Dr. Gray Matthews presented a day-long workshop commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Merton.

Mattews wrote that, as a spiritual guide, Merton offers invaluable counsel regarding the significance of contemplative prayer, not just to quell our anxious souls but to invigorate them. The thrust of the day-long workshop was to encourage the acceptance of this dare: to run the risk of withdrawing from the commotion and embracing, instead, Merton’s beautiful challenge of taking up the long art of contemplation and its promise to open as well as transform our lives.

Dr. Matthews is an Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Memphis. He has served the International Thomas Merton Society (ITMS) as a member of the Board of Directors, membership committee, site coordinator for the 2007 ITMS conference of Memphis, coordinator of the Memphis ITMS Chapter, and immediate past co-editor of The Merton Annual and has published articles in the Merton Annual and Merton Seasonal. He is also a member of the Lay Cistercians of Gethsemani.

Thomas Merton: The Commotion and the Long Art of Contemplation with Gray Matthews, Ph.D.
Presented on Saturday, February 28, 2015
Divine Mercy Catholic Church, Merritt Island, FL 32953
Presented by Contemplative Outreach of Central Florida

Click this link to view on YouTube in 10-15 minute segments suitable for Zoom Centering Prayer groups.

Click this link to listen/download workshop audio:  https://cocfl.org/?risen_multimedia=an-invitation-to-thomas-merton-the-commotion-and-the-long-art-of-contemplation