“It is by the Holy Spirit that we love those who are united to us in Christ. The more plentifully we have received of the Spirit of Christ, the more perfectly we are able to love them: and the more we love them the more we receive the Spirit. It is clear, however, that since we love them by the Spirit Who is given to us by Jesus, it is Jesus Himself Who loves them in us.”

American Trappist monk, Catholic priest, theologian, mystic, poet, and writer

Thomas Merton was an American Trappist monk, Catholic priest, theologian, mystic, poet, and writer. He was a professed member of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani near Bardstown, Kentucky, and lived there from 1941 until his death. He is best known for his religious writing and for work that reflects his life as a monk, priest, and theologian. His poems and books grow out of contemplation, faith, and the discipline of monastic life, and his reputation rests on the range of roles he held within the Catholic tradition.