The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Arca de Sardiña, Evora

Click here to exit print-formated view.

Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1961-1966

Volume: 31 item(s); 56 pg(s)

Scope and Content

In this group of letters, Merton provides spiritual direction to a Cuban expatriate who fled after Fidel Castro came to power. Subjects of the letters include the Cuban Revolution, the Bay of Pigs Invasion, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Merton "Warn[s] her against those who would turn to violence but also against those who would embrace a comfortable and wealthy Catholicism" (Shannon, p. 77). (Source: Witness to Freedom.) Many letters from Merton are photocopies from the published letters. However, a few carbons of his letters and original handwritten letters from Evora Arca de Sardiña are present.

Biography

Evora Arca de Sardiña was born in Cuba, attended high school in New York, and returned to Cuba in 1950. In Cuba, she was involved in social work the poor. When Castro came to power in 1959, she fled to the United States with her husband and her five sons and settled in Miami. Her husband, Eugenio, was part of the CIA-trained anti-Castro assault force captured at the Bay of Pigs. (Source: Witness to Freedom.)

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See also Cold War Letters #27, #93, #109 and other letters from Merton to Arca de Sardiña published in Witness to Freedom, 76-85; and see also the "Rodríguez, Marta Elena" file.

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
 1961/04/10 TLS[x]from Kelty, MatthewFather Louis would have me assure you of his prayers for your husband and for all who are fighting  [from Fr. Matthew Kelty of Gethsemani]
 1961/05/06 transcriptto MertonI am writing to tell you that my husband and the fiancé of my friend Marta Elena Rodriguez, whom you  translation of letter in file
 1961/05/06 HLSto MertonTe escribo para informarle que mi esposo y el novio de […] amiga Marta Elena Rodriquez a quien   
 1961/05/15 TLS[x]from MertonI write to you both as to friends, with deep compassion and concern in this moment of anguish.Yes  
 1961/07/26 (#01)HLSto MertonCuando escribe de cosas espirituales […] escribirle en español […] es más fácil para mi.   
 1961/07/26 (#02)transcriptto MertonWhen I write about spiritual things I would prefer to write you in Spanish as it is easier for me.  translation of letter in file
 1961/09/09 TLS[x]from MertonI do not have time to give you a really full answer to your good letter, though I have waited inYes  
 1961/11/27 TLS[x]from MertonHave courage and faith. The advent liturgy will soon be reminding us that the Lord is very close to  The main purpose of letter is to pass on name of Mario Casanas a potential entrant for Gethsemani
 1961/12/no? HCSfrom MertonAll blessings and joy at Christmas. May God give you strength, patience, light and loveYes  
 1962/01/27 HLSto MertonYesterday while I was in church, after Holy Communion I tried to talk to Our Lord. Of course I did   
 1962/01/31 TALS[x]from MertonThis time I want to try to answer you immediately. I think you are quite right, and that the ideasYes  
 1962/02/27 TLS[x]from MertonIf I answer you now it has to be a very quick answer. You cannot help suffering the way you do, andYes  
 1962/05/24 TLS[x]from MertonI deeply feel with you all the emotions that have shaken you, on meeting the prisoners returningYes  
 1962/08/02 TLS[x]from MertonI deeply feel with you all the emotions that have shaken you, on meeting the prisoners returningYes [Cold War Letters #93]
 1962/08/17 TLS[x]from MertonI am sorry I have been busy and have not been able to write. This is just a note to say that IYes  
 1962/09/19 TLS[x]from MertonAs this tense situation gets worse and worse, we must all realize that no strain or effort of oursYes  
 1962/10/29 (#01)TL[c]from MertonThis is a troubled time, in which you are going to have to collect your forces and muster up evenYes [Cold War Letters #109]
 1962/10/29 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonThis is a troubled time, in which you are going to have to collect your forces and muster up evenYes [Cold War Letters #109]
 1963/01/01 TLS[x]from MertonWell, this is the first letter dated 1963 that I have written, and by a miracle I put the right dateYes  
 1963/02/22 TLS[x]from MertonThanks for your two letters. The last one was particularly good, and I want to tell you at leastYes  
 1963/04/17 (#01)TL[c]from MertonIt was good to hear from you, both before and after Easter, with the copy of the letter from yourYes  
 1963/04/17 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonIt was good to hear from you, both before and after Easter, with the copy of the letter from yourYes  
 1963/07/25 TLS[x]from MertonI have not forgotten your letter of June 6th, but summer is a very busy season. I have had a greatYes  
 1964/02/16 (#01)TLS[x]from MertonThanks for your letter, I had been thinking about you and wondering about you for a long time.   
 1964/02/16 (#02)HLS[x]to Hart, PatrickHere are the letters from Merton that I promised to mail you. Father Shannon called me a few days  [letter to Patrick Hart from Evora Arca de Sardiña regarding her correspondence and detailing which letters to restrict or publish]
 1964/09/05 (#01)TL[c]from MertonI am sorry your letter has gone so long without an answer, especially when you feel so lost andYes  
 1964/09/05 (#02)TLS[x]from MertonI am sorry your letter has gone so long without an answer, especially when you feel so lost andYes  
 1966/12/no? HCS[x]from MertonPeace and joy in the New Year. God bless you -- fear not. Blessings.Yes sent Christmas of 1966
 1992/09/no other from Sardinia Corp. / to William ShannonEVORA ARCA SARDINIA  biographical information
 undated/no/no other    addresses for Arca de Sardiña
 undated/no/no TLS[x]from MertonI write to you both as to friends, with deep compassion and concern in this moment of anguish. Your  letters to Evora Arca de Sardina - transcripts filed by date
        

    The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University | 2001 Newburg Rd, Louisville KY, 40205 | 502-272-8187

    Copyright © The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University. All rights reserved.