Dialogues with Silence: Prayers & Drawings

Thomas Merton’s most intimate work—a stunning devotional beaming with prayers, poems, and never-before-seen drawings

The perfect companion for daily prayer and reflection, this spiritual guide and gift combines Merton’s artistic and contemplative sides, showing readers a different side of this beloved writer and theologian.

Grippingly filled with warmth and comfort, Dialogues with Silence is a rich a selection of prayers from throughout Merton’s life—from his journals, letters, poetry, books—accompanied by all 100 of Merton’s rarely seen, delightful Zen-like pen-and-ink drawings. This elegant collection is designed to savored slowly, leaving readers with a profound sense of hope and enlightenment.

Vulnerable, inspiring, and unlike any other devotional published, this assortment of spiritual astonishment is the perfect companion to daily prayer, meditation, and reflection in all its glorious forms.

The Private Merton

This intensely personal book from the ultimate spiritual writer of our time shows his contemplative and devotional side through his prayers and rarely seen drawings.  Capturing the quiet epiphanies in the life of a Trappist monk who was a celebrated writer and activist, this volume offers a glimpse into a lesser-known side of this timeless explorer of the life of the soul.

“Helps the reader enter Merton’s spiritual vision and participate personally in the monk’s encounters with Silence.” - America Magazine

“Casts new and thought provoking light on [Merton’s] finely written prayers...highly recommended.” - Library Journal

“Merton’s art provides a glimpse of his journey never before seen.” - Publishers Weekly (shaded review)

“...a glimpse of [Merton’s] journey never before seen. Merton fans will certainly welcome this new addition.” - Publishers Weekly (shaded review)

“Whether you’re a long-time Merton fan or need an introduction, Dialogues with Silence is a great unveiling.” - BookPage

“[These drawings and prayers] reflect a devotional life stripped of pretense, open to God’s surprises.” - Christian Century

"[Thomas Merton] is perhaps the proper patron saint of our information-saturated age, of we who live and move and have our being in social media, and then, desperate for peace and rest, withdraw into privacy and silence, only to return. As we always will." - The New Yorker