A priest writes: John F Deane helped rid me of the guilt of Irish Catholicism via IrishTimesOpEd
John F Deane's love of the natural world, far from being an obstacle to the spiritual life, became one of the greatest openings to the divine presence. Photograph: Alan BetsonFor those of us in later life, who grew up in traditional Catholic Ireland, especially in rural areas, our story of religious belief has been interesting, and often difficult. Many of our age group grew tired of all the commandments and threats of eternal damnation, and ceased believing.
Some of us, without losing faith – faith in God, as distinct from a faith that equated with adherence to rules – struggled to find a more meaningful image of God, based on the words of Jesus: that he is the way, the truth and the life. A new book, just published, by poet John F Deane, Song of the Goldfinch, is the best description I have read of a life journey from a narrow religious belief to one that, in his own words, seeks to be “exuberantly open to the world”.
Growing up on Achill Island, he developed a deep love of nature in all its manifestations. After five years boarding in a Jesuit school he spent a few years in a seminary, but left well before making any final commitment. Gradually he began to question the church, and most especially the image of a distant and judgmental God it presented.
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