Daniel Berrigan, Jesuit priest, poet, prophet, died 5 yrs ago, 4/30 2016. He was one of those great saints who come along to show a new way of being a follower of Jesus—in his case, as a link in the chain of blessed Peacemakers who acted as if the Sermon on the Mt. were true.
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His famous words on behalf of the Catonsville 9: “Our apologies, good friends, for the fracture of good order, the burning of paper instead of children, the angering of the orderlies in the front parlor of the charnel house. We could not, so help us God, do otherwise.”
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But he showed that there is more to being a peacemaker than just opposing war. In his ministry to the dying (cancer and AIDS), in his eye for beauty, his capacity for friendship, he resisted the power of death and affirmed life in every way.
He showed the spiritual practices and virtues needed to sustain such a life: balance, modesty, a detachment from results, a sense of humor, a capacity to mourn, rejoice, go give vent when necessary to holy anger, and above all to build community. Last of all, he was my friend.
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He said”Love one another! Know where you stand & stand there!Pray with your feet!Create community!No more killing!Beat all swords into plowshares!Reach out to all who are marginalized!”Art Laffin of Catholic Worker. Fr. Daniel prior to his trial,1990. Martin Sheen left, testified
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