Fr. Filiberto Guala was a monk of the Cistercian abbey of Frattocchi which is near Rome. Pope Paul VI, a longtime friend of Guala, commissioned him and his Abbot, Francis Decroix, to write up a "Message of Contemplatives" to present to a Synod of Bishops. Merton and others were asked to contribute and much of Merton's addition was used. (Source: The School of Charity, p. 344.)
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.
This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.
Click icons for links: ✓="Published | Library Record", ✉="Scanned" | 🗷="Scanned, Viewable Only at Merton Center"
| # | Date | From/To | First Lines | Pub ✓ | Notes |
| | y/m/d | Merton | | Scan ✉ | |
| 1. |
1967/08/18 |
TLS to Merton |
After writing the letter of Dom Francesco I visited Mons. Macchi: he will actively participate |
|
«detailed view» |
| 2. |
1967/08/28 (#01) |
TALS to Merton |
Saturday the 26th we received your letter of the 22nd to Dom Francisco-- and today yours of the 24th |
|
«detailed view» |
| 3. |
1967/08/28 (#02) |
other |
Sviluppando l'indizio suggerito da Gesù nel Vangelo di S.Luca: ......là dov'è il corpo là si |
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[labeled "stralcio lettera 20.8.1967 di Giovanni Ermiglia"]
«detailed view» |
| 4. |
1967/08/29 |
TL[c] from Merton |
This is just to tell you that I began working on the "message" the other day and got a fair amount |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 5. |
1967/09/02 (#01) |
telegram to Merton |
IF PROFITABLE MAIL END OF WEEK [-] FILIBERTO |
|
[stamped "DUPLICATE OF TELEPHONED TELEGRAM"]
«detailed view» |
| 6. |
1967/09/02 (#02) |
HNS to Merton |
from Filli Burton [Filiberto?] message - If profitable mail end of week |
|
[stamped "DUPLICATE OF TELEPHONED TELEGRAM"]
«detailed view» |
| 7. |
1967/09/04 |
telegram to Merton |
PAGINE BELLISSIME MA TROPPE ABOUT TWO BEING ASKED FINAL TEXT SUGGEST SUMMARIZE |
|
«detailed view» |
| 8. |
1967/09/06 |
TL[c] from Merton |
First of all, thank you for the moving witness of G. Ermiglia, a very fine document. Unfortunately |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 9. |
1967/09/08 |
HLS to Merton |
here is the history of the week: Monday: received the message text. I was happily |
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«detailed view» |
| 10. |
1967/09/21 |
HCS to Merton |
Yesterday I received your paper and I am sending it to the Secretary. Point b) at page 7 - |
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«detailed view» |
| 11. |
1967/09/26 |
HLS to Merton |
When my letter of Sept. 21st reached Mons. Macchi (with your paper «Openness and cloisters») |
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«detailed view» |
| 12. |
1967/10/01 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Thanks for your letter of Sept. 26th, receivedyesterday [sic]. I am happy to hear that the question |
|
«detailed view» |
| 13. |
1967/10/03 (#01) |
other |
MESSAGE DE MOINES CONTEMPLATIFS AU SYNODE DES EVEQUES [-] Pendant qu'est réuni |
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[type annotated draft of a text of a "Message of Contemplatives" for Pope Paul's plan for a Synod of Bishops on this subject - Merton sent Guala much material to be included in this document]
«detailed view» |
| 14. |
1967/10/03 (#02) |
HLS to Merton |
this is a copy of the text, not yet definitive - which I presented yesterday to Mons. Macchi for his |
|
[type annotated draft of a text of a "Message of Contemplatives" for Pope Paul's plan for a Synod of Bishops on this subject - Merton sent Guala much material to be included in this document]
«detailed view» |
| 15. |
1967/10/06 |
HLS to Merton |
As you can see by comparing the enclosed first text of the message with the one I sent a few days |
|
«detailed view» |
| 16. |
1967/10/13 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Many thanks for the copy of Epoca which arrived last evening. A very fine interview with the Holy |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 17. |
1967/12/21 |
HLS to Merton |
[handwriting in Italian - difficult to read] |
|
«detailed view» |
| 18. |
1967/12/28 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Thanks for your kind letter with the greetings and news of the article I am praying-- a little late! |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 19. |
1968/03/11 |
HLS to Merton |
In December the Abbot General S.O. Cist. (as representative of the monks at the Synod) was requested |
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«detailed view» |
| 20. |
1968/03/20 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Thanks for your letter. I am interested to hear that there will be a "commentary" on the message, |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
| 21. |
1968/06/04 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Recently I had a meeting with some contemplative nun superiors and an American bishop. |
✓ |
«detailed view» |
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