The Pope and Thomas Merton

Today, I heard Pope Francis speak to Congress. It was simply the most wonderful and humane speech I have heard in a long, long time. He mentioned one of my few heros, Thomas Merton. For a pope to mention Thomas Merton as an example, is so extraordinary it is something I never thought to hear. Once, when I was in total despair and near a nervous breakdown, I discovered Thomas Merton's prayer at a monastery where I had gone to stay. It saved my life! And it changed it, too. Here is the wonderful prayer accompanied by one of my photos of the "embers" of the Sunset at Santa Monica, California.

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."