xt7kwh2dc78c https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7kwh2dc78c/data/mets.xml  Thomas Merton 1963-12-18 This letter is from collection 75m28 Thomas Merton papers. archival material 75m28 English  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Thomas Merton correspondence Letter from Thomas Merton to Victor Hammer, December 18, 1963 text Letter from Thomas Merton to Victor Hammer, December 18, 1963 1963 1963-12-18 2023 true xt7kwh2dc78c section xt7kwh2dc78c _4__
$7

ABBEY OF G ETHSEMANI

TRAPPl ST, KENTUCKY

Dwmlflcmr:

Thanks for your good letter: T find you much more crunulous about the
treatment of religious subjects than most artists would he. Tn fact the use of
the ”vexillum" or cross-flag in the inconogranhy oP the P'e,“:31.11‘1*ect3'.on is not
common these days. T suppose it is a late medieval motif, suscested by the Trusades.
In any event there is no reason on earth w‘v you s‘onlfl even give it.a second
thought. The flag is simply a Sign 0Tn victory,nand T suppose it means frat the
artist wants you to recognize the resurrection, in case the temh does not.look

.L

sufficiently like a tomb. rhere are Eertainly other ways ofi doing this.

Today is a bright snowy morning, and it helps make one ready for Christmas.
I hoie that January will bring us some nice days. The middle of the month s
out of the question for me, (from the 17th to the ?6th) because thenixe ar; 0.
"street and imcommunicado. Put in any case, things will work out and he ifill
be able to get together in due time. Just let me know when things seem convenient
for you, and we can nlan something.

I like Pascql, and of course he was a fervent devotee of “ort “oyal where they
took the spiritual life seriously. T wonder if T sent you the meditation on Julien
Green? I enclose one, it may have something in it o? a sardonic comment on that
baclground, but on the other hand T have no notion of saints heine dull. Tt is
Only the pseudo saints that are opnressive. The real ones, from what * have read,
are exceedingly lively. Of course canonization manages to wash all the liveliness
out of them and reduce them to safe limits, so that the hien pensants will not he
disturbed.

I wish you all the best of everything for Christmas. Var the fioy of the BEEEE
season be fully yours. My blessing to you both, and T nromise snecial nrayers on
that day.