| Author Quoted | |
| Title Quoted | Perfectae Caritatis |
| Date (Year/Month/Day) | 1966/07/21 |
| Imprint | [S.l.] : [s.n.]. 1965 |
| Quotation | Revising some notes on monastic life - read through the Council Decree Perfectae Caritatis ["Of perfect charity," "Decree on the Appropriate Renewal of the Religious Lif"]. Deeply impressed by these lines: Through the profession of obedience, religious offer to God a total dedication of their own wills as a sacrifice of themselves; they thereby unite themselves with greater steadiness and security to the saving will of God. Very clear and helpful - and I have been evading this. I need to hear and take it to heart. No doubt my love for M. entails certain obligations to her, but I have been too willing to disobey in order to contact and console her. But I have been ordered to break off contact and sooner or later this will have to be final. I have to take it more seriously perhaps than I have. I am still committed to see her once more before she leaves, but really that should end it. Extremely difficult! |
| Journal | Learning to love: exploring solitude and freedom. The Journals of Thomas Merton, Volume 6, 1966-1967.; Edited by Christine M. Bochen. / [San Francisco] : HarperCollins. 1997, p. 98 |
| Link to Merton's Copy |
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