John O'Donohue
The Irish poet, priest and philosopher , suddenly, while visiting friends in France. He was 53 years old and died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday. He is perhaps best known as the author of the internationally bestselling books Anam Cara, Eternal Echoes, and Beauty: The Invisible Embrace.
Two weeks ago, we broadcast an extended interview with John about his new book, Benedictus: A Book of Blessings -- what turned out to be one of the last interviews he ever gave. Some people can think well, write badly, and talk dreadfully. Others can write beautifully, even though they think slowly and talk nervously. John thought passionately, talked poetically and wrote luminously -- and that was, again, evident in the interview he gave me.
I first heard of him a few years ago when he was interviewed by Joan Bakewell on Radio 3. It was a 30-minute programme, and I was so taken with his language that I stayed in my parked car until the interview was complete. Language was his greatest gift -- and his greatest blessing to others. He was also one of those rare people whose presence alone helped others make sense of the world, because he was held together, himself, by a sense that "[T]here is an unseen life that dreams us; it knows our true direction and destiny. We can trust ourselves more than we realize, and we need have no fear of change." Those are his words. And his words survive him, like children.
"When your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight. "
JOHN O'DONOHUE (1954 - 2008)
Update: posted by a close friend, David Whyte.
Comments
I am very saddened at the untimely death of Fr John Donohue.R>I.P. He was not only a dedicated priest but an inspirational writer.In a time when the Church needs more priests and priest leaders escpecially .........the loss of John Donohue is more painful.
I myself am a resigned priest and writer ..........but unfortunately not as talented as John. He was and is one of my inspirations.
Finbarr M Corr Ed D
So well said! John was truly held together by a deep trust in a guiding, inner wisdom, and in his presence I felt at home before I even got to know him.
I met John before he became famous, when he was working on his Ph.D. in Tuebingen in 1986.We met in the student cafeteria and I was intrigued by his Gaelic accent and the warmth in his voice... and by his wild, furious laughter.
He helped me through some hard times, I proofread his German manuscripts. We had Irish whiskey together.
So many years later I discovered his books in a California bookstore. I have kept Anam Cara and Eternal Echoes close to me ever since.
I was signed up to go to his retreat in Oregon last October. I could not go due to an illness.There won't be another retreat in Oregon in 2008. But John is not gone. He is just on the other side.
I feel so privileged that he was my friend.
Christine
I have been going to Greenbelt for 18 years. I was priviledged to happen across a talk john was giving by chance. I had never heard his name before that moment. I found myself laughing loudly and being touched deeply in equal measure. I was truly inspired. Not wanting to lose the precious experience, I bought the cd of the talk. I have listened to him many many times since, and I feel moved every time. What a tremendous loss, though in such a brief encounter with his spirit, what a tremendous gain I have had.