To Bless the Space Between Us by John O'Donohue
The Last Book and Legacy of the Irish Poet and Philosopher, A Review
To Bless The Space Between Us is a treasure trove of inspiring and comforting words. In the introduction, John O'Donohue (1956-2008) explains the meaning of blessing in the celtic tradition."The word blessing (...) suggests that no life is alone or unreachable (xiii)". In our fast-paced (...) world we don't take time to pause at "crucial thresholds in our lives", and therefore we are "desperate for meaning and belonging" (xiv).
Blessings Guide, Protect and Encourage
First there are the obvious blessings: for a New Year, on birthdays, for new parents, upon a death. Then there are interior thresholds one crosses: the arrival of illness, the breakup of a relationship, when one lacks courage, when one encounters failure. And then there is a “Blessing for the Parents of One Who Has Committed Crime”, and — possibly one of the hardest tragedies of all — a “Blessing for the Family and Friends of a Suicide”. These are times when words elude most people. John O'Donohue finds them. Ministers, those in the helping professions and anyone who is looking for guidance will find inspiration in this collection.
"A Gem of a Book" and "Classical Music Spoken"
The audio tapes of To Bless the Space Between Us open with music of Irish harpist Aine Minogue. O'Donohue's precise pronunciation and his lovely Irish brogue allow for a deeper understanding of the written word. As one reviewer put it: "it is classical music spoken ". (C.Meoz, 4/3/08 amazon.com)
To Bless the Space Between Us (Benedictus, in the UK) was released in March 2008 and received highly positive reviews in blogs and newspapers around the world. "These blessings look hardship in the face, but only as a challenge. In our souls, and, especially, in our hearts, O'Donohue believed, we are all home. We never left, we never will. How hard it is to hold that thought. And yet, when we take the care of others into our hearts, something happens.....". (Jesse Kornbluth)
Poet, Priest, Philosopher, and Gifted Speaker
John O' Donohue grew up in Connemara in the west of Ireland. The sparse landscape of the Burren was his bedrock. After studying for the priesthood at St. Patrick's College at Maynooth, he learned German and pursued a Ph.D. in Philosophical Theology at Tuebingen University in Germany.
He became an expert on the German philosopher Hegel and the 14th century mystic Meister Eckhart.
Back in Ireland conflicts arose with a bishop when parish work conflicted with writing. John O'Donohue finally decided to leave the priesthood (after 19 years). While he deeply respected the Eucharist and the sacraments, he found himself diverging from some of the Catholic Church's teachings.
Anam Cara and Beauty: The Invisible Embrace
Anam Cara (Gaelic for Soul Friend) was published in 1997. It became a world bestseller. The author was surprised how deeply the book resonated with people. He ascribed it to a "fierce hunger for spirit at the heart of the American culture that has lost all belief in the old language of God."
After Conamara Blues (2000), a collection of poetry, and Eternal Echoes (1998), O'Donohue explored human creativity in Divine Beauty (2003). He continued to live in Ireland and started lecturing and teaching around the world. It is not surprising that he cared about the environment. He was concerned about the commercialization of Ireland and instrumental in the Burren Action Group.
He talks about the luminous light in the mystical landscape of the Burren that reaches us when we become still to listen and witness. If we are mindful, nature and landscape can alert us to the eternal and we might be allowed to see a light that will speak to our human fears.
It seems auspicious that he was able to finish this book of blessings and the recording of the 6 CDs before he was called home so early and unexpectedly. He knew a lot about death from his work with the dying. In Anam Cara he writes: "The dead are not far away, they are very, very near us."
John O'Donohue died peacefully in his sleep on January 8, 2008.
O' Donohue, John: To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings. New York : RandomHouse, 2008
Find more information at John O'Donohue
More on blessings
Front Cover of the AudioTape
|
John O'Donohue, at Greenbelt, 2006
|
What do you think about this article?
Latest Articles