What made my friend Daniel Berrigan so unique to me was not his celebrated poetry,nor his commitment to peaceful protest against war, but his huge compassion. Nothing was more essential to him than spending a night holding the hand of a dying Aids sufferer. When my adopted son was in a deep depression, and Dan,his godfather, flew to England to be with him on his birthday.
An event I remember was typical of Dan: in a prestigious Catholic ceremony in Washington he was awarded the Pope John XXIII peace prize. He arrived – late – on a clapped-out bus, or along with his novel York down-and-out friends. So enigmatic and close to the edge was his poetic acceptance speech that the presiding bishop felt he could,under these circumstances, only convey the popes apostolic blessing conditionally. The unintended humour was not lost on Dan.
Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com