"""As a Cistercian, Merton's life was shaped by the scriptural basis of the monastic offices. Patrick O'Connell's honest, critical introduction and exacting editing of Merton's notes for talks to his novices on Genesis and Exodus provide fresh insight into the monk's pre-Vatican II thought and fill in a missing piece of the puzzle of his theological development. Merton readers and admirers owe O'Connell a debt of gratitude for his impressive editing of the massive body of Merton's heretofore unpublished notes for monastic conferences."" Bonnie Thurston, author of Shaped by the End You Live For: Thomas Merton's Monastic Spirituality ""Patrick O'Connell continues his remarkable project of publishing Thomas Merton's work as a teacher in this edition of his notes for courses given to Gethsemani Abbey novice monks on the books of Genesis and Exodus. Meticulously edited and annotated, these notes reveal a discerning teacher who provides not just exegetical commentary but connections to liturgy, preaching, and theology, and the ongoing formation of his student monks. Impressive work that gives a fascinating vision of Merton on the Scriptures."" Michael Plekon, author of Saints As They Really Are: Voices of Holiness in Our Time ""This book is priceless for two major reasons: it offers a window into Merton's contemplative biblical spirituality that he shared with the Trappist novices; and these insights are buttressed by the meticulous editing of O'Connell - his rich interpretive introduction, extensive explanatory notes, and cross references to Merton's journals, letters, and poetry."" Monica Weis, SSJ, author of The Environmental Vision of Thomas Merton".