James Conner

Notes on Genesis and Exodus

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“In this book we see Thomas Merton doing exegesis of Scripture in his novitiate classes. While he lay no claim to being an expert in Scripture, this book shows him as being certainly very competent. Yet he does exegesis in a way that is thoroughly in accord with monastic lectio divina. He develops it by making full use of early monastic writers as well as fathers of the church to show how the texts serve as profound means of prayer, in a way that is of benefit not only to monastics, but to anyone desiring to approach these early scriptural texts as truly leading to God and to prayer. Patrick O’Connell’s introduction situates these classes in relation to other books of Merton written both before and after the date of these conferences. It serves to give a more comprehensive picture of Merton’s writings. We can be very grateful to the editor for his work.”