Daniel Berrigan
Daniel Berrigan
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Daniel Joseph Berrigan was an American Jesuit priest, poet, and peace activist. He is commonly known as Daniel Berrigan.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: May 9, 1921, in Virginia, Minnesota
Died: April 30, 2016, in New York City
Nationality and Profession(s)
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American
Jesuit priest
Poet
Peace activist
Early Life and Background
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Daniel Berrigan was born on May 9, 1921, in Virginia, Minnesota. His family moved to Syracuse, New York, when he was a child, where his father worked as an insurance adjuster. As a young man, Daniel developed a strong sense of social justice, which would later influence his work as a peace activist.
Berrigan attended the Jesuit-run Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, and later studied philosophy at Woodstock College, a Jesuit seminary in Maryland. He was ordained as a priest in 1952 and served as a chaplain to the poor and marginalized in New York City's Lower East Side.
Major Accomplishments
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Daniel Berrigan played a significant role in several high-profile peace movements throughout his life. In the 1960s, he became an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War, participating in numerous protests and demonstrations. In 1972, he was arrested for his involvement in the "Catonsville Nine," a group of protesters who poured napalm into a draft files at the Selective Service Office in Catonsville, Maryland.
Berrigan continued to be an active voice for peace throughout his life, working closely with other notable activists such as Philip Berrigan (his brother), Kathy Kelly, and Noam Chomsky. His tireless advocacy led to numerous arrests and imprisonment, but also sparked widespread debate about the nature of war and its impact on humanity.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some notable works and actions attributed to Daniel Berrigan include:
"The Nails: Twenty-Nine Poems" (1962) - a collection of poems that explore themes of peace, justice, and spirituality.
The Catonsville Nine (1972) - an act of civil disobedience in which Berrigan and eight other protesters poured napalm into draft files at the Selective Service Office.
* "Prison Journals: Volume One" (1973) - a collection of writings from his time in prison, reflecting on faith, hope, and activism.
Impact and Legacy
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Daniel Berrigan's work has had a profound impact on the modern peace movement. His willingness to take risks and challenge unjust systems inspired countless individuals around the world to follow in his footsteps. Through his poetry, writing, and actions, he helped shift public discourse about war, its consequences, and the importance of nonviolent resistance.
Today, Daniel Berrigan is remembered as a pioneer for peace and social justice. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of activists, writers, and artists, reminding us that the power of individual action can bring about lasting change in our world.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Daniel Berrigan's words continue to resonate with people worldwide because they speak directly to the human condition. His poetry and writings offer profound insights into the nature of peace, hope, and resilience in the face of adversity. His unwavering commitment to justice and his willingness to challenge unjust systems have made him an iconic figure for anyone working towards a more compassionate world.
Through his life's work, Daniel Berrigan reminds us that we all have the power to create change through our words, actions, and choices. As a testament to this legacy, his quotes continue to inspire readers to stand up against injustice, strive for peace, and cultivate compassion in their daily lives.
Quotes by Daniel Berrigan
Daniel Berrigan's insights on:
The Jesuits I know who have died and all their lives were great teachers, they're the least remembered people.
Well, I've been in several films including documentaries, but the big blockbuster, I was hired as advisor to the actors, I was trying to make Jesuits out of them.
You know, I don’t at all hesitate to be a bit utopian about all this because I think hope is itself an act, a very big leap, which in a sense defies the grim facts always about us and opens up new ways of thinking about things.
Well, I’ve been in several films including documentaries, but the big blockbuster, I was hired as advisor to the actors, I was trying to make Jesuits out of them.
We have one of our priests in prison right now for his antiwar actions, and three of us in the community are forbidden to visit him because we’re all convicted felons.
The Jesuits I know who have died and all their lives were great teachers, they’re the least remembered people.
One is called to live nonviolently, even if the change one works for seems impossible.
Because success is such a weasel word anyway, it’s such a horribly American word, and it’s such a vamp and, I think it’s a death trap.
To grow one has to feel pain, know uneasiness – as you certainly must know from your work as a child psychiatrist. Isn’t it more dangerous, more awful, when people don’t feel the kinds of doubts and misgivings and confusions we’ve been talking about, when instead their voices are stifled by the permeating ideology, the official seductive presence of the state and the marketplace and the military machine?