From the Monastery to the World: The Letters of Thomas Merton and Ernesto Cardenal

"From the Monastery to the World: The Letters of Thomas Merton and Ernesto Cardenal" unveils the profound dialogue between two spiritual luminaries and relentless advocates for social justice. Published on September 26, 2017, this collection of letters, translated into English for the first time, captures the transformative journey of Ernesto Cardenal—a budding poet and priest on the verge of becoming Nicaragua's Minister of Culture and a key figure in liberation theology. These correspondences, spanning from 1959 to 1968, trace Cardenal's evolution from a novice in a Kentucky Trappist Monastery to an influential poet-statesman, mentored by the wise and introspective Thomas Merton. As they navigate their spiritual, intellectual, and artistic paths, their exchanges reveal a mutual quest for religious freedom and human rights, making this book an essential read for those in adult education and anyone interested in the intersection of faith and social activism. Engage with this narrative to explore how two distinct journeys converge in the fight for a just world.