Thomas Merton - When in the Soul of the Serene Disciple

When in the soul of the serene disciple
With no more Fathers to imitate
Poverty is a success,
It is a small thing to say the roof is gone:
He has not even a house.
Stars, as well as friends,
Are angry with the noble ruin.
Saints depart in several directions.
Be still:
There is no longer any need of comment.
It was a lucky wind
That blew away his halo with his cares,
A lucky sea that drowned his reputation.
Here you will find
Neither a proverb nor a memorandum.
There are no ways,
No methods to admire
Where poverty is no achievement.
His God lives his emptiness like an affliction.
What choice remains?
Well, to be ordinary is not a choice:
It is the usual freedom
Of men without visions.

Thomas Merton, Collected Poems (New York: New Directions, 1977)

Troublesome priests

Finally, the Church of England has found something worthwhile to complain about. Instead of getting in a tangle over women bishops and gay clergy. Rowan Williams (Canterbury) and John Sentamu (York) have found a subject worth bringing into the public debate. Both have harshly criticised the banking and finance system for finding multiple buillions of dollars to support its own corrupt and failing

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