2 Responses to On Martyrs: Daniel Berrigan

1. Susan Bass says:

   May 17, 2016 at 5:01 am

   I am sad that he is gone from the Earth because, Heaven knows we need more people like Father Berrigan. I love what he said about the “wasting disease of normalcy”. As one who has spent so many years wishing to be like normal people, this is gratifying. Loosing him is sad for us but good for him. Fighting for justice for a whole lifetime can be tiring. Now he is able to continue the pursuit on another level where he will never be tired.

   Loading...

   Reply
2. Susan Bass says:

   May 18, 2016 at 5:13 am

   I have actually known several martyrs though I never aspired to be one myself. I am thinking of a martyr who, like Father Berrigan, is now an angel in heaven. This is a woman named Thelma who was brought to Hawaii as a young girl by the deposed ruler of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos. She was not retained by him and could not return to the Philippines either because she had no family there and no way to make a living in that impoverished country. She obtained a forged “green card” and worked for wealthy people in the United States, cleaning their lovely homes and caring for their children and their elderly. She was turned in by someone and sent to the Federal Detention Center. A deal was offered to her which would have allowed her leniency if she would name the person who gave her the fake work permit. She refused, stating that “he has children”. Three years later she died in the Philippines. Her crime was wanting to work. Her penalty was death. She could have saved herself but she refused to do so in order to protect someone else’s children. That was in addition to all the other children she cared for as a domestic servant. Being a martyr is a dangerous calling, sort of like being a soldier.

   Loading...

   Reply