Thomas Merton, in “Firewatch July 4, 1952”, starts out by describing to us a scene that is a watchman sitting in the darkness on a night in July. He then continues on to give us details that lead us to believe that it is the author’s turn in the responsibility of “watchman” in a monastery on this particular night. By 8:15 that night, the other Fathers are already in bed and the watchman is left to sit in darkness in silence. Whether the main character is currently a part of the monastery, we do not know. It is suggested that the watchman and the monk are two entirely different things by his stating that, “Some of the monks complained about the different colored walls, but a watchman has no opinions.” This suggests that the watchman’s duty is nothing like that of a monk’s. Here, the watchman is to pray in silence, while monks, during the time that they are not watchmen, usually focus on community prayer. We find out that the duty of the watchman is to experience the “fire watch.” The fire watch is, “an examination of conscience in which your task – as watchman suddenly appear in its true light: a pretext devised by God to isolate you, and to search your soul with lamps and questions, in the heart of darkness.”
Clearly, living in community is an important part of living in a monastery. But, in this passage, it is evident that lone prayer and meditation is necessary as well, do you think that personal prayer is just as important is communal prayer? Why or why not?
Side note (I thought this was interesting): In this excerpt, Thomas Merton makes an interesting claim, “… and the night was never made to hide sin, but only to open infinite distances to charity and send our souls to play beyond the stars.”
Katie McQuinn
Merton’s description of monastic life differs from Benedict’s description in many ways. To begin with, the literary form of Merton’s description was extremely different than the form of Benedict’s. Merton’s description was given in the form of story. Merton was describing the monastic life while he traveled through the monastery and remembered the events that would/have taken place in the rooms. Merton’s description of monastic life was as if we (the reader) were also taking his rounds around the monastery with him. He included the audience in his work and shared how monastic life has bettered him and challenged him throughout his many years there. He shared questions and concerns that he has been struggling with. Merton allowed us to also feel the passion he so strongly feels towards his life and gave us insight on why he and so many others devoted themselves to the monastic life. Benedict’s description of monastic life was a more structured form that was broken into different sections of rules and guidelines that monks and monasteries are to follow. The description of monastic life provided by Benedict was more like a handbook of what monks are to do and what they are not supposed to do which would lead to punishment. It was a more rigid description that did not leave room for the reader (who is not a monk) to sympathize and understand more clearly why so many choose to live a monastic life. Although the two descriptions provided by Merton and Benedict has many differences, they also share similarities between them. Both descriptions showed how monks actually live in a monastery. They describe a quiet and often silent type of living with no personal possessions. Both descriptions also describe the monastic life as an extremely simplistic one where they completely devote themselves to God and deepening their faiths.
- Nicole Dillon
Firewatch July 4, 1952 is very different from Benedict's description of monastic life in many ways. For one thing, Benedict's were rules and Merton's describes life in a narrative. There is also about a 1000 year time gap between the two men and they both live in different countries where customs are different. Even though the rules have not changed in monasteries too much, the worlds would have changed an incredible amount so monastic life would still be run differently. The similarites though are that both descriptions talk about monastic life as an simplistic life where the monks devote themselves to God and deepen their faiths for personal happiness and satisfaction.
ReplyDelete-Tara Costello
Thomas Merton offers a view of Monastic life that is more of a personal spiritual journey. He is sharing his views as a participant. His description of Monastic life is told as he assumes the duty of night watchman, searching for signs of fire in the Abbey. He begins in the lower portion of the abbey and makes his way through out rooms and tunnels and eventually to the tower. As he walks through he personally revisits and reflects on all the stages of his own life as a Monk, his own search for God. In The Rule Of St. Benedict his description is less personal and offers more of list of instructions or tools that are necessary for Monastic life. He quotes scripture to support the necessity of a certain lifestyle and has more of a laundry list of do's and don'ts to follow in order to serve God. Both descriptions agree on the importance of community, and above all the importance of God.
ReplyDelete-Carolyn Spero
To me, the biggest difference between these two pieces is the emotions that were involved in the writing. St. Benedict's writing was wrtitten objectively and from the perspective a an abbot who was expected to inforce the rules. He was detailed in the day to day workings of the Monastary as a community. Merton's piece was more personal and reflective of the feelings of an ordinary monk from day to day. I feel that Merton was more able to protray the feelings of a monk because he wasn't in a position of power. Both are accurate in talking about the lives of monks, but they have different approaches.
ReplyDeleteMerton's Firewatch reveals personal details of monastery life and spiritual journey. Passages of purple prose image a beautiful description of monastery life, emphasizing silence and emptiness. Merton reflects on darkness; thought and reason are scattered; we feel the loneliness and emptiness of the world; we question what's important and what our purpose is in living.
ReplyDeleteHow Merton goes about living in the monastery seems quite different from how Benedict presents his rule. In Merton, no mention is made of the strictness or pragmatism of life; rather, simple images--the mere beauty of life itself--serve as constant reminders of life's mysteries.
-Caleb Capozella
Thomas Merton's Fire Watch is a personal account on the perspectives and lifestyles of the monastery. He uses detail in his writings to accurately and more intimately illustrate how the monks were organized as well as how they individually live and relate amongst one another. In comparison, Benedict portrayed the monastery in a more literal and factual way. Although their approach in depicting the monastic life differed they were both writing to describe the restrictions as well as the prioties and lifestyles which concerned the monks.
ReplyDeleteSamantha Smedley
I found the differences between The Rule of Benedict and Thomas Merton's Firewatch very interesting. One is from the perspective of Benedict who is writing rules as the head of a monastery for the other monks to follow, and the other is from a monk living in a monastery.
ReplyDeleteMerton gives a very personal account of what it is like to live in a monastery, and the feelings that go along with it. While Benedict was stating how life in a monastery should be lived. Both of the writings are similar in that they detail the life of a monk in a monastery, but in a different light.
Tom May
Thomas Merton's Fire Watch is different from The Rule of Benedict in that Fire Watch is more poetic, and it deals with personal experience and images. Fire Watch allows readers to better understand the everyday experience of a particular person living in a monastery; The Rule of Benedict allows readers to better understand more factual information that applies to all Benedictines. However, both texts speak of what is at the heart of monastic life: devotion to Christ. Also, both texts are factually accurate, although they have different aims.
ReplyDeleteThomas Merton's point of views of the monastic lifestyle is both similar and different to Benedict's. The first major similarity is when Thomas Merton talks about the monk's sleeping in dormitories. The second example is when he talks about when the monks come in late they must walk in only socks so that there is silence. He talks about how being in silence in these dark rooms makes him think and begin to have questions. In our last class, we had concluded from Benedict that monks choose this lifestyle so that they can become closer to God and to have a better understanding of themselves. The difference I found was when Thomas Merton was describing the lifestyle he was doing it from his point of view and he had deeper attachments to everything he said. In conclusion both descriptions are similar in that, they describe a very simple lifestyle that helps one's soul open up. The difference is Benedict was telling us rules and Thomas Merton is describing it from personal experience.
ReplyDelete-Lindsey Ritter
Merton's Firewatch takes St. Bendedict's Rule and places it in a real setting that we as readers can fully share in. With the imagery and feelings that we are able to see as the watchman makes his rounds we are able to understand that these are not strict rules, rather they are a detailed way of life. This work truly reinforces the idea that only certain men are cut out for this monastic life because while it does not seem as strict as we thought, it is still very secluded and contemplative.
ReplyDeleteMerton's style of writing is very helpful in depicting the kinds of relationships that monastic life can develop between the monks and God. The watchman in Firewatch seems to embrace the monastic life head on and gives it everything he can muster. This imagery is not a contradiction of Benedict's Rule but rather a fulfillment and representation of the same.
~Nicholas Shields
Thomas Merton displayed a very different view than St. Benedict gave on monastic living. Thomas Merton wrote more of a narrative and spiritual encounter about monastic living. St. Benedict gave rules on how to live a monastic lifestyle. His was more the foundation for monks. Both of these men lived at different time periods and were surrounded by different customs, however they both agreed on living simplistic and in community. They both believe in God and share the desire to live a monastic lifestyle.
ReplyDelete-Katelyn Bockin
Thomas Merton's beautiful diction in "Fire Watch" unveils the significance of solitude. His words bring us directly into this monastic life, directing us to question what we really understand. He finds that "the fire watch is an examination of conscience...a pretext devised by God to isolate you, and to search your soul with lamps and questions, in the heart of darkness" (Merton 89).
ReplyDeleteI think that for Merton, frustration ensues when he can never answer, but only question. In fact, this frustration builds to the point that he believes "perhaps the most urgent and practical renunciation is the renunciation of all questions" (91). Merton may feel abandoned by God, but certainly acknowledges that only in solitude can he think of such elevated things.
The most obvious difference between the Rule of Saint Benedict and "Fire Watch" is the perspective. Saint benedict gathers a set of guidelines to BEGIN operating in a monastery, while Merton depicts the trials man enters while ALREADY IN a monastic lifestyle. Saint Benedict emphasizes the need for community much more than Merton. Perhaps Merton really does just dislike crowds.
Thomas Merton's account on the monastic life varied from Saint Benedict's account, however they both bore similarities. Differing from St Benedict, Thomas Merton mentioned how not everything was done in community. For example, there are partitions in the dorimtories, not allowing for common space. Additionally, there was no set bedtime or schedule, not all were doing the same activities at once. In St Benedict's account, however, all shared the same schedule, doing everything in community including the time they went to bed.
ReplyDeleteAlthough there are these differences, they are both similar overall. They both gave great importance to silence and community. Silence is emphasized greatly in both views. Thomas Merton continuously mentioned how in silence he can talk to God. And Benedict mentioned scheduled times of silence in his monastery. Additionally, both find community very important. In both accounts, meals are eaten in community with the whole monastery, along with other activities. "You are found in community: Thou in me and I in Thee, and Thou in them and they in me." (Pg 98) Thomas Merton described perfectly how the members of the monastery are not only in community with each other, but also with God, an idea I would believe St Benedict would agree with.
-Elisabeth O'Toole
In the "Fire Watch," Thomas Merton does not lay down the rules as St. Benedict did. Rather, Thomas Merton speaks of his own personal journey as he walks doing his rounds and punching the clocks. He mentions some of the stages and struggles he had to pass through in his life in the monastery, but does not, as St. Benedict did, assert the different rules of the monastery specifically. Thomas Merton questions himself and his way of life, whereas St. Benedict lays down the law assuredly.
ReplyDelete~Caitlin Gorecki
The account of Thomas Merton varies slightly from St. Benedict beacuse his literary style and interpretation. Saint Benedict's account of monastic life was filled with rules and restrictions that would enable you to gain a deeper connection with God. While Thomas Merton's interpretation of monastic life may differ slightly in preactices, he still follows the core principles that Saint Benedict taught, such as silence:"But there is greater comfort in the substance of silence than in the answer to a question" (Fire Watch 98). The big differtence between the two individuals is that Saint Benedict gives a schedualed and rule-based account of monastic life while Thomas Merton gives a very poetic account of his perosnal experience with God as a monk. This includes personal prayers he makes to God which are left out in Saint Benedict's account:"I lay the clock upon the belfry ledge and pray corss legged... Lord God of this great night: do you see the woods?" 9fire Watch 97). Despite their different literary styles, both men follow a monastic lifestlye to gain a deeper relationship with God.
ReplyDelete-Jay Garrick
Benedict’s idea of monastic life was, to most readers, very strict and simple. He seemed to have a sense of pride in the system he created in order to be writing about the rules for this way of life. Merton, on the other hand, seems to be lacking pride. He comments on many upsetting things about his surroundings- “Thus we fight the heat,” “in this musty silence,” and “mysterious junk in the belfry” (87, 88, 93). He even relates the monks to “exiles sailing to their slavery” in his opening (87). This shows a distinction between these authors; Benedict values the lifestyle he describes, while Merton criticizes it. In addition, Merton’s piece is written in a more personal manner. It covers his walk through the specific location he is watching and his struggle to understand God.
ReplyDeleteBoth authors are similar in that they acknowledge a lack of possessions and both seem to value silence. Benedict writes his rule around these ideas, and Merton suggests that the night time’s silence is more holy than when everyone is awake during the day: “the night has values that day has never dreamed of” (93).
-Tori McAllister
Merton describes monastic life from the perspective of one who is living in the middle of it, rather than one who is establishing it. Consequently, he tends to describe the details and intricacies which form the parts of the 'big picture' that St. Benedict ultimately describes. The two accounts coincide however, in that they both describe Benedictine monastic life, and both have as their goal a more intimate relationship with God. Benedict discusses this 'goal' of monastic life at the beginning and end of the sections we read, whereas Merton talks about seeking after God throughout his writing, concluding with a more intense contemplation (a 'climax', if you will) in the end of his piece.
ReplyDeleteChelsey Sterling
Merton's description if the monastic lifestyle, opposed to Benedict's, was more like a story and had more emotion involved. Benedict's way of educating us in the monastic lifestyle was very blunt, almost like a check list. Though both are from different time periods, both understand the simplicity of the monastic life. To live with only the things you need, giving up everything else, in my opinion, is a way of showing their commitment and love for God.-Kate Shannon
ReplyDeleteThomas Merton's description of the monastic lifestyle was different from St. Benedict's in many ways. Merton seemingly involved more emotion in his description, and it seems more like a story because of his personal encounters. Merton does not seem to set laws like St. Benedict did.
ReplyDeleteELISE ARIENS
Merton describes the monastic lifestyle as more emotional and spiritual one, which differs from Benedict's whose definition was more plain and cookie cutter like. They both understood the roots on the monastic life. An example of this is monks and how their lifestyle is. They say that monks live a quit life and a life where nothing is just theres but the communities. To me i think that its better to live a life where nothing is yours but everyones.
ReplyDeletemary vogt
In Mertons excerpt, he is describing a more personal story as in Benedicts passage he is more simply stating what he believes to be the ideal way of life for monks and nuns to live. Benedict delivers his points in a more simply stated list while Merton tells a more detailes and personal work. Something else that one might want to take into account when reading this is the audience (Dei verbum). The Benedict account was written for a much different crowd most likely comparec to Mertons newer text.
ReplyDelete--Nicholas Darin
Thomas Merton makes monastic life seem very emotional as opposed to what Benedict delivers his stake on monasticism. Benedict is more straightforward and blunt in his explanation and leaves little imagination to what else monastic life has to offer besides what was already mentioned. Merton's description seems like there are more individual reflections than communal which is seen with Benedict and a lot more reflection, especially on the "fire watch" which is, “an examination of conscience" that seems to not be emphasized in Benedict's writings. Essentially, Merton describes this monasticism as a personal experience while Benedict tries to make it as group oriented as possible.
ReplyDeleteEmma Leary
Thomas Merton describes the monastic life similar to how Benedict describes the life of a priest. He explains how everything in the monastery is efficient and has a purpose, and how everything the monks do is actually part of their vows to dedicate their lives to God. What was interesting about Merton's description is that he talked about monastic life as he experienced it; instead of just talking about the rules that the monks follow, he also mentions how the monks are as people. Therefore, his description gives us a deeper understanding of just how life really is in the monastery.
ReplyDeleteTo me, Thomas Merton's Fire Watch presents the simple beauty of the Monastic Life. Maybe I was the only one that thought this, but when I read the Rule of Benedict I found it to be somewhat daunting. Almost like, "Who would ever want to subject themselves to that?" However When I read Fire Watch a different side of Monasticism. Merton gives us a tour of his beloved home, but in the unique night time setting when all activity in the monastery has ceased and he can wander about it reminiscing about all the things that take place within its confines. The Fire Watch is an extremely peaceful task, and it seems to give the Watcher the chance to reflect more deeply on the nature of the monastic life on the whole. By making a round of the entire monastery the Watcher is able to take all of its facets into mind. By the end, a sort of 'big picture' of the monastic life is created and by his eloquent writing Merton is able to communicate this to the outside lay world.
ReplyDeleteThomas Merton's Fire Watch is written in a different style compared to the other readings we've done so far. It's not a poetic style, or a prayer, nor is it informative. Throughout the text you can tell that Merton is struggling with a one on one relationship with God. While all the other Monks go to bed, Merton begins by walking through all the rooms in the Monastery and he comments on every little detail about the rooms. Like we said in class, his relationship with the Monastery itself seems to be stronger than his relationship with the community or other Monks. I found it interesting how Merton describes the feeling of each room by temperature. Some rooms are unbearably hot, and others are cool such as at the top of the tower where he has his closest moment with God. It's where he's most confined without any distractions. I also liked how it seemed he was really frustrated with his connection with God because it seemed God won't answer him... He is uncomfortable with the silence until the end, when he realizes that where there is silence, that is the most comforting.
ReplyDelete-Katie Lamb
Thomas Merton's Fire watch was very different from the other readings we have done so far in class this year. This text was a very informative text while at the same time Novel-esk that showed the daily life styles of those who have taken an oath to live life as a monk. In it it shows the struggles that he went through, to live this style of life with this close relationship with God. He has a Very close relationship with the monastery it self rather than the other monks around him. He takes his night walks alone and is uncomfortable with the silence as he walks through the rooms. through walking through the rooms though he is able to remember moments. he is also angry in a sense with the fact that God will not answer him, but in the end he is ok with this and the silence.
ReplyDelete-John Girardi