Graham Greene
Richard Greene’s new biography Russian Roulette: The Life and Times of Graham Greene has been widely praised in the British Press since the publication of the UK Edition at the beginning of September. It has been admired elsewhere as well. Here is poem by Fr. Gerard Garrigan OSB, who was inspired to write by reading the biography and thinking about Graham Greene during his birthday month.
Dedicated to Richard Greene on the gift of his masterful and powerful biography of Graham Greene
I OFFERED MASS FOR GRAHAM GREENE TODAY
I offered Mass for you today
Who burned your candle at three ends
As you fled boredom all your life –
A manic dash to war, to strife,
To pleasures none of which would last
Belief in flux, but not your faith
You thought that you were far from him
Distancing him by all your sin
Though indiscretions multiplied
Throughout your long and troubled span
Of many years bereft of peace
His love for you would not decrease
His love for you was infinite
Not one precious drop of blood less
He there with you, though to you unknown
Till he brought you finally home
To know that peace you knew not here
In this your sort of life on earth
Where you could feel, feel only pain
But not his grace that still remained
His love for you was infinite
Not one precious drop of blood less
He there with you, though to you unknown
Till he brought you mercifully home
Fr. Gerard Garrigan OSB
Saint Louis Abbey
St. Louis, Missouri
Readers of A Sort of Newsletter may remember that Gerard contributed ‘In Greeneland (To Graham Greene)’ to the journal in February 2018.