Thomas Mertons Life - Essay Example

The trips were necessitated by the requests of the father as well as studies [Marquita, Breit, Patricia, Burton & Paul [2002]. In 1930, Thomas Merton joined Oakham Public School during which time, Owen his father, died. However, although the death affected Thomas Merton who sought support and financial help from the uncle was co-operative and finances to Thomas Merton was never a problem. Thomas Merton often received help from Tom Bennett, Owen’s former physician who was very supportive of Thomas as were the aunties and uncles. It was in 1932 during one of his visits to his grandparents in New York that Thomas Merton decided to venture into journalism by co-editing the school’s journal.

In 1933, Thomas Merton visited Italy where he stayed in Rome where Merton acquired a Bible and become religious, severally praying to ask God to ‘deliver him from darkness’. Up to when Thomas Merton was still faced many challenges such as not being aware of what he really wanted to become even as a college student at Clare College, Cambridge. In 1938, Thomas Merton then a student in Columbia came into contact with a Hindu monk called Mahanambrata Brahmachari, who influenced him in that instead of converting him into Hindu, Brahmachari encouraged the young Thomas to remain steadfast in Catholicism. Gandhi had an influence in shaping the future of the man in that, Merton was an admirer of Gandhi. Such events culminated in the Baptism of Thomas Merton in 1938. In 1941, Thomas Merton finally became committed to Catholicism and eventually graduated as a Catholic priest in 1949. Thomas Merton died in 1968 in Bangkok, Thailand. Thomas Merton continues to influence the lives of many as a writer, teacher, priest and family man.

Howard was born several years after the birth of Thomas Merton in 1939. Unlike Thomas Merton, Howard went on to join active politics and eventually became the Prime Minister of Australia. Howard was born and brought up in Earlwood, Sydney. Howard as a young was often sickly something which resulted in hearing impairment and therefore exhibits speech impediments, which hampers his speeches although it is not a major problem.

Unlike Thomas Merton, Howard studied law at the University of Sydney after excelling in Earlwood Public School and Canterbury Boys High School [1992.45-78]. Howard is also different from Thomas in that while Thomas Merton was a Catholic, Howard is an Anglican and is not as religious as Merton was. Howard like Merton has excelled in life in that he has served 4 terms as a Prime Minister of Australia, an indicator of his strong convincing and political skills. Thomas Merton on the other hand does not appear to have been as strong-willed considering that the man took so long before deciding to join Priesthood.

Both Howard and the late Merton are great men, who have had a positive impact on their society’s thorough offering unmatched leadership. Despite the few differences mentioned above, both men will continue to influence positively the lives of their followers having served as good leaders with dedication.
Read More