Fred Bloom

Professor Lucien Miller, a retired Professor Emeritus of Comparative Literature and Chinese, at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, Catholic Deacon, and scholar on Merton and Judaism, has written a classic book entitled The Hidden Side of the Mountain. Like his role model, Merton, Lucien and his wife Bonnie went on a lifelong pilgrimage and found deep meaning in helping the holy innocents – those who suffer through no fault of their own. Like Merton, Lucien discovered that he could move more West by going East. By connecting with other religions, he deepened his own Catholic faith. He discusses monasticism, the contemplative life, his “New England Scar Tissue “where if he mentions the word Buddhism or Tao to his students, it makes them “tranquil and happy” but if he mentions the words Bible or New Testament, it brings out a “twitch or two”. He is also a risk taker and embracer of life. He movingly talks about praying in memoriam for the holy innocents. He quotes Father Johnson : “We used to say that dialogue between the religions is necessary for world peace. Now we can say that dialogue between the religions is necessary for world survival”. He speaks of grace, forgiveness redemptive suffering, abortion, the collective guilt of Americans in Vietnam and Japan. He sees his pilgrimage as divine providence. He believes in healing dialogue. Like Mother Theresa, he heard the call to help the afflicted poor, those with leprosy, the poorest of the poor ,the most marginalized, and those dying. He knows there is an inadequacy in reasoning to provide enlightenment and found it through experience, grace, and gratitude. Through his actions and faith, he found holy wisdom. The Hidden Side of the Mountain is a remarkable book. If you read it, you will become wiser and more human. Frederick H. Bloom, July 5, 2022