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Individual Series View, Merton's Correspondence with:

Fox, James, Dom, O.C.S.O., 1896-1987


Series 6, Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with Abbot General Ignace Gillet.


Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence
Dates of materials: 1948-1969
Volume: 949 item(s); 1432 pg(s)

Scope and Content

Herein is a large collection of letters spanning most of Merton's time at Gethsemani. Letters between Fox and Merton concern Merton's vocation to the monastery, his constant desires for greater solitude, thoughts about leaving Gethsemani and joining the

Biography

Dom James Fox came to Gethsemani in 1927. He was serving as guestmaster when Merton's younger brother, John Paul, visited the monastery, and Fox made arrangements for John Paul's baptism. In 1948, Fox was elected abbot after the death of Dom Frederic Du

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Please click here for general restrictions concerning Merton's correspondence.

Related Information and Links

See also published letters from Merton to Fox in The School of Charity and

Series List

Series NumberSeries NameTotal Records
1 Correspondence from original Merton papers (some later additions): Dom James Fox with Merton, Fr. Charles Dumont, Edward Glenn Hinson, Msgr. Alfred Frederick Horrigan, Fr. Giovanni Montini, James Morrissey, Naomi Burton Stone, etc. 93
2 Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with the Abbot of Melleray, Dom Louis de Gonzague Le Pennuen. 21
3 Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with the Abbot of Melleray, Dom Colomban Bissey. 6
4 Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with Abbot General Dominique Noques. 4
5 Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with Abbot General Gabriel Sortais. 202
6 Correspondence from Gethsemani Archives: Dom James Fox with Abbot General Ignace Gillet. 38
7 Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Merton: Special Binding (Archive - Stack 5). 101
8 Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Marie Tadié: (see "Tadié, Marie" file for all physical holdings). 153
9 Special Merton File: Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Abbot General Gabriel Sortais 30
10 Special Merton File: Notes concerning Merton's relationship with "M," from folder labeled "Clyde" 1
11 Special Merton File: Correspondence between Fox and Fr. John Eudes Bamberger concerning a biography of Merton, from folder labeled "Clyde" 2
12 Special Merton File: Correspondence concerning French translator Marie Tadié's grievance with Gethsemani after Merton's death, from folder labeled "Clyde" 6
13 Special Merton File: Correspondence between Dom James Fox and the Sacred Congregation for Religious at the Vatican, earlier with Arcadio Cardinal Larraona and then with Archbishop Paul (later Cardinal) Philippe 6
14 Special Merton File: Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Monsignor Loris Francesco Capovilla, Secretary to Pope John XXIII 5
15 Special Merton File: Correspondence with Fr. Heinrich Dumoulin, S.J., Sophia University in Japan, regarding Merton studying Zen and proposed trip to Japan 4
16 Special Merton File: Correspondence with Archbishop Giovanni Montini (later Pope Paul VI) 7
17 Special Merton File: Correspondence with Fr. Riccardo Lombardi, S.J. 18
18 Special Merton File: Correspondence between Dom James Fox and Abbot General Ignace Gillet, regarding Merton as novice master, studying Zen and proposed trip to Japan 4
19 Naomi Burton Stone, Doubleday, Inc. (earlier correspondence with Fox can be found in the "Curtis Brown, Ltd." file and in Series 1 of this file) 102
20 Publishers' Correspondence: Herder and Herder, Inc. 18
21 Publishers' Correspondence: Farrar, Straus and Cudahy, Inc.; and Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Inc. 34
22 Publishers' Correspondence: New Directions 38
23 Publishers' Correspondence: Foreign Rights 2
24 Merton Publicity File: Correspondence with film makers, book clubs, radio stations, etc. 21
25 Curtis Brown, Ltd. [See "Curtis Brown" file in Section A, correspondence from 1963 continues with Series 19 in this file] 1
26 Correspondence between Gregory Zilboorg and James Fox from Gethsemani Archives 22
27 Correspondence with Bishop Matthew A. Niedhammer, OFM Cap., Apostolic Vicar of Bluefields, Nicaragua, regarding Merton's character 3
28 Correspondence with Bishop James Peter Davis of San Juan, Puerto Rico, regarding Merton's character 3
29 Special File of Dom James on Thomas Merton, 70 Numbered Entries (click here) 1
30 Correspondence with Dom Baldwin Dworschak, O.S.B., Abbot of Saint John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota 3

Container List

Series#DateFrom/ToFirst LinesPub ✓Notes
 y/m/dMerton Scan ✉ 
Series 6 #1.
«All Series«		 1954/02/04 TLS from Gillet, Ignace Les censeurs m'ont envoyé chacunun compte rendu favorable pour un article de Père Raymond, auquel "Black Revolution and Cold War" [unpublished book / many sections published as Seeds of Destruction] «detailed view»
Series 6 #2.
«All Series«		 1954/02/07 TLS[x] to Gillet, Ignace I received your charming note of February 4. I appreciate the Imprimi Potest for good Father "Black Revolution and Cold War" [unpublished book / many sections published as Seeds of Destruction] / regarding last article/essay "Letters in Time of Crisis" / [see "Censor's Reports" for Fox's carbon] «detailed view»
Series 6 #3.
«All Series«		 1954/02/18 TLS from Gillet, Ignace Votre lettre du 7 m'est parvenue le 11, mais c'est aujourd'hui seulement que je trouve le temps, "Original Child Bomb" [poem] «detailed view»
Series 6 #4.
«All Series«		 1964/02/25 TLS from Gillet, Ignace Les censeurs m'ont envoyé leur compte-rendu favorable sur NOTES ON ART AND WORSHIP. "Notes on Art and Worship" [essay] «detailed view»
Series 6 #5.
«All Series«		 1964/03/04 TL[x] to Gillet, Ignace I received your gracious letter of February 18 and also your note of February 25. In regard to the censors / Black Revolution and Cold War / Letters in a Time of Crisis / Notes on Art and Worship «detailed view»
Series 6 #6.
«All Series«		 1964/03/14 TL[x] from Gillet, Ignace Excusez-moi de n'accuser réception qu'aujourd'hui de votre lettre du 4 mars, reçue le 7, en même censors / sending copy of 1962/11/08 Imprimi Potest from Abbot General Gabriel Sortais for Merton's introduction to The Prison Meditations of Father Delp «detailed view»
Series 6 #7.
«All Series«		 1964/03/25 TL[x] to Gillet, Ignace I am writing you again, dear Reverendissime, in regard to the book of good Father Louis about which censors / Black Revolution, now called Seeds of Destruction / Merton's introduction to The Prison Meditations of Father Delp «detailed view»
Series 6 #8.
«All Series«		 1964/04/14 TL[x] from Gillet, Ignace Au sujet de votre lettre du 25 mars, je vous dis tout de suite que je ne vois aucune difficulté à censors / Seeds of Destruction / Merton's introduction to The Prison Meditations of Father Delp «detailed view»
Series 6 #9.
«All Series«		 1964/05/27 TALS[x] from Gillet, Ignace Le 15 de ce mois, M. Robert Giroux, Editor-in-Chief de Farrar, Straus & Co, m'écrivait au sujet censors / Black Revolution - Seeds of Destruction - nuclear war [attaches letter to Robert Giroux from Gillet being sent the same date - "Christian Ethics and World Crisis" in Blackfriars / allowing article to appear in Seeds of Destruction under certain guidelines] «detailed view»
Series 6 #10.
«All Series«		 1964/06/10 TL[x] to Gillet, Ignace I have received your letter of May 27. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your thanking for allowing the publication of "Christian Ethics in World Crisis" in Seeds of Destruction under certain guidelines «detailed view»
Series 6 #11.
«All Series«		 1964/06/16 TALS[x] to Gillet, Ignace Your gracious note with the enclosed Imprimi Potest for good Father Louis' Introduction to thanks for Imprimi Potest for Merton's introduction to Selections from Gandhi / sending Merton's revisions to "Christian Ethics in World Crisis" «detailed view»
Series 6 #12.
«All Series«		 1964/06/20 TL[x] to Gillet, Ignace We received your letter of June8 [sic], and we have already acknowledged your kind permission to thanks for Imprimi Potest for Merton's introduction to Selections from Gandhi «detailed view»
Series 6 #13.
«All Series«		 1964/06/23 TL[x] to Gillet, Ignace This letter contained also the Imprimi Potest for good Father Louis' works: 1) SEASONS OF Imprimi Potest for Seasons of Celebration and Russian Mystics / sending criticism of censors to Merton - "good for his humility" «detailed view»
Series 6 #14.
«All Series«		 1964/07/13 TLS[x]  from Simeon, Br., O.C.S.O. / to Ignace Gillet We are writing to find out whether the manuscript by Father Louis entitled CHRISTIANS IN A WORLD OF asking if Gillet has received the manuscript for Christians in a World of Crisis «detailed view»
Series 6 #15.
«All Series«		 1964/09/03 TLS[x] to Gillet, Ignace We hope that good Father Louis' letter to you was satisfactory. I showed him your letter to me. He describes Merton's reaction to the censorship of a book by Gillet - articles were approved individually but rejected as a book in its full form / Peace in the Post-Christian Era / Pope John XXIII's "Pacem in Terris" «detailed view»
Series 6 #16.
«All Series«		 1964/09/23 TLS[x] from Gillet, Ignace […] voie de notre vie cistercienne. Et maintenant, petite question à régler avec vous. Je vous concerning the Imprimi Potest sent for Merton's Seasons of Celebration and Russian Mystics - suggests Dom James remind Merton of how he approved Seasons, which was harshly reviewed by a censor «detailed view»
Series 6 #17.
«All Series«		 1964/09/26 (#01) TLS[x]  from Gillet, Ignace / to Merton J'ai bien reçu vos deux lettres du 11 septembre et tiens à vous en remercier sans tarder. Vous avez response to a letter to Gillet about changes to the monastic life in allowing Merton to live as a hermit «detailed view»
Series 6 #18.
«All Series«		 1964/09/29 (#01) TLS[x] to Gillet, Ignace You will soon, or at the same time, receive a letter from our good Father Louis Merton. He asked me "When writing about Father Louis' personal problem, I will use the letter 'X' to stand for Father Louis." / "RE: Question of Establishing a Small 'Laura' Here in the Woods of Gethsemani" / "Board of Advisors" for hermitage at Gethsemani or Snowmass - Jean Leclercq, Andre Louf, Dom Winandy / Zen «detailed view»
Series 6 #19.
«All Series«		 1964/09/29? (#02) TLS[x] from Merton About yesterday's talk: certainly I am very happy that we were able to consider together the ✓ [attached to 1964/09/29 letter from Fox to Gillet - see TL[c] copy in Series 1] possibility of founding hermitage and trip to Japan (of a "personal repugnance" to Fox) to visit Zen and Cistercian monasteries / assurance of Merton's loathing of modern cities - not a "jaunt in the world" / Jim Wygal and Merton's psychological fitness for trip «detailed view»
Series 6 #20.
«All Series«		 1964/10/13 TLS[x] from Gillet, Ignace P.S. - Je n'oublie pas que j'ai toujours à votre lettre au sujet du Père Luis MERTON. Si cette no time to answer complex questions about Merton in every letter «detailed view»
Series 6 #21.
«All Series«		 1964/10/27 (#02) TALS[x]  from Dijk, Willibrord van / to Merton At the request of the Fathers Norbert and George of Orval I send you herewith a report made up by questions Merton addresses about the history of Cistercian tradition and possibility of changes - allowances for living in hermitage / Fr. Philip in newly founded monastery in Kenya centered on ecumenism and movement / Roger Schutz of Taize against eremitical life / the Robinson-debate «detailed view»
Series 6 #22.
«All Series«		 1964/11/18 TLS[x] from Gillet, Ignace Il est grand temps maintenant que je réponde à votre lettre concernant le projet de voyage et de proposed trip to Japan by Merton and hermitage proposal / contradiction of Merton wanting to both seek more solitude and come into new contact with Eastern monks / Buddhism and Zen / other attempt by the order to dialogue with Orthodox monks «detailed view»
Series 6 #23.
«All Series«		 1964/11/27 TLS[x] from Gillet, Ignace En vous écrivant il y a quelque temps au sujet du projet de voyage au Japon du cher Père Louis proposed trip to Japan by Merton / Cardinal Antoniutti / Dom Willibrord of Tilburg / Abbot of Orval - Norbert and George of Orval / Rev. Father Schillebeeckx / Fr. Philip of Mt. St. Bernard and novices in Kenya «detailed view»
Series 6 #24.
«All Series«		 1964/12/03 TL[x] to Gillet, Ignace I received your gracious note of November 27. I am happy that the "Minutes" arrived. I suppose you Cardinal Antoniutti / enclosing copy of letter of Merton to Dom Willibrord of Tilburg / Fox written article on "Silence in Our Cistercian Life" / Merton's reply to Fr. Dumoulin - inviting Dumoulin and Japanese priests to Gethsemani / Merton a "victim of his emotions" «detailed view»
Series 6 #25.
«All Series«		 1964/12/24 TL[x] to Gillet, Ignace I am writing you here in regard to good Father Louis and his latest project of a trip to Japan-- proposed trip to Japan by Merton on suggestion of Fr. Dumoulin, S.J., who was in the "Secretariat for Non-Christian Unity" / informing Archbishop Paul Philippe of situation, who also dislikes the idea of Merton's trip «detailed view»
Series 6 #26.
«All Series«		 1965/01/02 TL[x] from Gillet, Ignace Cas du Père Louis Merton. Je vous remercie de m'avoir communiqué une photocopie de la lettre prevent Merton from pursuing studies of Zen in Japan or a hermitage at Gethsemani - "pseudo-vocations érémitiques" «detailed view»
Series 6 #27.
«All Series«		 1965/01/14 (#01) TL[x] to Gillet, Ignace Father L. has a very dear friend in Dr. John Wu. Dr. Wu was once a very ardent pagan, as pagans go, recounting John C. H. Wu's conversion and that his son is a Maryknoll priest / mentioning attached letter of Merton's proposed trip to Japan to learn about Zen Buddhism «detailed view»
Series 6 #28.
«All Series«		 1965/01/14 (#02) TL[x]  from Wu, John / to Merton I am thrilled to read yours of December 23. First of all let me tell you that I am so happy to have [dated 1964/12/27 by Wu - attached to Dom James' 1965/01/14 letter to Ignace Gillet] Chinese Zen literature - Zen masters - closer to Christ than many Christians / Merton and Jesus both "Fire-Eater[s]" / agrees with Merton's superiors on Japan trip - more Zen in hermitage / Merton's Zen calligraphy / Chuang Tzu «detailed view»
Series 6 #29.
«All Series«		 1965/01/22 TL[x] to Gillet, Ignace Good Father Louis asked me in regard to the official "Imprimi Potest" for a book of his, which Imprimi Potest for Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander (formerly "Barth's Dream") - censors have approved «detailed view»
Series 6 #30.
«All Series«		 1965/01/23 TL[x] from Gillet, Ignace J'ai été aussi intéressé de prendre connaissance de la lettre du Dr. John Wu au sujet des projets du Zen Buddhism «detailed view»
Series 6 #31.
«All Series«		 1965/07/09 TLS[x] from Gillet, Ignace Une lettre de l'un des définiteurs, dom André, m'a apprise hier soir que le Père Charles DUMONT, Fr. Charles Dumont of the Collectanea / Dumont's invitation for Merton to go to Europe «detailed view»
Series 6 #32.
«All Series«		 1965/07/16 TALS[x] from Gillet, Ignace La photocopie de votre première lettre concernant votre projet de fondation en Norvège m'est [attached letter to Charles Dumont from Chimay, Belgium, Editor of the Collectanea from 1965/07/09] proposed Italian radio interview of Merton / asks that Merton not do it or provide a text of what he plans to say for approval / Merton's plans to become a hermit / Cardinal Antoniutti «detailed view»
Series 6 #33.
«All Series«		 1965/07/22 TL[x] to Gillet, Ignace I owe you acknowledgments for not a few letters-- July 6-- July 9-- and now July 16. In your July Merton now a "quasi-hermit" - will take on more of an eremitic lifestyle, but still join the community for meals and Mass / Fox thinks radio broadcast of "the hermit of 1965" would be "a farce" / does not think Charles Dumont is realistic in proposing trans-Atlantic trip for Merton «detailed view»
Series 6 #34.
«All Series«		 1966/02/22 TLS[x] from Gillet, Ignace Sans doute n'ai-je encore que l'appréciation d'un seul censeur, mais il est bien à prévoir que son sending Imprimi Potest for Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander on the condition that Fox will ensure that the Spanish translations are acceptable, even in the differences that may be necessary between Spanish editions in Spain verses Argentina «detailed view»
Series 6 #35.
«All Series«		 1966/08/31 (#01) TL[x] to Gillet, Ignace It is just a year now since good Father Louis began his hermits life on the Feast of St. Bernard, Merton not full hermit - still comes to monastery daily and gives talks to novices / Flavian / Merton's hospital stay for back trouble / doubt of Merton ever being "absolute hermit" / community reaction to Merton and Flavian's eremitic life «detailed view»
Series 6 #36.
«All Series«		 1966/12/16 TL[x] to Gillet, Ignace In regard to good Madame Marie Tadie, she still bombards us with letters. She had a Jesuit father letters to Marie Tadié and her legal consultant Pierre Malinverni / Tadié's desire to put unreasonable limitations on Merton books and translations abroad / article for Hermes / enclosing copy of M. Jacques Masui from Switzerland «detailed view»
Series 6 #37.
«All Series«		 1967/01/04 (#01) TALS[x] from Gillet, Ignace Le 24 Décembre, je vous écrivais, au sujet de la demande de Monsieur Masui, que je ferais mon Jacques Masui asking permission of Dom John to publish an article by Merton in English / not impressed by Hermes' vague mission of promoting "la Vie Spirituelle" under the guise of ecumenism «detailed view»
Series 6 #38.
«All Series«		 1967/06/11 TL[x] to Gillet, Ignace One might ask, there is the question of one becoming a hermit, will this give an adverse reflection Dom James' defense of the eremitical life within the Cistercian Order and announcement of his desire to live such a life «detailed view»

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