The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Wasserman, Anita of Jesus, Sr., O.C.D., 1932-2015

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1953-2003, bulk 1953-1967

Volume: 39 item(s); 70 pg(s)

Scope and Content

Biography

Sr. Anita (Ann) Wasserman was a nun from the Carmelite Convent of Cleveland, Ohio. She had written to Merton before entering the Carmelites in 1952. She died in April of 2015 at 82. Her brother, Edmund, had entered Gethsemani Abbey and was a good friend of Merton's. His name in religion was Fr. John of the Cross, whom Merton referred to by the nicknames "Cap" or "Cappy". The Wasserman family met with Merton when coming to Gethsemani, "adopting" him into the family. (Source: Witness to Freedom, p. 177.)

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See also the "Patricia of Jesus", "Wasserman, Edmund" and "Vera Marie of Christ the High Priest" files; and see also published letters from Merton to Wasserman in Witness to Freedom, pp. 177-193. One letter is published under "Sister A." in The School of Charity, pp. 60-62.

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
 1952/05/03 TLS[x]from MertonMany thanks for your letter. I was glad you wrote. The element of attraction is not the mostYes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1952/11/21 (#01)TALS[x]from MertonIf Cleveland is as cold and gray today as Kentucky is, I will take that to be a good sign, becauseYes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2 / letter from Ed "Cappy" (Fr. John of the Cross) Wasserman to his sister Ann (Anita) written on the same letter- with a note on the photocopy by Anita Wasserman]
 1952/11/21 (#02)TALS[x]from Wasserman, EdwardIf Cleveland is as cold and gray today as Kentucky is, I will take that to be a good sign, becauseYes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2 / letter from Merton to Ann (Anita) written on the same letter- with a note on the photocopy by Anita Wasserman]
 1953/02/02 HLSto MertonThere's no time like the Purification to write you a Christmas letter but here it is. I hope you  [dated the Feast of the Purification (currently the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord), which was, before the liturgical reforms of 1969, the end of the Christmas season]
 1953/02/15 HLSto MertonReceived "The Sign of Jonas" from Fr. Louis, my director and author of the book. I like it very   
 1953/02/25 (#01)TLS[x]from MertonI swear your name is spelled with one "n." It is a Spanish name, and in Spanish Ann is AnaYes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1953/02/25 (#02)HNSby Wasserman, AnitaThat was it - my way of saying thanks but in view of the fact that neither he nor Cap had heardYes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1953/04/26 HLSto MertonSurprised? So am I. That's the way this Carmel is - chuck full with surprises, each one waiting   
 1953/05/10 HLSto MertonYesterday I sat for an hour and a half writing to you father and your see what I wrote.   
 1953/05/21 (#01)TAL[c]from MertonThe invitation was not steamed open and there was no evidence of ink-eradicator so I presume youYes  
 1953/05/21 (#02)TALS[x]from MertonThe invitation was not steamed open and there was no evidence of ink-eradicator so I presume youYes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1953/10/04 HLSto MertonIt's been a long time since your feast day but I want you to know I thought of and prayed for you   
 1953/11/06 TALS[x]from MertonSince I have been adopted by the family, your letters rate as family mail and the last one was heldYes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1954/02/14 HLSto MertonIt's been a long, long time. That's part of a song. I usually sing them to Jesus but this one's   
 1954/05/08 TLS[x]from MertonI was happy to hear that your profession is to be on Ascension day. You are giving yourselfYes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1955/01/22 HLSto MertonJesus be in your heart! May the new year have an abundance of peace and joy in store for you.   
 1955/02/08 HLS[x]from MertonBefore Lent comes, I want to write you at least a few words to let you know that I am still prayingYes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1955/06/10 TLS[x]from MertonI will try to give you a little news of the ordination although I believe you will be hearingYes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1957/04/30 transcriptfrom MertonI was very glad to hear about your profession coming up on May 27th. How time flies. It seems likeYes [transcript from published letters]
 1958/07/18 TALS[x]from MertonYesterday, on our heterodox feast of Our Lady of Carmel, I had the pleasure of offering MassYes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1959/04/09 TALS[x]from MertonThank you for your letter--and all the letters I have not answered, because I have been very remiss,Yes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1959/11/19 transcriptfrom MertonMany thanks for your good letter. Now is the time when I really need your prayers because at thisYes [transcript from published letters]
 1960/02/29 TLS[x]from MertonLast chance to answer your good letter--probably you haven't heard from Cap either.Yes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1962/01/01 TLS[x]from MertonI shared your emotions at the death of Sister Florence [who had entered Carmel with Ann].Yes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1962/02/02 TLS[x]from MertonFather Abbot has read your letter about Bro Xavier and the enclosure, and he feels that he cannot  [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1962/09/04 transcriptfrom MertonIt took a little time for the news of Ed's death to get to me as I am in the hospital for a check-upYes [transcript from published letters]
 1963/09/no HLS[x]from MertonThanks for your letter. It reached me in the hospital in Louisville, where I have a cervical disk,Yes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1964/09/23 TLS[x]from MertonThanks for your good letter. I am sure everything is right with Cappy. He does not write to meYes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1965/03/14? TALSto MertonThis is just a P.S. on Sr. Vera's letter. Our Mother is going to give a talk on "The Value  [see letter from Sr. Vera Marie of Christ the High Priest from 1965/03/14]
 1965/05/03 TALS[x]from MertonRapid fire answer as I must make sure you don't send quotations with the typing errors of ourYes [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2]
 1966/08/01 transcriptfrom MertonThanks for your letter of Trinity Sunday. I have been slow in answering letters this summer becauseYes [transcript from published letters]
 1967/08/no? HLSto MertonJesus be in your heart! Noticed your feast is coming up so I thought I might wish you a happy one.   
 1967/12/10 TAL[c]from MertonThanks for your letter: I am so sorry I didn't answer the one you mentioned.Yes  
 1968/04/23 TLS[x]from MertonTerrible of me to wait so long to thank you for these memo papers. Very useful indeed.  [transferred from Sub-Section H.7, Hart Working Files, Accession 2 - contains note on letter in pencil to Br. Patrick Hart regarding letter to Merton]
 2002/12/25 HLSto Center from Wasserman, AnitaPeace be with you! but don't keep it to yourself. It's very much needed in our world today.   
 2003/01/15 TLfrom Center to Wasserman, AnitaLast week Bob Toth mentioned to me that you would be interested in received copies of your   
 2003/08/05 TLfrom Center to Wasserman, AnitaMy name is Mark Meade, and I am   
 2003/no/no HCSto Center from Wasserman, AnitaYou have no idea what a fun surprise it was for me to come back from our hermitage and find the pkg.   
 undated/no/no TLSto MertonJesus be in your heart! Happy Eastertide! Our Mother is in the midst of preparing her talk which   
        

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