The Waters of Siloe was published by Harcourt, Brace in 1949. Written in the enthusiasm of Merton’s early monastic years, it is a history of the Cistercian order (the Trappists) — from the founding of Cîteaux in 1098 through the order’s near-annihilation during the French Revolution to its revival in nineteenth-century France and its establishment in America.
Merton writes monastic history with narrative energy: the founding of Cîteaux by monks fleeing the corruption of Cluny; the explosive growth of the order under Saint Bernard; the slow decline into wealth and laxity; the catastrophic destruction of monasteries during the Revolution (monks scattered, buildings razed, communities erased); and the improbable rebirth — a handful of surviving monks rebuilding from nothing. The American story centers on Gethsemani itself, founded in 1848 by French monks who crossed the Atlantic to establish contemplative life in the Kentucky wilderness.
The book serves multiple purposes: it is genuine history, it is apologetics (presenting monastic life as meaningful to a skeptical audience), and it is Merton locating himself within a tradition — understanding his own choice not as individual eccentricity but as participation in a continuous stream of human aspiration toward silence and God.
Collecting The Waters of Siloe
First edition (Harcourt, Brace, New York, 1949): Cloth with dust jacket.
Market values:
- First edition, fine/fine: $50–$150
- Very good: $20–$50
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest appreciation.
Trappist History
The Waters of Siloe (1949) is Merton’s history of the Trappist (Cistercian) order in America — from the founding of the first American monasteries in the nineteenth century to the postwar revival that brought hundreds of young men to the cloister. Merton combines historical narrative with personal reflection, and the book served as an introduction to monastic life for the many readers whom The Seven Storey Mountain had inspired. It is a work of genuine historical scholarship, not merely devotional writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Trappists still active? Yes — the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists) maintains monasteries worldwide, including Gethsemani in Kentucky, where Merton lived. The postwar boom Merton described has receded, but the order continues.