Holy Cross Conference on the Writings of Thomas Merton to Address Fears of Nuclear/Biological War

WORCESTER, Mass. – On Dec. 10, 1968, Thomas Merton, the celebrated Trappist monk and writer, was accidentally electrocuted in Bangkok, Thailand, while attending an Asian monastic conference. His final statement of his last conference at Bangkok was, "So I will disappear."

And so Merton did disappear, but his legacy and writings remain current and relevant for all of us today. Merton's messages about nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare resonate especially loudly as the U.S. attempts to build a rationale for invading Iraq and other countries.

On Dec. 10, 2003, the 35th anniversary of Merton's death, the College of the Holy Cross will hold a conference, titled "So I will disappear," Insights into the Writings of Thomas Merton.

The all-day program will begin at 8:15 a.m., with the last presentation starting at 7:30 p.m. Several papers that touch upon prominent themes in the Merton canon will be presented. In addition, there will be an opportunity for question and answer dialogue after each presentation.

A portion of the conference will focus primarily on the so-called Cold War Letters of the 1960s, in which Merton shared his concerns about the grave dangers of escalating war and the possible use of nuclear weapons.

At this time, the conference is filled to capacity. However, interested participants may register on a waiting list. To register, or for more information, contact Patricia Hinchliffe at 508-793-3869 or phinchli@holycross.edu.

"So I will disappear" is sponsored by the Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture at Holy Cross.