Thomas Merton: itinerarium da vida contemplativa no tempo e na história

Abstract

The work intends to deep the contemplative life in Thomas Merton, recognizing the contemplation category like one focal theme around that all his work turned. The central thesis is that Merton re-inaugurates a mystical and contemplative path of search and meet with God in times and history. The divine Reality and de human reality like convergences realities. The first part discusses the subject of contemplation like a plenty life experience in three directions: contemplation, write and life relationships; contemplation mediations; privileged places of contemplation. The second part discusses a perspective of contemplation in times and history, thus structured: the Merton‟s time; his dialogue with culture, society and theology; contemplation and compassion relationship; and, finally, contemplation and prophetic action relationship, deeping about social themes. Thus, the research understands that Christian mystic, contemplations and action, transcendency and imannency, are interdependent realities. In that sense, the Thomas Merton itinerarium it‟s one of more expressive, since the contemplation ideia is understands no like escape of world but like experience in times.