PRAYING THE PASCHAL MYSTERY
by Brother Tom O’Dempsey
The use of a Religious Brother’s prayer-poems for daily reflection
An exercise in living the Paschal Mystery through contemplation
The focus is on “Paschal living – Our Ascension to God in Christ … Humanity uplifted to the Divine”
I have given over this space on my website to allow the publication of poetry by Brother Tom O’Dempsey, who is now in his seventies. This poetry is deeply prayerful, and springs from his many years as a Secondary teacher, as a full-time teacher in prisons, and as a contemplative. His background is Catholic, and his poetry reflects this. Yet the poetry is deeply ecumenical and Gospel-based.
Brother Tom has been prolific in his writings, and he offers them as a gift to anyone who wishes to imbibe their spirit of prayerfulness and joyful openness to Jesus Christ.
Feel free to copy any of these poems for personal or group use, but not for publication.
Brother Tom says:
“Heartfelt thanks to Mr Patrick Oliver, my spiritual director since 2002, on whose website all my poetry is generously on offer.
Heartfelt thanks also too Br Kev McDade CFC, my friend since 1967, who has so very selflessly typed my poetry (1400 poems to 2024!).”
Br Tom O’Dempsey, now in his 80’s, has been a member of a Catholic religious Order for fifty years plus, in Queensland, Australia. His life has been divided into three key ministries:
Firstly, his calling as a Secondary Teacher of religion and humanities subjects, for sixteen years.
Secondly, his calling to a full-time teaching prison ministry, with courses on self-knowledge, personal relationships, anger management, and drug and alcohol education. This was also for sixteen years.
Thirdly, a perhaps deeper call to a contemplative prayer ministry since 1999 until now – hopefully as A Praying Heart For Others, sans frontiers.
The enduring focus of these prayer-poems is the Paschal Mystery, with a particular emphasis on Abba’s Embrace of the Ascended Jesus – and thus, of us. This Embrace is the focus of all our prayer, of our being en-Spirited for Mission, and of communing in the intimacy of the Fellowship within the Trinity.
FINDING A POEM …
These poems are arranged chronologically: 1960 – 2024.
(Press on the Folio link to go to the poems)
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet A
Folio 1 Poems 1-20
Folio 2 Poems 21-40
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet B
Folio 3 Poems 41-60
Folio 4 Poems 61-80
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet C
Folio 5 Poems 81-100
Folio 6 Poems 101-120
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet D
Folio 7 Poems 121-140
Folio 8 Poems 141-160
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet E
Folio 9 Poems 161-180
Folio 10 Poems 181-200
Folio 11 Poems 201-220
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet F
Folio 12 Poems 221-240
Folio 13 Poems 241-260
Folio 14 Poems 261-280
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet G
Folio 15 Poems 281-299
Folio 16 Poems 300-319
Folio 17 Poems 320-339
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet H
Folio 18 Poems 340-359
Folio 19 Poems 360-379
Folio 20 Poems 380-399
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet I
Folio 21 Poems 400-419
Folio 22 Poems 420-439
Folio 23 Poems 440-459
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet J
Folio 24 Poems 460-479
Folio 25 Poems 480-499
Folio 26 Poems 500-519
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet K
Folio 27 Poems 520-539
Folio 28 Poems 540-559
Folio 29 Poems 560-579
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet L
Folio 30 Poems 580-599
Folio 31 Poems 600-619
Folio 32 Poems 620-639
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet M
Folio 33 Poems 640-659
Folio 34 Poems 660-679
Folio 35 Poems 680-699
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet N
Folio 36 Poems 700-719
Folio 37 Poems 720-739
Folio 38 Poems 740-759
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet O
Folio 39 Poems 760-779
Folio 40 Poems 780-799
Folio 41 Poems 800-819
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet P
Folio 42 Poems 820-839
Folio 43 Poems 840-859
Folio 44 Poems 860-879
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet Q
Folio 45 Poems 880-899
Folio 46 Poems 900-919
Folio 47 Poems 920-939
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet R
Folio 48 Poems 940-959
Folio 49 Poems 960-979
Folio 50 Poems 980-999
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet S
Folio 51 Poems 1000-1019
Folio 52 Poems 1020-1039
Folio 53 Poems 1040-1059
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet T
Folio 54 Poems 1060-1079
Folio 55 Poems 1080-1099
Folio 56 Poems 1100-1119
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet U
Folio 57 Poems 1120-1139
Folio 58 Poems 1140-1159
Folio 59 Poems 1160-1179
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet V
Folio 60 Poems 1180-1199
Folio 61 Poems 1200-1219
Folio 62 Poems 1220-1239
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet W
Folio 63 Poems 1240-1259
Folio 64 Poems 1260-1279
Folio 65 Poems 1280-1299
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet X
Folio 66 Poems 1300-1319
Folio 67 Poems 1320-1339
Folio 68 Poems 1340-1359
Praying the Paschal Mystery – Booklet Y
Folio 69 Poems 1360-1379
Folio 70 Poems 1380-1405