Brother Paul Quenon, OCSO, Trappist monk, poet, and photographer, is the author of books like In Praise of the Useless Life: A Monk's Memoir and Unquiet Vigil: New and Selected Poems. He returned to Encountering Silence for a conversation recorded last April (to hear his previous conversations on this podcast, click here and here). I think there's something within everybody that really wants to have quiet time... There's something about the heart that thirsts for that kind of quiet and silence. — Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO Brother Paul entered monastic life in 1958, when he was only 17 years old — back before the reforms of the Second Vatical Council, when the life of a Trappist was even more austere than it is today. His novice master turned out to be Thomas Merton, who eventually became an inspiration to Brother Paul not only as a monk, but as a writer. Here's a video of Brother Paul reading one of his poems, from our conversation this year: https://vimeo.com/413749815 A habit can be a very supportive thing, a routine can be a deadening thing a ritual should always be a vital thing and should always be done mindfully. — Brother Paul Quenon, OCSO Some of the resources and authors mentioned in this episode: Paul Quenon, In Praise of the Useless Life: A Monk's Memoir Paul Quenon, Unquiet Vigil: New and Selected Poems Paul Quenon, Bells of the Hours Paul Quenon, Afternoons with Emily Paul Quenon, Monkswear Paul Quenon, Laughter: My Purgatory Paul Quenon, Terrors of Paradise Paul Quenon with Judith Valente and Michael Bever, The Art of Pausing Kathleen Norris, The Cloister Walk Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ Pico Iyer, The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere Dianne Aprile, The Abbey of Gethsemani: Place of Peace and Paradox John Eudes Bamberger, Thomas Merton: Prophet of Renewal Kathleen Norris, Acedia and Me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer's Life Emily Dickinson, The Complete Poems Robert Morneau, A New Heart: Eleven Qualities of Holiness Jessica Powers, The Selected Poetry Rainer Maria Rilke, Selected Poetry Guerric of Igny, Liturgical Sermons Volume One Gregory of Naziansus, Festal Orations Gregory of Nyssa, From Glory to Glory Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire Gary Snyder, The Gary Snyder Reader Fenton Johnson, Everywhere Home The Grail Psalms: A Liturgical Psalter In a monastery you're living in a poetic environment, and the countryside that we live in, I think it exposes the mind to open up to poetry. — Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO Episode 110: Silence, Poetry, and Monastic Wisdom: A Conversation with Brother Paul Quenon, OCSO (Part One) Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Carl McColman and Kevin Johnson Guest: Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO Date Recorded: April 30, 2020