3. Thomas Merton: Contemplative Critic

Henry left Notre Dame after two years and went to Yale where he intended to teach in pastoral ministry.  He was rethinking psychology as a foundation and wanted to weave personal spiriuality back into pastoral ministry.  His contribution to the life of the school was profound as he taught on ministry to prisoners and the elderly, on ministry in secular institutions, on disciplship, on ministry and spirituality, on the ministry of Vincent van Gogh, on prayer, and on Thomas Merton.  He spent more time with students than any other fculty member and continued to express his high value of personal relationship and ministry.  He was tenured by ae in 1974, just 3 years after his arrival.  During his time at Yale he met Thomas Merton who would influence Nouwen tremendously.  Merton was spiritually creative and saw prayer as a way of seeing and expression.  Henry taught a class on Merton which he revised into this book, whic was published in 1972.  During this part of his spiritual journey, psychology was receeding and was being supplanted by creativity, contemplation, and engagement in spiritual life.