xt7cnp1whj6w https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7cnp1whj6w/data/mets.xml  Thomas Merton 1955-11-26 This letter is from collection 75m28 Thomas Merton papers. archival material 75m28 English  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Thomas Merton correspondence Letter from Thomas Merton to Victor Hammer, November 26, 1955 text Letter from Thomas Merton to Victor Hammer, November 26, 1955 1955 1955-11-26 2023 true xt7cnp1whj6w section xt7cnp1whj6w jhs %.
o [J R LIA D Y 0 F G E T H s E b4.A N I
TRAPPIST,KENTUCKY

Nov 26,1955

Dear Mr Hammer:

On the Eve of the First Sunday in Advent, I am
happy to be able to send you the translation of Bl.
Guerric‘s Christmas sermons. I think Sister Rose has done
a good job, and I hOpe you.nill like them. 0f course,
though, it occurs to me that if you print them, the
book will be read here and there by erudite Jews who will a-
not understand the references to the rejected synagogue
-- as if all this had something to do with anti—semitism.
That might be another obstacle to printing it the book.

I had not thought of it, of course, when preparing the
material.

As you say, readers will probably find it difficult
in spots. It was for that reason that I thought your
press would be the logical one to handle it, as Pico is
not easy eitherl What you say about the autobiOgraphical
undertones of the piece is probably quite true, but I had
not thought of that either. Of course, all that is said
objectively about the truths of our faith and of our
Redemption, has subjective repercussions in the lives of
those who have been granted a share in the fruits of that
Redemption. Whatever we believe we are obliged, in some way
or other, to live and even to experience.

I was very interested in your remarks on Fiedler's
theory, and they tend to tntrench me in my own prejudice
against Classicism. Bet as art, but as sacred art. rIt is
quite true that primitive and two dimensional art is
intellectually poor and limited. Precisely. Less human
also-- just that! It is the poverty of primitive art
that makes it more xmxnxx able to serve as "matter” so
to speak for a sacramental and religious form.

It seems to me that the self-assurance with which the
kiss: classical eye accepts the "man—made enclosure"
tends, at least in most cases, to max exclude the

 

 transcendental in the sense of the "Holy"- das ganz Anders.

Precisely, in the polis, everything is familiar. In the agora
we trade our own opinions and our own vegetables too: and this
is right and fitting. There must be humanism, and Christianity
is humanistic. And it certainly Speaks up in the market place—-
where else? But it brings the desert into the market place
too, and the desert is vast, empty, and poor, and has no
frame...

I do not argue that three dimensional art cannot be hol --
(Fra Angelicol)—- only that it grows up in a context where
in fact holiness is not encouraged: the academic context.

How about the spirituality of line, of shape?

Of course, in all this, there is always the probability that
we are talking about two entirely different things: or else
that we areseeing the same thing from diametrically opposed
viewpoints—- or that what seems to be a difference is nbne at
all. In any case I entirely agree with you on the different
viewpoints of the artist (who is "in" the space he sees,or
at leasteke his way into it) and the patron who wants something
beautiful and has to be talked into seeing something more than
a pleasing subject or a pleasant arrangement of things he likes
to look at. Whatever may be the artist‘s approach, he opens
up the doors of spirit: but sometimes it is a spirit that
is enclosed in its own reference rather than open to the
transcendent.

Talking about art and the sacred: I have moved into a
new job as Master of Nbvices and find that in the novitiate
chapel we have utterly unholy (because vulgar) altar cards.
Do you remember that we spoke of that? Is there any hope of
getting you to do us three sets of altar cards, for the
three small altars of our chapel? At most, the largest
card would be twenty four inches long. Yowr art would then
pray for you in Gethsemani by helping the monks to pray getter.
Yes, the Snell book is here and I have begun it. I can see
its great importance, and therefore I ask you to bear with me
if I do not return it in a hurry. My time is rather sparsely
portioned out and it takes tdme to think through such a
book. Many thanks for your kindness—- and I also look forward
to seeing the Fiedler.

Our new stations of the Cross are installed and look very
well. Bro Giles did not dare, after all, to use the plain bric
background, but the dark plaster is quite effective behind
the light bath stone. When will you be over to see them?

With best advent wishes to both of you and with all
blessings and prayers that you may have a holy and happy
Christmas—

l)evotedly yours in Christ