From: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org (shindell-list-digest) To: shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: shindell-list-digest V12 #447 Reply-To: shindell-list@smoe.org Sender: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk shindell-list-digest Tuesday, May 21 2013 Volume 12 : Number 447 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [RS] Gethsemani Hello [Howie ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 22:11:19 -0400 From: Howie Subject: Re: [RS] Gethsemani Hello Curious about the shed, I found that the original shed is now in ruins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Mind_meal/Sandbox25#cite_note-shannon-22), and the second hermitage, built for Merton after that, is off limits to visitors (http://www.monks.org/visits.html). Merton's grave, however is accessible (http://www.spiritualtravels.info/articles-2/north-america/kentucky-a-thomas-merton-tour/the-abbey-of-gethsemani/thomas-mertons-grave/), as are much of the groundss There's some irony that even if they had made it to the hermitage, seeing the shed would not have been possible. - -Howie At 09:27 PM 5/20/2013, you wrote: >I knew of Merton because of the Thomas Merton Center in Pittsburgh, which >sponsors various progressive causes in that city. My work as an anti-war >activist had brought me into contact with them, but even if it hadn't, the >Merton Center is well known in Pgh. But certain details, such as that >Merton's shed still stands, I learned from this song. With the associations >I had with Merton, I thought the song would be social commentary--I wasn't >expecting a song with a character whose story is so personal and >confessional. > >Janet, I am with you on loving that line, "how I went too far" and also, >"how I lost my way". > >I've found myself wondering what the friend's connection to Merton was. Is >s/he (I always assumed it was a "she", but actually the song does not leave >very many clues about the friend's identity) a Catholic social justice >activist? Or perhaps simply drawn to Merton's spirituality? Or maybe they >were just in the area and this seemed like an interesting side trip? We >don't know, although the fact that s/he wanted to pray beside Merton's >grave obviously implies a religious/spiritual connection. > >I also wonder what's signified by the character's statement that he "kissed >Gethsemani goodbye". Merton's Gethsemani is a place of peace, solitude, and >quiet reflection. Of course, according to legend there is a Gethsemane >well-known for being the place where, with a kiss, one man revealed himself >to be an epically terrible friend. > >--V > > >On Thu, May 16, 2013 at 8:06 AM, Janet Cinelli wrote: > > > When I first saw the title, before hearing the song, I wondered what kind > > of > > song this would be. ------------------------------ End of shindell-list-digest V12 #447 ************************************