Remembering the Forgotten Merton

“Everyone who reads The Seven Storey Mountain wants to know more about Thomas Merton’s only brother, John Paul. William J. Meegan’s Remembering the Forgotten Merton pieces together meticulously researched historical fragments to truly bring John Paul Merton to life. He is no longer forgotten.”


—Paul M. Pearson, director and archivist, Thomas Merton Center





“This well-researched and engaging book provides readers with an extraordinary glimpse into the short life of John Paul Merton, the younger brother of the renowned spiritual writer and Trappist monk Thomas Merton. Not only does William J. Meegan shine a light on the ‘forgotten Merton,’ giving the younger brother his own due, but this book also provides new insight and context for understanding the childhood and early adult years of his famous older brother. I highly recommend this book.”


—Daniel P. Horan, OFM, professor of philosophy, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame





“William J. Meegan invites us to remember John Paul as he was—not just the monk-writer’s younger brother but a brave and deeply spiritual person in his own right. Thus, John Paul’s life—with all its twists and turns, its troubles and triumphs—becomes a reminder that God is to be sought and found in the ordinary. Meticulously researched and written with clarity and grace, this book contributes significantly to our understanding of the whole Merton family. It is a must-read!”


—Christine M. Bochen, professor emerita of religious studies, Nazareth College