Hidden in the Same Mystery Thomas Merton and Loretto

Clear and moving, this compilation reveals previously unpublished discussions on prayer and religious vows between Thomas Merton and the Sisters of Loretto in the early 1960s. Offering insight into Merton's friendship with one of the most influential American religious women of the 20th century, Sr. Mary Luke Tobin--who was one of the 15 official women observers at Vatican II--this history reflects not only Merton's deep understanding of religious life, but also his affection for this particular community of sisters.

Sr. Mary Swain is a member of the Sisters of Loretto. She lives in Nerinx, Kentucky. Bonnie Thurston is a founding member of the International Thomas Merton Society and the author of 16 books, including For God Alone: A Primer on Prayer and The Spiritual Landscape of Mark. She lives in Wheeling, West Virginia.