Thomas Merton was the most popular proponent of the Christian contemplative tradition in the
twentieth century. For the first time, some of his most lyricial and prayerful writings have been arranged into a modern Book of Hours, a resource for daily prayer and contemplation imitates the increasingly popular ancient monastic practice of "praying the hours".
Editor Kathleen Deignan mined Merton's voluminous writings, arranging prayers for Dawn, Day, Dusk, and Dark for each of the days of the week.
A Book of Hours allows for a slice of monastic contemplation in the midst of hectic modern life, with psalms, prayers, readings, and reflections.
A Merton First: This is the first book to organize Merton's writing as a source of prayer and contemplation throughout the day. Deignan draws widely on the body of Merton's work so that readers not only read Merton, they pray Merton in a form that was essential to his life as a monk.
