The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Silva, M. Irmã Emmanuel de Souza e, Sr., O.S.B., 1912-2002

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1955-1984, bulk 1955-1968

Volume: 126 item(s); 250 pg(s)

Scope and Content

Biography

Sr. Emmanuel de Souza e Silva was a Brazilian nun of the monastery of the Virgin Mary in Petropolis (whose order joined with the Benedictines during their correspondence) and long-time translator of Merton's works into Portuguese. Although born in Brazil, she had spent some of her academic studies in England and France. She was also a social worker in her home of Rio de Janeiro before religious life. (Source: The Hidden Ground of Love, p. 181.)

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Usage permission for letters to Merton from Columbia University must be obtained from the Columbia University Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Related Information and Links

See also Cold War Letters #22, published in The Hidden Ground of Love, pp.181-201.

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
 1955/02/28 TALS[x]from MertonA letter from a cloister, written on the feast of my beloved St Romuald, and asking for a serviceYes  
 1955/05/no HPCSto MertonRev. Mother Prioress and each one of us wish to thank you for the kind permission, and to say we  [verso: color photograph of a painting of a Madonna]
 1959/02/03 TLS[x]from MertonFirst of all thank you for your generous and careful work in translating the two books you have sentYes  
 1959/09/29 HLSto MertonThis is to let you know we have sent you by ordinary mail a copy of the translation of "Marthe,   
 1959/10/24 TLS[x]from MertonI have received your nice letter and the copies of <u>Martha Mary and Lazarus</u> and <u>What</u>Yes  
 1960/05/16 HLSto MertonPlease do forgive me this awful paper but it has been given me and "holy poverty" says I had better   
 1960/07/28 TLS[x]from MertonThis is terrible. How many months have passed since I received your last letter? And I still owedYes  
 1960/09/05 HLSto MertonYou can be sure I was much relieved and overjoyed when your letter of July 28th arrived.   
 1960/09/08 (#01)HLSto MertonForgive me for bothering you again. I had meant to say you were not to worry about answering my   
 1960/09/08 (#02)HNSto MertonI forgot to say Alceu A.L. Told me he had been invited by the Editor of a Catholic magazine   
 1960/09/16 TLS[x]from MertonI would really like to help Marina de Berg. She has had a hard time, and her book is basically   
 1960/10/25 HLSto MertonWhen this reaches you, you will, I hope, have received the air-mail letter which I am trying to find   
 1960/11/19 HLSto MertonAs you see "Spiritual Direction and Meditation has arrived (on Oct. 12th) and I do like it   
 1960/12/02 TLS[x]from MertonThis is certainly <u>your</u> season-- Advent. Emmanuel da Virgem. I shall remember you especiallyYes  
 1961/01/19 HLSto MertonSince Christmas I have been wanting so much to write to you to thank you for your letter of Dec 2nd   
 1961/03/09 (#01)HLS[x]from MertonThe Abbot General has sent us <u>here</u> the imprimi potest for your translation ofYes  
 1961/03/09 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonThe Abbot General has sent us here the imprimi potest for your translation of <u>Thoughts</u>Yes [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters]
 1961/06/23 (#01)HLSto MertonI wrote to you sometime in April (I believe the 30th) thanking you for your March (2nd) letter,   
 1961/06/23 (#02)HNto MertonRev. Mother designed it and I spoilt it, trying to write Isaias 62, 11. -You see, Father, I'm  [enclosure of a note and a card with a drawing of Jesus]
 1961/08/09 TALS[x]from MertonThe chief reason for this letter is to inquire whether you received the books? I think very oftenYes [see note of 1961/08/21, which was attached to this letter]
 1961/08/20 HLSto MertonYes the book did arrive. First, "Disp. Quests." by ari-mail on July 10th. Then on Aug. 9th,   
 1961/08/21 (#01)TN[x]from MertonOn July 3, 1961 we dispatched two pieces of Registered Mail, both with return receipts requested.  [attached with note on verso to 1961/08/09 letter]
 1961/08/21 (#02)HNSfrom Alexander, Br., O.C.S.O.We are writing this at the suggestion of Father Louis, who is concerned about these pieces, there is  [verso of 1961/08/09 note - attached to 1961/08/21 letter]
 1961/11/08 HLSto MertonI hope you received my letter dated Oct. 18th thanking you for the poems in Spanish. This is just   
 1962/01/16 (#01)TLS[x]from MertonIt is almost impossible for me to make sense out of my correspondence at the moment. ChristmasYes [Cold War Letters #22]
 1962/01/16 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonThe poems of Dom Basilio are quite charming. The Advent one was particularly good.Yes [Cold War Letters #22 - transcript from bound set]
 1962/02/10 HLS[x]to MertonMany thanks for your magnificent letter dated Jan. 16th. I agree, of course, with <u>all</u>   
 1962/03/15 HLSto MertonYou certainly keep me busy! Even during Lent... But I'm afraid you must say I try your patience   
 1962/03/29 (#01)HLS[x]from MertonThis morning all the books you asked for in your recent letter were sent out. I have not however  [note attached to 1962/03/29 letter]
 1962/03/29 (#02)transcriptfrom Alexander, Br., O.C.S.O.?Alas, the man at the [indecipherable word..] where I had the letters Xeroxed over looked the other  [William Shannon's transcript for published letters of note attached to 1962/03/29 letter]
 1962/05/04 HLS[x]to MertonMany thanks for your very kind letter of March 16th which, as usual, I enjoyed very much.   
 1962/06/18 TLS[x]from MertonI am glad some of the books finally reached you. I also sent copies of Blackfriars magazineYes  
 1962/11/02 TLS[x]from MertonFirst, don't worry about censorship, or my reaction. I have no doubts about the unfeasonablenessYes  
 1962/11/05 (#01)HLS[x]from MertonBy all means tell "Vozes" to send the contract. But I am not sure if New Directions is not the one   
 1962/11/05 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonBy all means tell "Vozes" to send the contract. But I am not sure if New Directions is not the one  [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters]
 1963/05/22 (#01)HNS[x]from MertonAs to your letter about the photos. <u>No</u> - it would be better if this picture were not used.Yes  
 1963/05/22 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonAs to your letter about the photos, No - it would be better if this pivture [sic] were notYes [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters]
 1963/07/25 HLSto MertonI received the beautiful card ("Fliput to Egypt" reproduction of an illumination) you sent me on May   
 1963/08/22 (#01)HLS[x]from MertonIt would be a pleasure for us if <u>you</u> would be the translator of <u>Life and Holiness</u>Yes  
 1963/08/22 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonIt would be a pleasure for us if you would be the translator of <u>Life and Holiness</u> which isYes [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters]
 1963/12/13 HLSto MertonMany thanks for your great kindness. Yr. xmas card? Preface to Japanese editions arrived yesterday   
 1964/01/17 (#01)TL[c]from MertonThanks for your letter of December 13th and for the clippings. I hope my surface mail packet hasYes  
 1964/01/17 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonThanks for your letter of December 13th and for the clippings. I hope my surface mail packet hasYes  
 1964/03/20 (#01)HLS[x]from MertonThanks for your good letter. I also heard from Eileen. She has learned much!! You have been   
 1964/03/20 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonThanks for your good letter. I also heard from Eileen. She has learned much!! You have been  [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters]
 1964/04/30 (#01)HLSto MertonI am writing at full speed and do hope this will be readable... Since your letter of March 2nd   
 1964/04/30 (#02)HCSto MertonThis is one of the cards we designed (Rev. Mother) and printed for Christmas. Many people were  [verso: red and white woodcut print with Madonna and Child Jesus and the words "Mãe de Deus [-] Mãe da Rússia"]
 1964/05/31 (#01)TL[c]from MertonAs usual I have several letters that I have not answered. This batch goes back to the days when youYes  
 1964/05/31 (#02)TALS[x]from MertonAs usual I have several letters that I have not answered. This batch goes back to the days when youYes [contains annotations by Merton and handwritten notes by Silva about the context of the letter]
 1964/06/10 TLS[x]from MertonSince I last wrote you, Kabir has arrived. It is a totally precious book beautiful in every way,Yes  
 1964/06/25 (#01)HLSto MertonThis is just to let you know I have received - with much joy! - The 3 copies of "Monk - Diaspora",   
 1964/06/25 (#02)other Poema de Celcilia Meireless [-] ELEGIA SOBRE A MORTE DE GANDHI [-] qui se detém as sercias  [news clipping with a poem and picture of Cecilia Meireles see next record for annotation on the same clipping]
 1964/06/25 (#03)HNS -She is my favorite of this generation. I prefer her to Drummonde de Andrade or Michael   
 1964/07/22 HLSto MertonAt last I can sit down and start a letter to you, but I don't know how long it will be before   
 1964/07/28 (#01)TL[c]from MertonYour long letter arrived yesterday and I will try to do something about it before all of it hasYes  
 1964/07/28 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonYour long letter arrived yesterday and I will try to do something about it before all of it hasYes [contains annotation about the letter by Silva]
 1964/08/03 (#01)HLSto MertonPlease forgive me. I am really <u>so</u> sorry to have to pester you with my horrible letters   
 1964/08/03 (#02)HLSto MertonHere are AAL's articles on your "L. or H." (He "stole", after humbly asking permission, then   
 1964/08/23 (#01)TL[c]from MertonThanks for your latest letter, in all its ramifications. And for the clippings of Alceu A.L.Yes  
 1964/08/23 (#02)TALS[x]from MertonThanks for your latest letter, in all its ramifications. And for the clippings of Alceu A.L.Yes  
 1964/09/10 (#01)TL[c]from MertonThis will have to be short. Poison ivy has taken the skin off my hands and if I type longYes  
 1964/09/10 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonThis will have to be short. Poison ivy has taken the skin off my hands and if I type longYes  
 1964/12/02 (#01)TL[c]from MertonYou get a brand new ribbon. It brings you my best wishes for Advent and Christmas. Thanks for yourYes  
 1964/12/02 (#02)TALS[x]from MertonYou get a brand new ribbon. It brings you my best wishes for Advent and Christmas. Thanks for yourYes  
 1964/12/06 (#01)HLS[x]from MertonHere is a copy of the preface, and more will come by surface mail. Thanks for your letter.   
 1964/12/06 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonHere is a copy of the preface and more will come by surface mail. Thanks for your letter.  [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters]
 1964/12/10 HCSto MertonThanks for your letter of Dec. 2nd written with the brand new ribbon. I had been wondering how you  [verso: color print of a drawing of a star and the biblical quote from Isaiah 9:1 - "O povo que andava nas trevas viu uma grande Luz"]
 1965/02/17 TNS[x]from MertonA letter came from Vozes about Seeds of Destruction. I wanted to check and see if it was all rightYes  
 1965/06/17 HLSto MertonI received your letter, or rather, card, of February 17th and at once let VOZES know they should   
 1965/07/11 (#01)TL[c]from MertonI will not multiply lamentations about the mail situation. It gets worse and worse, since I getYes  
 1965/07/11 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonI will not multiply lamentations about the mail situation. It gets worse and worse, since I getYes  
 1965/09/17 HLSto MertonMany, many thanks for your v. good letter of July 11th also for the photos. All our friends   
 1965/12/14 TLS[x]from MertonI am really sorry to be such a bad correspondent, but in the hermitage it is worse than ever now.Yes  
 1966/04/17 (#01)HLS[x]from MertonThanks for your birthday - Holy-Thursday letter. And forgive my handwriting. I have recently gotYes  
 1966/04/17 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonThanks for your birthday -Holy thursday letter. And forgive my handwriting. I have recently gotYes [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters]
 1966/06/13 TLS[x]from MertonHere is the article for the Jornal do Brasil. It was finished a couple of weeks ago but the typingYes  
 1966/08/29 HLSto MertonI have been wanting to write to you for some time. But there were so many things I wanted to say.   
 1966/10/06 (#01)TL[c]from MertonFirst, many things have arrived: <u>Seeds of Destruction</u> and <u>New Man</u>.Yes  
 1966/10/06 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonFirst, many things have arrived: <u>Seeds of Destruction</u> and <u>New Man</u>.Yes  
 1966/11/14 (#01)HLS[x]from MertonIn a day or two I will be sending you a copy of the new book <u>Conjectures of a Guilty</u>   
 1966/11/14 (#02)transcriptfrom MertonIn a day or two I will be sending you a copy of the new book <u>Conjectures of a Guilty</u>  [William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters]
 1967/04/28 HLSto MertonIt is a such a <u>long</u> time since I have heard from you! Yr. last letter is dated Nov. 14th.   
 1967/05/04 (#01)TL[c]from MertonYour letter came yesterday and I was delighted to hear you are now Benedictines. Welcome into ourYes  
 1967/05/04 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonYour letter came yesterday and I was delighted to hear you are now Benedictines. Welcome into ourYes  
 1967/05/11 HLSto MertonIt <u>was good</u> to have yr. news! Many thanks for your letter of May 4th (Ascension Day.   
 1967/05/30 (#01)TL[c]from MertonI have written to Doubleday to try to make sure that whoever does the publishing in Brazil, you willYes  
 1967/05/30 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonI have written to Doubleday to try to make sure that whoever does the publishing in Brazil, you willYes  
 1967/06/08 HLSto MertonIt was really very kind of you to write (on May 30) and I am very ashamed of myself for putting you   
 1967/06/18 (#01)HLSto MertonI have already thanked you for your v. kind letter of May 30th and have sent back (this, by surface   
 1967/06/18 (#02)other <u>COMBINACÃO</u> [-] QUE ENTRE SI FAZEM, DE UM LADO EDITÔRA VOZES LTDA., RUA   
 1967/07/31 (#01)TL[c]from MertonFirst of all, in case I did not tell you before, I have the assurance of Doubleday that LawrenceYes  
 1967/07/31 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonFirst of all, in case I did not tell you before, I have the assurance of Doubleday that LawrenceYes  
 1967/08/10 TALS[x]from MertonYou will know better than us here what to do about this offer from Portugal. I don't remember   
 1967/09/22 HLSto MertonI have just received <u>the addresses of the important</u> "personnages" in this country who can   
 1967/09/25 HLSto MertonI hope the Unesco letter from Paris mentioning one of our experts on African love and his wife,   
 1967/10/30 (#01)TL[c]from MertonHere are some photos of the ikons. I think you can get some idea of how beautiful they are,Yes  
 1967/10/30 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonHere are some photos of the ikons. I think you can get some idea of how beautiful they are,Yes  
 1968/02/21 HLSto MertonI wrote this to you a few days ago but forgot to say a few things. I hope you will forgive me for   
 1968/02/27 (#01)TL[c]from MertonJust a quick word before Lent. I hope to shut up a little more tomorrow for six weeks or so.   
 1968/02/27 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonJust a quick word before Lent. I hope to shut up a little more tomorrow for six weeks or so.   
 1968/03/04 TLS[x]from MertonI found a copy of the poem, so I am sending it along. Carmen de Mello is finally publishingYes  
 1968/03/12 (#01)HLSto MertonI was hesitating about writing to you and intruding in yr. attempt to silence during Lent. But...   
 1968/03/12 (#02)HCSto MertonUnited in thanksgiving and prayer, bless yr. brazilian translator  [card commemorating Silva's Jubilee]
 1968/03/18 (#01)TL[c]from MertonJust a quick note to send you my congratulations and prayers and best wishes for the 25th.Yes  
 1968/03/18 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonJust a quick note to send you my congratulations and prayers and best wishes for the 25th.Yes [a photograph of Merton's hermitage is photocopied onto the letter]
 1981/01/11 HPCSto Shannon, WilliamThis is a little picture of Sister M. Emmanuel's Dark with God's wonderful light always shining so  [verso: color photograph of a sunset on a beach at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]
 1982/02/18 HLSto Shannon, WilliamI am glad to tell you that your wonderful book is being a success. Several different people have   
 1982/03/05 TLS[x]from Shannon, WilliamI was delighted to hear from you. I have received your post card and letter. I am happy that you   
 1982/03/12 HLS[x]to Shannon, WilliamThanks for your very kind letter of March 5th. I was very glad to get it indeed-- as my answer felt   
 1982/04/12 HLS[x]to Everett, KarenGreetings from Brazil! If you care to contact the Thomas Merton Legacy Trust, Mrs Anne McCormick   
 1982/04/16 TLS[x] from Shannon, William / to Karen EverettThis morning I wrote to Nancy Miller asking her to contact you to see if you had been in touch with   
 1982/08/22 TL[c]from Shannon, WilliamYou must thing by now that I have disappeared from the scene, since it has been so long since   
 1982/09/11 HLSto Shannon, WilliamI am afraid this has to be a hurried scribble and am very sorry cannot at present   
 1982/09/27 TLS[x]from Shannon, WilliamI very much regret that I cannot be in Brazil for the meeting you so kindly arranged for me with   
 1982/10/07 HLSto Shannon, WilliamMany thanks for your fine letter of Sept. 27 of course we feel sure you will manage to come   
 1982/10/12 HLSto Shannon, WilliamThis is just to let you know a few things about the Merton letters in my possession: 1. I received   
 1984/02/23 TALS[x]from Shannon, WilliamI am sure you must be wondering what has happened to me and why you have not heard from me.   
 1984/03/16 HLSto Shannon, WilliamI received yr. letter of Feb. 23. I already knew through Bro Pat how very busy you are working hard   
 1984/04/20 TLS[x]from Shannon, WilliamI am most grateful to you for your long letter and for the time it must have required to write it.  [dated "Good Friday, 1984"]
 undated/01/21 HLSto MertonI wrote to you in 1957 about author rights for "<u>Bread in the Wilderness</u>" which I had been   
 undated/02/26 HLSto MertonI have been wanting, ever so much, to thank you for your interesting, kind and very appreciated   
 undated/04/01 HLSto MertonMany thanks for your very kind and most precious prayers of Mass, especially at East and for   
 undated/04/21 HLSto MertonI've got a <u>horrible</u> flu', something like the Asiatica   
 undated/09/18 HLSto MertonI do hope you are not horrified at my bombing you with letters. I sent you two very disgraceful   
 undated/no/no HPCSto MertonInside, the church and Sacristy are v. beautiful, simple and recollected and majestic.  [verso: color photograph of the Monastery of St. Benedict in Olinda (Recife), Brazil]
 undated/no/no other SISTER M. EMMANUEL [-] Sister M. Emmanuel de Souza e Silva was born in Rio de Janeiro.  [William Shannon's biography of Silva for <i>The Hidden Ground of Love</i>]
        

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