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Book Cover for: Merton's Palace of Nowhere, James Finley

Merton's Palace of Nowhere

James Finley

For forty years, James Finley's Merton's Palace of Nowhere has been the standard text for exploring, reflecting on, and understanding the rich vein of Thomas Merton's thought. Spiritual identity is the quest to know who we are, to find meaning, to overcome that sense of "Is this all there is?" Merton's message cuts to the heart of this universal quest, and Finley illuminates that message as no one else can.

As a young man of eighteen, Finley left home for an unlikely destination: the Abbey of Gethsemani, where Thomas Merton lived as a contemplative. Finley stayed at the monastery for six maturing years and later wrote this Merton's Palace of Nowhere in order to share a taste of what he had learned on his spiritual journey under the guidance of one of the great religious figures of our time. At the heart of the quest for spiritual identity are Merton's illuminating insights--leading from an awareness of the false and illusory self to a realization of the true self.

Dog-eared, tattered, underlined copies of this book are found on the bookshelves of retreat centers, parish libraries, and the homes of spiritual seekers everywhere. This anniversary edition brings a classic to a new generation and includes a new preface by Finley.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Ave Maria Press
  • Publish Date: Feb 2nd, 2018
  • Pages: 160
  • Language: English
  • Edition: Anniversary - 0025
  • Dimensions: 8.46in - 5.48in - 0.39in - 0.42lb
  • EAN: 9780877930419
  • Categories: Christian Living - Spiritual GrowthSpiritualityChristianity - Catholic - General

About the Author

Nouwen, Henri J. M.: -

Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932-1996), one of the most popular spiritual writers of our time, was ordained a priest in 1957 in Holland. He wrote more than forty books, among them the bestselling Out of Solitude. He taught at the University of Notre Dame as well as at Yale and Harvard Universities. From 1986 until his death in 1996 he was part of the L'Arche Daybreak community in Toronto, where he shared his life with people with mental disabilities.

Finley, James: -

James Finley is a contemplative retreat leader, a core teacher at the Center for Action and Contemplation's Living School, and a retired clinical psychologist. He is the author of several books including Merton's Palace of Nowhere, The Contemplative Heart, and Christian Meditation. He studied spirituality and philosophy and lived for several years as a monk at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky under the spiritual direction of Thomas Merton.

Finley has a doctorate in psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary, a master's degree in education from St. John College, and a bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of Akron.

He lives with his wife, Maureen Fox, in Marina del Rey, California.

Praise for this book

"This one door is the door of the Palace of Nowhere. It is the door of God. It is our very self, our true self called by God to perfect union with himself. And it is through this door we secretly enter in responding to the saving call to 'Come with me to the Palace of Nowhere where all the many things are one.'"