Daniel Berrigan (1921–2016). A prominent American Jesuit priest, poet, peace activist, and anti-war advocate, best known for his outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War and his lifelong commitment to social justice causes.
🧑💼 Quick Bio
• Full Name: Daniel Joseph Berrigan
• Born: May 9, 1921, in Virginia, Minnesota
• Died: April 30, 2016, in the Bronx, New York
• Background: Berrigan was raised in a deeply religious Catholic family and went on to become a Jesuit priest. He was known for combining his spiritual vocation with a profound commitment to activism, particularly around issues of peace, justice, and nonviolence.
✊ Activism & Advocacy
Anti-Vietnam War Protests:
• Berrigan became a leading figure in the Catholic left’s opposition to the Vietnam War. His activism reached its peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
• In 1968, he and his brother Philip Berrigan, along with several other activists, engaged in the Catonsville Nine protest. They burned draft files with homemade napalm to protest the war, an act that resulted in their arrest and conviction. This dramatic act was a turning point for Berrigan and brought him to national attention.
• He was later incarcerated for his protests, and his courage and commitment made him a key symbol for the broader anti-war movement.
Nonviolence and Civil Disobedience:
• Berrigan was a strong advocate for nonviolence and civil disobedience, believing that peaceful resistance was the most effective way to challenge injustice.
• He was also involved in campaigns advocating for nuclear disarmament, racial justice, and the rights of the poor. He viewed his faith and his activism as inseparable, deeply rooted in his belief that God’s love for all people demanded resistance to war and oppression.
Writing & Poetry:
• Berrigan was a prolific writer and poet, using his literary talents to communicate his beliefs and experiences.
• His works included both poetry and prose, often reflecting his religious faith and his deep concern for social justice. Some of his notable works include:
o “Time Without Number” (1968): A collection of poems that expressed his anti-war sentiments and personal reflections on peace.
o “To Dwell in Peace” (1973): A collection of prayers and reflections that combined his theological insights with his commitment to social justice.
• His poetry, while not widely known in mainstream literary circles, had a significant following among activists and spiritual communities.
⛪ Faith and Spirituality:
• As a Jesuit priest, Berrigan’s faith was central to his activism. He was deeply influenced by Catholic social teaching, especially the call to work for the common good and to stand with the marginalized.
• He often framed his activism within the context of his belief in Christian love and justice, making his actions and writings a fusion of spiritual conviction and political resistance.
🏆 Legacy:
• Daniel Berrigan’s work left a lasting legacy in both the Catholic Church and the American peace movement. His courageous stands on moral issues helped shape the political discourse around war, justice, and peace for generations.
• His efforts inspired countless other activists, including those involved in the anti-nuclear and civil rights movements, and his life demonstrated the power of faith-based activism.
Philip Berrigan (1923–2002) was a Catholic priest, activist, and anti-war advocate, who, alongside his brother Daniel Berrigan, became one of the most prominent figures in the Catholic Left and anti-Vietnam War movements of the 1960s and 1970s.
🧑💼 Quick Bio
• Full Name: Philip Francis Berrigan
• Born: October 5, 1923, in Two Harbors, Minnesota
• Died: December 6, 2002, in Baltimore, Maryland
• Background: Philip Berrigan was a Jesuit priest who later left the Society of Jesus and became a Maryknoll Father. Like his brother Daniel, he was committed to social justice, nonviolence, and peace.
✊ Activism and Key Events
The Catonsville Nine (1968):
• One of the most famous moments in Philip Berrigan’s life was his involvement in the Catonsville Nine protest. Along with his brother Daniel and seven others, he burned draft files at a government office in Catonsville, Maryland, in protest against the Vietnam War.
• The act of civil disobedience was aimed at resisting the U.S. military draft, which was sending young men to fight in Vietnam. The protest was part of a broader movement of activist resistance to the war, and it led to their arrest and conviction.
• Philip’s and Daniel’s acts of civil disobedience were powerful symbols of faith-based resistance to unjust wars and government policies. They made the Berrigan brothers well-known figures in both activist and religious circles.
Prison Time and Continued Activism:
• After the Catonsville Nine, Philip Berrigan served time in prison for his role in burning the draft files. His imprisonment only fueled his commitment to nonviolent resistance and his deepening involvement in social justice movements.
• Philip’s later activism was also focused on anti-nuclear issues, poverty, and racial justice.
The Plowshares Movement:
• Along with his wife Elizabeth McAlister, Philip Berrigan was involved in founding the Plowshares Movement in the 1980s. The movement was inspired by the biblical passage from Isaiah: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares.”
• In this movement, activists symbolically disarmed nuclear weapons by physically damaging warheads and other military equipment. This act of protest was both spiritual and political, motivated by a belief that the nuclear arms race posed a direct threat to humanity and that people of faith had an obligation to resist it.
Writing and Thought:
• Philip Berrigan was also an author who wrote about his beliefs, his activism, and the intersection of faith and social justice. Some of his notable books include:
o “The Time of the Toad” (1977) — a reflection on the times and a call to action for political resistance.
o “The Berrigan Letters: Personal Correspondence 1959–1979” — a collection of letters between Philip and his brother Daniel, offering insights into their thoughts and activism.
• His writings, much like his activism, reflected his belief that the Gospel message demanded action in the world, particularly regarding peace and justice.
⛪ Faith and Spirituality:
• Like his brother Daniel, Philip saw his activism as deeply intertwined with his Catholic faith. He was committed to nonviolence and believed that following Christ’s example of love and resistance to oppression required standing against war, violence, and injustice.
• Nonviolence was at the heart of his beliefs, and he regularly cited his religious convictions as the motivation for his direct action protests. He believed that faith in God meant resisting violence and war and supporting the downtrodden and marginalized in society.
🏆 Legacy:
• Philip Berrigan’s legacy is marked by his unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance and his belief that faith and activism should go hand in hand. His work, especially with the Plowshares Movement, inspired a generation of peace activists and made a lasting impact on the anti-war movement and the broader Catholic peace movement.
• His activism, often leading to imprisonment, emphasized his commitment to sacrifice for the cause of peace and social justice, and his work remains influential in the world of faith-based activism.