away those looking for solitude unless eremitical life is allowed - suggests Fr. Minard's group / Merton looking for a solution for more solitude within the Order
 1966/11/23 other A hermit-monk was ordained as a priest at Canadian Martyrs Church here in the first such ceremony  [copied from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2 - newspaper article on Brandt's ordination to the priesthood published in <u>The Daily Colonist</u> of Victoria, British Columbia]
        

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