Silva, M. Irmã Emmanuel de Souza e, Sr., O.S.B., 1912-2002

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.)

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Series List

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#	Date	From/To	First Lines	Pub ✓	Notes
	y/m/d	Merton		Scan ✉
1.	1955/02/28	TALS[x] from Merton	A letter from a cloister, written on the feast of my beloved St Romuald, and asking for a service	✓	«detailed view»
2.	1955/05/no	HPCS to Merton	Rev. 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] «detailed view»
3.	1959/02/03	TLS[x] from Merton	First of all thank you for your generous and careful work in translating the two books you have sent	✓	«detailed view»
4.	1959/09/29	HLS to Merton	This is to let you know we have sent you by ordinary mail a copy of the translation of "Marthe,		«detailed view»
5.	1959/10/24	TLS[x] from Merton	I have received your nice letter and the copies of Martha Mary and Lazarus and What	✓	«detailed view»
6.	1960/05/16	HLS to Merton	Please do forgive me this awful paper but it has been given me and "holy poverty" says I had better		«detailed view»
7.	1960/07/28	TLS[x] from Merton	This is terrible. How many months have passed since I received your last letter? And I still owed	✓	«detailed view»
8.	1960/09/05	HLS to Merton	You can be sure I was much relieved and overjoyed when your letter of July 28th arrived.		«detailed view»
9.	1960/09/08 (#01)	HLS to Merton	Forgive me for bothering you again. I had meant to say you were not to worry about answering my		«detailed view»
10.	1960/09/08 (#02)	HNS to Merton	I forgot to say Alceu A.L. Told me he had been invited by the Editor of a Catholic magazine		«detailed view»
11.	1960/09/16	TLS[x] from Merton	I would really like to help Marina de Berg. She has had a hard time, and her book is basically		«detailed view»
12.	1960/10/25	HLS to Merton	When this reaches you, you will, I hope, have received the air-mail letter which I am trying to find		«detailed view»
13.	1960/11/19	HLS to Merton	As you see "Spiritual Direction and Meditation has arrived (on Oct. 12th) and I do like it		«detailed view»
14.	1960/12/02	TLS[x] from Merton	This is certainly your season-- Advent. Emmanuel da Virgem. I shall remember you especially	✓	«detailed view»
15.	1961/01/19	HLS to Merton	Since Christmas I have been wanting so much to write to you to thank you for your letter of Dec 2nd		«detailed view»
16.	1961/03/09 (#01)	HLS[x] from Merton	The Abbot General has sent us here the imprimi potest for your translation of	✓	«detailed view»
17.	1961/03/09 (#02)	transcript from Merton	The Abbot General has sent us here the imprimi potest for your translation of Thoughts	✓	[William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters] «detailed view»
18.	1961/06/23 (#01)	HLS to Merton	I wrote to you sometime in April (I believe the 30th) thanking you for your March (2nd) letter,		«detailed view»
19.	1961/06/23 (#02)	HN to Merton	Rev. 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] «detailed view»
20.	1961/08/09	TALS[x] from Merton	The chief reason for this letter is to inquire whether you received the books? I think very often	✓	[see note of 1961/08/21, which was attached to this letter] «detailed view»
21.	1961/08/20	HLS to Merton	Yes the book did arrive. First, "Disp. Quests." by ari-mail on July 10th. Then on Aug. 9th,		«detailed view»
22.	1961/08/21 (#01)	TN[x] from Merton	On 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] «detailed view»
23.	1961/08/21 (#02)	HNS from 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] «detailed view»
24.	1961/11/08	HLS to Merton	I hope you received my letter dated Oct. 18th thanking you for the poems in Spanish. This is just		«detailed view»
25.	1962/01/16 (#01)	TLS[x] from Merton	It is almost impossible for me to make sense out of my correspondence at the moment. Christmas	✓	[Cold War Letters #22] «detailed view»
26.	1962/01/16 (#02)	transcript from Merton	The poems of Dom Basilio are quite charming. The Advent one was particularly good.	✓	[Cold War Letters #22 - transcript from bound set] «detailed view»
27.	1962/02/10	HLS[x] to Merton	Many thanks for your magnificent letter dated Jan. 16th. I agree, of course, with all		«detailed view»
28.	1962/03/15	HLS to Merton	You certainly keep me busy! Even during Lent... But I'm afraid you must say I try your patience		«detailed view»
29.	1962/03/29 (#01)	HLS[x] from Merton	This 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] «detailed view»
30.	1962/03/29 (#02)	transcript from 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] «detailed view»
31.	1962/05/04	HLS[x] to Merton	Many thanks for your very kind letter of March 16th which, as usual, I enjoyed very much.		«detailed view»
32.	1962/06/18	TLS[x] from Merton	I am glad some of the books finally reached you. I also sent copies of Blackfriars magazine	✓	«detailed view»
33.	1962/11/02	TLS[x] from Merton	First, don't worry about censorship, or my reaction. I have no doubts about the unfeasonableness	✓	«detailed view»
34.	1962/11/05 (#01)	HLS[x] from Merton	By all means tell "Vozes" to send the contract. But I am not sure if New Directions is not the one		«detailed view»
35.	1962/11/05 (#02)	transcript from Merton	By 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] «detailed view»
36.	1963/05/22 (#01)	HNS[x] from Merton	As to your letter about the photos. No - it would be better if this picture were not used.	✓	«detailed view»
37.	1963/05/22 (#02)	transcript from Merton	As to your letter about the photos, No - it would be better if this pivture [sic] were not	✓	[William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters] «detailed view»
38.	1963/07/25	HLS to Merton	I received the beautiful card ("Fliput to Egypt" reproduction of an illumination) you sent me on May		«detailed view»
39.	1963/08/22 (#01)	HLS[x] from Merton	It would be a pleasure for us if you would be the translator of Life and Holiness	✓	«detailed view»
40.	1963/08/22 (#02)	transcript from Merton	It would be a pleasure for us if you would be the translator of Life and Holiness which is	✓	[William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters] «detailed view»
41.	1963/12/13	HLS to Merton	Many thanks for your great kindness. Yr. xmas card? Preface to Japanese editions arrived yesterday		«detailed view»
42.	1964/01/17 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	Thanks for your letter of December 13th and for the clippings. I hope my surface mail packet has	✓	«detailed view»
43.	1964/01/17 (#02)	TLS[x] from Merton	Thanks for your letter of December 13th and for the clippings. I hope my surface mail packet has	✓	«detailed view»
44.	1964/03/20 (#01)	HLS[x] from Merton	Thanks for your good letter. I also heard from Eileen. She has learned much!! You have been		«detailed view»
45.	1964/03/20 (#02)	transcript from Merton	Thanks for your good letter. I also heard from Eileen. She has learned much!! You have been		[William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters] «detailed view»
46.	1964/04/30 (#01)	HLS to Merton	I am writing at full speed and do hope this will be readable... Since your letter of March 2nd		«detailed view»
47.	1964/04/30 (#02)	HCS to Merton	This 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"] «detailed view»
48.	1964/05/31 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	As usual I have several letters that I have not answered. This batch goes back to the days when you	✓	«detailed view»
49.	1964/05/31 (#02)	TALS[x] from Merton	As usual I have several letters that I have not answered. This batch goes back to the days when you	✓	[contains annotations by Merton and handwritten notes by Silva about the context of the letter] «detailed view»
50.	1964/06/10	TLS[x] from Merton	Since I last wrote you, Kabir has arrived. It is a totally precious book beautiful in every way,	✓	«detailed view»
51.	1964/06/25 (#01)	HLS to Merton	This is just to let you know I have received - with much joy! - The 3 copies of "Monk - Diaspora",		«detailed view»
52.	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] «detailed view»
53.	1964/06/25 (#03)	HNS	-She is my favorite of this generation. I prefer her to Drummonde de Andrade or Michael		«detailed view»
54.	1964/07/22	HLS to Merton	At last I can sit down and start a letter to you, but I don't know how long it will be before		«detailed view»
55.	1964/07/28 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	Your long letter arrived yesterday and I will try to do something about it before all of it has	✓	«detailed view»
56.	1964/07/28 (#02)	TLS[x] from Merton	Your long letter arrived yesterday and I will try to do something about it before all of it has	✓	[contains annotation about the letter by Silva] «detailed view»
57.	1964/08/03 (#01)	HLS to Merton	Please forgive me. I am really so sorry to have to pester you with my horrible letters		«detailed view»
58.	1964/08/03 (#02)	HLS to Merton	Here are AAL's articles on your "L. or H." (He "stole", after humbly asking permission, then		«detailed view»
59.	1964/08/23 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	Thanks for your latest letter, in all its ramifications. And for the clippings of Alceu A.L.	✓	«detailed view»
60.	1964/08/23 (#02)	TALS[x] from Merton	Thanks for your latest letter, in all its ramifications. And for the clippings of Alceu A.L.	✓	«detailed view»
61.	1964/09/10 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	This will have to be short. Poison ivy has taken the skin off my hands and if I type long	✓	«detailed view»
62.	1964/09/10 (#02)	TLS[x] from Merton	This will have to be short. Poison ivy has taken the skin off my hands and if I type long	✓	«detailed view»
63.	1964/12/02 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	You get a brand new ribbon. It brings you my best wishes for Advent and Christmas. Thanks for your	✓	«detailed view»
64.	1964/12/02 (#02)	TALS[x] from Merton	You get a brand new ribbon. It brings you my best wishes for Advent and Christmas. Thanks for your	✓	«detailed view»
65.	1964/12/06 (#01)	HLS[x] from Merton	Here is a copy of the preface, and more will come by surface mail. Thanks for your letter.		«detailed view»
66.	1964/12/06 (#02)	transcript from Merton	Here 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] «detailed view»
67.	1964/12/10	HCS to Merton	Thanks 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"] «detailed view»
68.	1965/02/17	TNS[x] from Merton	A letter came from Vozes about Seeds of Destruction. I wanted to check and see if it was all right	✓	«detailed view»
69.	1965/06/17	HLS to Merton	I received your letter, or rather, card, of February 17th and at once let VOZES know they should		«detailed view»
70.	1965/07/11 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	I will not multiply lamentations about the mail situation. It gets worse and worse, since I get	✓	«detailed view»
71.	1965/07/11 (#02)	TLS[x] from Merton	I will not multiply lamentations about the mail situation. It gets worse and worse, since I get	✓	«detailed view»
72.	1965/09/17	HLS to Merton	Many, many thanks for your v. good letter of July 11th also for the photos. All our friends		«detailed view»
73.	1965/12/14	TLS[x] from Merton	I am really sorry to be such a bad correspondent, but in the hermitage it is worse than ever now.	✓	«detailed view»
74.	1966/04/17 (#01)	HLS[x] from Merton	Thanks for your birthday - Holy-Thursday letter. And forgive my handwriting. I have recently got	✓	«detailed view»
75.	1966/04/17 (#02)	transcript from Merton	Thanks for your birthday -Holy thursday letter. And forgive my handwriting. I have recently got	✓	[William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters] «detailed view»
76.	1966/06/13	TLS[x] from Merton	Here is the article for the Jornal do Brasil. It was finished a couple of weeks ago but the typing	✓	«detailed view»
77.	1966/08/29	HLS to Merton	I have been wanting to write to you for some time. But there were so many things I wanted to say.		«detailed view»
78.	1966/10/06 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	First, many things have arrived: Seeds of Destruction and New Man.	✓	«detailed view»
79.	1966/10/06 (#02)	TLS[x] from Merton	First, many things have arrived: Seeds of Destruction and New Man.	✓	«detailed view»
80.	1966/11/14 (#01)	HLS[x] from Merton	In a day or two I will be sending you a copy of the new book Conjectures of a Guilty		«detailed view»
81.	1966/11/14 (#02)	transcript from Merton	In a day or two I will be sending you a copy of the new book Conjectures of a Guilty		[William Shannon's transcript - typescript for published letters] «detailed view»
82.	1967/04/28	HLS to Merton	It is a such a long time since I have heard from you! Yr. last letter is dated Nov. 14th.		«detailed view»
83.	1967/05/04 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	Your letter came yesterday and I was delighted to hear you are now Benedictines. Welcome into our	✓	«detailed view»
84.	1967/05/04 (#02)	TLS[x] from Merton	Your letter came yesterday and I was delighted to hear you are now Benedictines. Welcome into our	✓	«detailed view»
85.	1967/05/11	HLS to Merton	It was good to have yr. news! Many thanks for your letter of May 4th (Ascension Day.		«detailed view»
86.	1967/05/30 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	I have written to Doubleday to try to make sure that whoever does the publishing in Brazil, you will	✓	«detailed view»
87.	1967/05/30 (#02)	TLS[x] from Merton	I have written to Doubleday to try to make sure that whoever does the publishing in Brazil, you will	✓	«detailed view»
88.	1967/06/08	HLS to Merton	It was really very kind of you to write (on May 30) and I am very ashamed of myself for putting you		«detailed view»
89.	1967/06/18 (#01)	HLS to Merton	I have already thanked you for your v. kind letter of May 30th and have sent back (this, by surface		«detailed view»
90.	1967/06/18 (#02)	other	COMBINACÃO [-] QUE ENTRE SI FAZEM, DE UM LADO EDITÔRA VOZES LTDA., RUA		«detailed view»
91.	1967/07/31 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	First of all, in case I did not tell you before, I have the assurance of Doubleday that Lawrence	✓	«detailed view»
92.	1967/07/31 (#02)	TLS[x] from Merton	First of all, in case I did not tell you before, I have the assurance of Doubleday that Lawrence	✓	«detailed view»
93.	1967/08/10	TALS[x] from Merton	You will know better than us here what to do about this offer from Portugal. I don't remember		«detailed view»
94.	1967/09/22	HLS to Merton	I have just received the addresses of the important "personnages" in this country who can		«detailed view»
95.	1967/09/25	HLS to Merton	I hope the Unesco letter from Paris mentioning one of our experts on African love and his wife,		«detailed view»
96.	1967/10/30 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	Here are some photos of the ikons. I think you can get some idea of how beautiful they are,	✓	«detailed view»
97.	1967/10/30 (#02)	TLS[x] from Merton	Here are some photos of the ikons. I think you can get some idea of how beautiful they are,	✓	«detailed view»
98.	1968/02/21	HLS to Merton	I wrote this to you a few days ago but forgot to say a few things. I hope you will forgive me for		«detailed view»
99.	1968/02/27 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	Just a quick word before Lent. I hope to shut up a little more tomorrow for six weeks or so.		«detailed view»
100.	1968/02/27 (#02)	TLS[x] from Merton	Just a quick word before Lent. I hope to shut up a little more tomorrow for six weeks or so.		«detailed view»
101.	1968/03/04	TLS[x] from Merton	I found a copy of the poem, so I am sending it along. Carmen de Mello is finally publishing	✓	«detailed view»
102.	1968/03/12 (#01)	HLS to Merton	I was hesitating about writing to you and intruding in yr. attempt to silence during Lent. But...		«detailed view»
103.	1968/03/12 (#02)	HCS to Merton	United in thanksgiving and prayer, bless yr. brazilian translator		[card commemorating Silva's Jubilee] «detailed view»
104.	1968/03/18 (#01)	TL[c] from Merton	Just a quick note to send you my congratulations and prayers and best wishes for the 25th.	✓	«detailed view»
105.	1968/03/18 (#02)	TLS[x] from Merton	Just a quick note to send you my congratulations and prayers and best wishes for the 25th.	✓	[a photograph of Merton's hermitage is photocopied onto the letter] «detailed view»
106.	1981/01/11	HPCS to Shannon, William	This 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] «detailed view»
107.	1982/02/18	HLS to Shannon, William	I am glad to tell you that your wonderful book is being a success. Several different people have		«detailed view»
108.	1982/03/05	TLS[x] from Shannon, William	I was delighted to hear from you. I have received your post card and letter. I am happy that you		«detailed view»
109.	1982/03/12	HLS[x] to Shannon, William	Thanks for your very kind letter of March 5th. I was very glad to get it indeed-- as my answer felt		«detailed view»
110.	1982/04/12	HLS[x] to Everett, Karen	Greetings from Brazil! If you care to contact the Thomas Merton Legacy Trust, Mrs Anne McCormick		«detailed view»
111.	1982/04/16	TLS[x] from Shannon, William / to Karen Everett	This morning I wrote to Nancy Miller asking her to contact you to see if you had been in touch with		«detailed view»
112.	1982/08/22	TL[c] from Shannon, William	You must thing by now that I have disappeared from the scene, since it has been so long since		«detailed view»
113.	1982/09/11	HLS to Shannon, William	I am afraid this has to be a hurried scribble and am very sorry cannot at present		«detailed view»
114.	1982/09/27	TLS[x] from Shannon, William	I very much regret that I cannot be in Brazil for the meeting you so kindly arranged for me with		«detailed view»
115.	1982/10/07	HLS to Shannon, William	Many thanks for your fine letter of Sept. 27 of course we feel sure you will manage to come		«detailed view»
116.	1982/10/12	HLS to Shannon, William	This is just to let you know a few things about the Merton letters in my possession: 1. I received		«detailed view»
117.	1984/02/23	TALS[x] from Shannon, William	I am sure you must be wondering what has happened to me and why you have not heard from me.		«detailed view»
118.	1984/03/16	HLS to Shannon, William	I received yr. letter of Feb. 23. I already knew through Bro Pat how very busy you are working hard		«detailed view»
119.	1984/04/20	TLS[x] from Shannon, William	I am most grateful to you for your long letter and for the time it must have required to write it.		[dated "Good Friday, 1984"] «detailed view»
120.	undated/01/21	HLS to Merton	I wrote to you in 1957 about author rights for "Bread in the Wilderness" which I had been		«detailed view»
121.	undated/02/26	HLS to Merton	I have been wanting, ever so much, to thank you for your interesting, kind and very appreciated		«detailed view»
122.	undated/04/01	HLS to Merton	Many thanks for your very kind and most precious prayers of Mass, especially at East and for		«detailed view»
123.	undated/04/21	HLS to Merton	I've got a horrible flu', something like the Asiatica		«detailed view»
124.	undated/09/18	HLS to Merton	I do hope you are not horrified at my bombing you with letters. I sent you two very disgraceful		«detailed view»
125.	undated/no/no	HPCS to Merton	Inside, 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] «detailed view»
126.	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 The Hidden Ground of Love] «detailed view»

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