By Lian Bunny
Contributing Writer
Thomas Merton is the subject of this year’s Ignatius Brady lecture. On Thursday, Nov. 7, St. Bonaventure graduate Father Daniel Horan, O.F.M., is scheduled to speak about Merton’s life from his time spent at Bonaventure to his entrance into the Trappist Order. Father Daniel’s talk is titled, “A Franciscan in Blue Jeans: How Thomas Merton Became and Remained a True Franciscan,” and it will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the University Chapel in Doyle Hall.
Father Daniel graduated from Bonaventure in 2005 and is pursuing his doctorate in theology from Boston College. As a published author, he is most known for his article “Dating God: Live and Love in the Way of St. Francis (2012).”
Thoroughly familiar with his topic of choice, Father Daniel is on the board of directors of the International Thomas Merton Society.
Merton taught English at St. Bonaventure in the early 1940s. During his brief time spent at Bonaventure, he grew spiritually and eventually left teaching to become a Trappist monk.
During his lecture, Father Daniel will relate Franciscan philosophies and theologies to Merton’s life, thoughts and writings.
“I do hope that the students come to the lecture,” Father Francis Di Spigno, executive director of University Ministries, said. “I firmly believe that they, being seekers or not, will learn much about the wonders and mystery of our life’s journey can really be.”
Alex Caissie, a sophomore international studies major, said he plans to attend the event. His Intellectual Journey class read an excerpt from Merton’s “The Sleeping Volcano” and his teacher is offering extra credit for participation.
“In addition to extra credit, I’m interested in Thomas Merton in general,” Caissie said. “He was an interesting guy. He tried to do what he was called to do by God. He accepted things as they came.”
Father Francis related Merton to Francis of Assisi. He said Merton’s life exemplifies a strong faith similar to Francis of Assisi.
“Although eight centuries apart, they have much in common,” Father Francis said. “They were both seekers, people looking for more out of life than what meets the eye. Both rested on a contemplative life so to actively find God within the very things, people and world around them.”
Referring to his time spent at Bonaventure, Merton wrote in his book Christian Contemplation, “Every moment and every event in a man’s life on earth plants something in his soul.”
Students are encouraged to attend the event sponsored by the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University. The event is free and open to the public.
However, this speech is not only for Franciscans, according to Caissie.
“Thomas Merton was an interesting guy outside of being a Catholic man,” Caissie said. “The fact that he was a monk was not so much as important as the fact that he was an academic person. He had a lot to do with education.”
