Daniel Joseph Berrigan was born May 9, 1921 in Virginia, Minnesota. Joseph’s father was a second-generation Irish Catholic was a very busy man. In an article about Joseph Berrigan’s early life, yourdictionary.com had this to say about his father, “His father was a socialist farmer and railroad engineer who wrote poetry and raised his six sons in the brawling, argumentative atmosphere of a small farm near Syracuse, New York.” Despite not being as busy, Berrigan’s mother, Frieda Formhart, was also a very influential person in his life. Berrigan’s mother was a truly loving, and inspirational individual. She would often feed anyone who came to the Berrigan’s door during the great depression. In an article commemorating Berrigan’s life, the staff of the Jonah House spoke very highly of Freida Formhart, “His mother, of German descent, would feed any hobo…show more content… Both of these men were religious figures filled with conviction who shocked the world with their radical, faith abundant actions. Although sitting atop a pillar is vastly different than hammering a nuclear warhead with a hammer, or burning draft papers with napalm. “[Stylites] went up a pillar six to eight feet high, and settled upon it in a little cell, devoting himself to intense prayer and fasting” (Orthodox Church in America). Both of the actions show a tremendous amount of faith and conviction. Also, both of these men had an incredible following. Orthodox Church in America said this in an article about Simeon Stylites, “A whole crowd of people began to throng to the place of his efforts, wanting to receive healing from sickness and to hear a word of Christian edification.” It is absolutely awe inspiring to see how two men of completely different eras of time can be so similar in their path to holiness. The faith of both Stylites and Berrigan sent shock waves of realization through the world. They will both be greatly
