A Book of Hours Kindle Edition

This book is a difficult one to rate. As one who daily reads the writings of Merton, while also struggling to keep focused praying with one of the standard church breviaries, I avoided this book for a number of years thinking it was a gimmick. Yet, I kept seeing this Merton A Book of Hours at numerous retreat centers that I attended. Eventually, I gave it a go and ordered a copy, not really thinking that it would become a regular part of my daily prayer. Yet, it has. Kathleen Deignan should be congratulated for piecing together this breviary-like book, based on the poetry and prose of Merton. I was delighted to see three of my favorites included, Hagia Sophia, the Fire Watch, and The Letter of Contemplatives to the World (which is the evening lesson during the week). There is plenty of room to adapt each hour, which I typically do by adding a Psalm or two from the Bible. The emphasis on silence during each hour is a great reminder, as well.The Merton Book of Hours will be appreciated by Merton fans and those who seek to be more contemplative in their daily prayer. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I greatly appreciate this text and have used it regularly for daily prayer and reflection.

I don't think this book will be for everyone. But if you're a fan of Merton and want a book of hours to change up your daily office, this is worth a try. Personally I am at times positively challenged, other times comforted, and once in a while perplexed with selections made for this book. I go to it often, especially when I need a break from routine. I often wonder what Merton would have thought of this book. It's likely he'd hate it for reasons of modesty, but maybe not. I think he'd be as challenged as we are because the things he's written are fundamental observations and questions.While I don't use it every day, I will go through it five or six times each year, often not completing each hour but doing morning and evening parts. Occasionally I have found it useful to bring to work to do a mid-day office. It's also a great book if you're going on a retreat into nature--in fact this for me has been the best use as Merton's words are inextricably connected to his natural surroundings.

A book that takes Thomas Merton's BEST writings and arranges them in prayers for Sunday (Genesis) to Saturday (Wisdom) at the 4 Hours named: DAWN, DAY, DUSK, & DARK. These are the best formed Breviary prayers I've found in a lifetime. The writings selected from Merton are his more lyrical, mystical, and poetic writings, and lacks the dusty prose quality he sometimes has. I found this book to be the new central structure of my life time now. It shoved aside all manner of chaff. I enjoy much more time in prayer and contemplation now, and much less time online wasting hours. I did not find the traditional OFFICE to help in this regard, and this doesn't displace or replace the other more traditional breviaries, but it is a serious and beautiful alternative for solitary or communal prayer. I have experienced my entire life restructured around what I can only say is MY VOCATION REKINDLED. Solitude, contemplation, prayer have returned after many years of abeyance. The book is always new. For the solitary, this is a great window of light beaming in from the sun! You'll not be surprised that I've bought several as gifts for others, and keep extra here in my hermitage so prayer aloud with visitors is enabled. Benedicite! Taste and try....

Although the passages can be awkward for a liturgy of hours, it is impressive and brings deep thought.It has different sets of prayers, essays, poems, and psalms for a few sessions through each day for a week.It is so deep it takes time to go through each set of prayer, but is worth it for such a nice collection of Merton's work.

I recently participated in an 8 day Ignatian Retreat and had downloaded Merton's book to use as a companion. I found something in the prayers of every day that corresponded with my own journey; consequently, the book is not just for one week. Instead, the phrasing and images evoke different aspects of the interior journey with life thereby allowing the user to engage the text for more than the one week of "hours." I've recommended it on my Facebook page and to friends who are looking for a connection between what they "sense" and someone else who has had a similar experience to say, "Ah, yes."

This is a marvelous collection of writings from the works of Thomas Merton, the Trappist Monk, assembled in the form of a book of hours. Even if you are not particularly knowledgable about Merton's writings, you will find his comments on so many aspects of the spiritual life meaningful and tantalizing, you will want to study his works further. The author does include an index that gives the source of each selection included for the particular time and day of the week. Although he lived from 1915 - 1968, you will feel he is writing for right now. Included are writings for Dawn, Day, Dusk and Dark on each day of the week. You might think that only seven days would not be enough to keep you interested. But, as with much of Holy Scripture, something new and fresh appears with repetition. The author includes an informed introduction to her selections for Thomas Merton: A Book of Hours.

I didn't know what to expect with this book. The idea of a breviary with no scripture, just someone's reflections and poetry seemed a touch scandalous. I was totally wrong. Merton's writing is INCREDIBLE. This book gives the perfect taste, inspiring me to read the actually longer book the excerpts come from. Simply powerful words.

This is a wonderful little book of hours to read while praying your daily devotions, whenever I read the psalms and hymns I feel closer to God. I feel like Thomas Merton and I are kindred spirits, he seems so familiar. Although the writings are before 1968 when he passed away. It is hard to believe it is still so relevant today. Love this book!

I had never even heard of Thomas Merton when I was a Protestant. So far as a Catholic convert I have yet to read any of his books, though I am looking forward to having a look when I can get around to it. As I am a sucker for prayer books, especially those containing a daily office, I bought this.This is not quite what I expected. I was expected that it would follow the tradition of a Medieval Book of Hours, with Psalms and Scripture readings, interspersed with meditations from the writings of Thomas Merton. However, while it follows the structure of a daily office, with Psalms, canticles, readings and collects, the material is entirely taken from Thomas Merton's writings. Given that Merton was a monk who prayed the Psalms daily, I have my doubts that he would have approved the replacement of inspired Scripture with his own words.Some of Merton's words are very beautiful and inspiring. However, a lot of the time his profound thoughts leave me scratching my head, confused as to what he is actually saying. There is a time for reading opaque and challenging spiritual writings, but I do not think morning and evening prayer is that time. A daily office is all about routine, consistency and simplicity. When one has just cleaned one's teeth and needs to set off for work in twenty minutes one is better off reading the Psalms. There are people of a poetical and mystical temperament who will relish this book. This may be the book they want; but it is not necessarily the book they need.One thing I did really appreciate was the emphasis on Sophia, divine wisdom in the Saturday office. This fits nicely with the tradition of Marian devotion on Saturday. When one has time on one's hands, it may be worth using this book of hours for a few days.

Merton wrote in a most thought provoking and quirky way. A contemplative, he shares his experience in a unique style; not ramming sanctity and puritanical values down the reader's throat, but humorously, poetically, simply. The reader can feel nature singing all around, from the humble husk of the fruit to the hills and the sun above. He observes human and Divine nature in a subtle but truly deep manner that amuses and delights.

I was on a retreat at Alton Abbey and we were studying Thomas Merton and I found the book very interesting and I brought more of his books to read

I have the ebook, but having the book in your hands is far better.

Superb book but spoilt by previous owners notes all over it !