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| BROADSTONE BOOKS presents PAX INTRANTIBUS: A Meditation on the Poetry of Thomas Merton by Frederick Smock |
Hardcover, 96 pages
Publication Date: May 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-9721144-6-2
Price: $25.00
Publication Date: May 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-9721144-6-2
Price: $25.00
PAX INTRANTIBUS - “Peace to Those Who Enter.”
These words are inscribed above the entrance to the Abbey of
Gethsemani in Kentucky. For the Trappist monks who pass
beneath this legend, and who pray there for the peace of the
world, this is no simple benediction, but instead a call to labor at
the most important task of all. And for the most famous of those
monks, Thomas Merton, this call to work for peace infused the
entirety of his life, and commanded him to carry on that work in
the wider world beyond his monastic hermitage.
In this meditation on the poetry of Thomas Merton, fellow poet
Frederick Smock considers how Merton’s poetry – perhaps the
least-known of his writings – was nevertheless an integral
component of his peace work. But as the term meditation
suggests, Smock’s examination of the poetry serves as a point of
entry into a far broader inquiry, not only into Merton’s life and
work, but into the necessary engagement of other poets in the
work for peace, and into Smock’s own development as an artist
and a man confronting the world.
These words are inscribed above the entrance to the Abbey of
Gethsemani in Kentucky. For the Trappist monks who pass
beneath this legend, and who pray there for the peace of the
world, this is no simple benediction, but instead a call to labor at
the most important task of all. And for the most famous of those
monks, Thomas Merton, this call to work for peace infused the
entirety of his life, and commanded him to carry on that work in
the wider world beyond his monastic hermitage.
In this meditation on the poetry of Thomas Merton, fellow poet
Frederick Smock considers how Merton’s poetry – perhaps the
least-known of his writings – was nevertheless an integral
component of his peace work. But as the term meditation
suggests, Smock’s examination of the poetry serves as a point of
entry into a far broader inquiry, not only into Merton’s life and
work, but into the necessary engagement of other poets in the
work for peace, and into Smock’s own development as an artist
and a man confronting the world.
| Praise for Pax Intrantibus |
| About the Author |
"In beautiful poetic prose Frederick Smock explores, as only a fellow poet can, the major themes of Thomas
Merton's thought - spirituality, peace, inter-faith dialog - as Merton expressed them throughout the course of his
life in his poetry. If poetry is the barometer of the soul, Pax Intrantibus gets to the very heart of Merton."
- Paul M. Pearson, Director, Thomas Merton Center, Bellarmine University
"Frederick Smock's 'Peace to all who enter here' is not so much another meditation on Merton as it is Merton's
meditations on the timeless values of silence, solitude, and meditation itself as a means of finding spiritual balance
and peace in a world given over to sectarian division and strife. It is a wise prescription to treat the birth pangs of
globalization, including intolerance and the practice of violent nation-building. It should be read by all who wish to
better understand the doctrinal walls that only seem to separate us - including poets, students of the spirit, citizens
of conscience, and members of Congress."
- Richard Taylor, Kentucky Poet Laureate
"In this short but beautifully produced little volume Frederick Smock...presents one of the few books about
Merton's poetry specifically written by a fellow poet...and from his own background in poetry he captures insights
into Merton overlooked in many other works and then conveys those insights in delightful prose with a lilt of
poetry.
"Pax Intrantibus is a gentle introduction to Merton's poetry, not an academic tome. Smock opens up the major
themes of Merton's poetry from his earliest poems right up to the poems written in the final year of his life.
Though gentle Smock does not avoid tackling the numerous issues Merton raises through his poetry, in particular,
as the title of this book suggests, Merton's poetry dealing with war and peace, the nuclear arms race, racism, the
media and technology....
"In the spirit of Thomas Merton Smock takes Merton's thought and applies it to our present day, thought that is as
pertinent now as it was at the time Merton wrote it....
"This small book would be a valuable addition to any Merton library."
- Paul M. Pearson, The Merton Journal, Advent 2007, Volume 14 Number 2
"Smock...doesn't attempt to define the paradoxical Merton or his poetry.... But what Smock does capture in this
stirring meditation is the same deep mystery and ecumenical spirit inherent in Merton's poetry."
- Aimee Zaring, Louisville Courier-Journal, November 17, 2007
"Pax Intrantibus...is an apt title for the author's book of meditations on Merton's poetry. In a much larger sense,
those who enter into Merton's verse get a picture of a spirit of peace that is universal."
- Steve Flairty, Kentucky Monthly, August 2007
Merton's thought - spirituality, peace, inter-faith dialog - as Merton expressed them throughout the course of his
life in his poetry. If poetry is the barometer of the soul, Pax Intrantibus gets to the very heart of Merton."
- Paul M. Pearson, Director, Thomas Merton Center, Bellarmine University
"Frederick Smock's 'Peace to all who enter here' is not so much another meditation on Merton as it is Merton's
meditations on the timeless values of silence, solitude, and meditation itself as a means of finding spiritual balance
and peace in a world given over to sectarian division and strife. It is a wise prescription to treat the birth pangs of
globalization, including intolerance and the practice of violent nation-building. It should be read by all who wish to
better understand the doctrinal walls that only seem to separate us - including poets, students of the spirit, citizens
of conscience, and members of Congress."
- Richard Taylor, Kentucky Poet Laureate
"In this short but beautifully produced little volume Frederick Smock...presents one of the few books about
Merton's poetry specifically written by a fellow poet...and from his own background in poetry he captures insights
into Merton overlooked in many other works and then conveys those insights in delightful prose with a lilt of
poetry.
"Pax Intrantibus is a gentle introduction to Merton's poetry, not an academic tome. Smock opens up the major
themes of Merton's poetry from his earliest poems right up to the poems written in the final year of his life.
Though gentle Smock does not avoid tackling the numerous issues Merton raises through his poetry, in particular,
as the title of this book suggests, Merton's poetry dealing with war and peace, the nuclear arms race, racism, the
media and technology....
"In the spirit of Thomas Merton Smock takes Merton's thought and applies it to our present day, thought that is as
pertinent now as it was at the time Merton wrote it....
"This small book would be a valuable addition to any Merton library."
- Paul M. Pearson, The Merton Journal, Advent 2007, Volume 14 Number 2
"Smock...doesn't attempt to define the paradoxical Merton or his poetry.... But what Smock does capture in this
stirring meditation is the same deep mystery and ecumenical spirit inherent in Merton's poetry."
- Aimee Zaring, Louisville Courier-Journal, November 17, 2007
"Pax Intrantibus...is an apt title for the author's book of meditations on Merton's poetry. In a much larger sense,
those who enter into Merton's verse get a picture of a spirit of peace that is universal."
- Steve Flairty, Kentucky Monthly, August 2007
Frederick Smock is the poet-in-residence and chair of the
English Department at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky,
where he received the 2005 Wyatt Faculty Award. He has published
numerous books of poetry and prose, including three collections of poetry
with Larkspur Press, most recently Guest House. His book of essays,
Poetry & Compassion: Essays on Art & Craft, was published in the fall
of 2006. He is the recipient of the Henry Leadingham Poetry Prize, the
Jim Wayne Miller Prize for Poetry, and an Al Smith Fellowship in Poetry
from the Kentucky Arts Council. His poems have appeared in Poetry,
The Iowa Review, The Southern Review, and others. Mr. Smock lives in
Louisville with his wife, the writer and actor Olga-Maria Cruz.
English Department at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky,
where he received the 2005 Wyatt Faculty Award. He has published
numerous books of poetry and prose, including three collections of poetry
with Larkspur Press, most recently Guest House. His book of essays,
Poetry & Compassion: Essays on Art & Craft, was published in the fall
of 2006. He is the recipient of the Henry Leadingham Poetry Prize, the
Jim Wayne Miller Prize for Poetry, and an Al Smith Fellowship in Poetry
from the Kentucky Arts Council. His poems have appeared in Poetry,
The Iowa Review, The Southern Review, and others. Mr. Smock lives in
Louisville with his wife, the writer and actor Olga-Maria Cruz.
