Returning To Sacramental Ontology

Thomas Merton(1915-1968)was a famous American monk in 20th century,who was often regarded as spiritual writer,mystic,pacifist,activist and the precursor of inter-religious dialogue by his time.Due to vary themes of his works,Merton impressed others as inconsistent in his life.This study uses historical approach with a theological perspective to explore Merton's thought against the background of 20th century Catholic intellectual history and American political movement.It integrates most of Merton's work and discusses his changes and developments during his lifetime according to the idea of relationship between supernatural order and natural order.The basic conclusion is,Merton changed from his early period(1940s),characterized of a dualistic mindset,to an integrated perspective of sacramental ontology in 1950s.And starting from sacramental ontology he engaged in political sphere,monastic renewal and inter-religious dialogue issues in his late time.The first chapter explains how the study comes up.The second chapter gives a brief introduction of Merton's life before he entered the monastery.Besides this it expounds the background of Catholic intellectual history before Vatican II,that is the contending approaches of neo-scholasticism,modernism and "ressourcement".The main body of the study is divided into three,which includes the period from the start of his monastic life in 1941 to his death in Bangkok in 1968.Chapter three analyzes Merton's early works,especially the idea of contemplation.It shows his confusion and tension in this life and work under the education of neo-Scholasticism.Chapter four is about how Merton got mature,which includes the works from 1953 to early 1960s.It analyzes Merton's subtle change in his journal and spiritual writings due to the impact from outside,such as "Ressourcement" and Orthodox theologians.Merton gradually formed a sacramental ontology mindset in the process of pondering God's creation,Jesus Christ's economy and the ontological meaning of the image and likeness of God in human being.Sacramental ontology is a way to deal with the relationship between the created world and God in terms of the relationship between"sacrament" and "reality.It's a conviction that "historical realities of the created order served as divinely ordained,sacramental means leading to eternal divine mysteries".Chapter five,which includes Merton's late work from 1960 to 1968,analyzes the reason why Merton turned to the world.It illustrates that sacramental ontology is the integrated and consistent spirit as well as the coherent theological concern behind Merton's varying activities in 1960s.