Thomas Mertons parents were artists, Owen Merton, a New Zealander, and Ruth Jenkins, an American she died when Thomas was 6 years old. His family life after that was complicated, at various times he was with his father, his grandparents in New York and at boarding schools in France and England. His father died in 1931. 1933 Thomas was accepted into Clare College, Cambridge, but he indulged in a fairly dissipated life-style, until his guardian stepped in and told him to go back to New York.

In 1935 Thomas entered Colombia University he studied English literature, and discovered an interest in Catholicism. He began to engage with issues of social justice, reading Étienne Gilson’s 'The Spirit of Medieval Philosophy' which led to a profound sense of the appropriateness of faith in God. He graduated in 1938.

Thomas then met a Hindu monk who impressed him as a deeply spiritual person, he told Thomas to read not Hindu classics but Christian ones, St Augustine - 'Confessions', Thomas à Kempis’s - 'The Imitation of Christ'. Later that year, Thomas engaged seriously with becoming a Catholic, and after reading about Gerard Manley Hopkins’ decision to become a Catholic and a priest, Thomas felt called to follow the same path. He was baptized in November 1938. He hoped to join the Franciscans, but they were uncertain of his vocation. He did however take a teaching position at the Franciscan University of St Bonaventure. His prayer life developed greatly at this time.

He spent time working in Harlem, which opened his eyes to issues of justice and poverty. In April 1940 he arranged to go on retreat to Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky and found what would become his spiritual home for the remainder of his life. The Order that lived at Gethsemani were Cistercians of the Strict Observance, known as Trappists, a strongly ascetic order. Thomas was accepted as a postulant in December 1941.

Thomas first job there was translating various texts, but he was also encouraged to begin his own spiritual writing. It was the start of an outpouring of works on spirituality, beginning with poems, then his autobiography, 'The Seven Storey Mountain', (published 1948). This was widely read, and Thomas Merton became one of the best known and deeply respected spiritual writers of the 20th century. Other books followed in a steady stream. Over 60 books, plus poems and articles. His main themes spirituality and issues related to civil and human rights. He was deeply committed to peace, racial harmony and social equality.

Merton was ordained priest in May 1949, and from the end of that year was engaged in teaching mystical theology to the novices at Gethsemani. As part of his pursuit of reconciliation and understanding, Merton also engaged with other faiths. By 1965 he was living as a hermit in the grounds of Gethsemani, but in 1968 was permitted by the abbot to travel to Asia. He met the Dalai Lama, visited Sri Lanka and intended to visit Japan. Merton may have wished to become a hermit in Asia. However, he died tragically of electrocution caused by a faulty electric heater in Bangkok.

BORN: 31 January 1915, Prades, France.

DIED: 10 December 1968, Bangkok, Thailand.