Conclusion
Militancy is always so clear; contemplation is always so muddy and ambiguous.
Did the Neil who read Chesterton's wonderful poem believe that Lepanto had for all time ended the conflict between two peoples who followed different truths? What of the Neil who paid homage to Thomas Aquinas for the many tranquil months (or years) that the monk spent forging a single philosophical argument from the writings of an ancient Greek, Muslims, and other Catholics?
The view of history that we learned in high school was often simplified: the Middle Ages were followed by the Renaissance, then by the Reformation, then by the Industrial Revolution, etc. It only seemed clear-cut because so many complications had been stripped away.
The real world is never like that. Through the distance of time, the life of Muhammed V, who built his palace in Granada with little Stars of David and crosses worked into the windows and walls, seems rather serene. In reality, his reign was beset with tumult. He was deposed; the usurper was later murdered by a second usurper, who in turn was beheaded by a Christian enemy - all of which allowed Muhammed V to regain his throne. Much of his era did not reflect the noble and peaceful ideals shown in his work.
The same can be said of the era in which Aquinas pondered theology and philosophy: during those decades, wave upon wave of Crusaders and Saracens were slaughtering each other in the East.
Oratory at Nasrid Palace, The Alhambra
In this Islamic prayer room, each upper window's geometric decor
forms many six-pointed stars, some of which are highlighted in the
enlargement. A large star sits in the center; the area around it
contains twelve smaller stars, symbolic of the Tribes of Israel.
photograph by Ronald A. Wencer
What was a man like Neil, who believed both in quiet contemplation and fighting the good fight, to do? Perhaps in teaching poetry and philosophy, he found bridges to the idealized medieval realms through which his mind wanted to roam.
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Extracted from the 1980 Comet Yearbook
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Following Up
With further input, other perspectives of Neil O'Doherty will be presented here in a month or two. I hope to hear from you about him.
