Obituary of Fr. Daniel J.
Harrington prepared by Boston College
Rev.
Daniel Harrington, SJ, an eminent scholar, author and professor of Sacred
Scripture at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry, died at Campion
Center in Weston on February 7, after a four-year battle with cancer. He was
73.
Fr.
Harrington’s dedication to Biblical scholarship was reflected in the more than
60 books he authored, shedding light on Scripture and the life and times of
Jesus, and his decades-long tenure as the general editor of New Testament
Abstracts, summarizing literature on the New Testament from hundreds of
books and journals throughout the world. He also wrote “The Word” column for America
magazine for three years.
A
longtime faculty member at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge,
Fr. Harrington – who held two degrees from Boston College – returned to his
alma mater in 2008 as part of Weston Jesuit’s re-affiliation with BC and joined
the newly established School of Theology and Ministry (STM).
In
November, after Fr. Harrington had announced that 2013-14 was to be his final
year of teaching, STM hosted a tribute that was attended by family members,
friends, colleagues, and current and former students. Among the speakers was
best-selling author and media commentator James Martin, SJ, who described the
powerful impact of Fr. Harrington’s teaching.
Fr.
Harrington’s Introduction to the New Testament class “changed my life,” said
Fr. Martin, who dedicated his forthcoming book Jesus: A Pilgrimage to
Fr. Harrington. “Today, I feel like I see the gospels through Dan’s eyes. What
I mean is that I see the gospels with both the eyes of faith and a critical
mind.
“In
a sense, Dan’s teaching was very much like Jesus’ use of the parables,
communicating complicated truths to us in simple ways. And as with Jesus’ parables,
this was a great act of charity and love.”
Fr.
Harrington’s five decades as a Jesuit was also marked by his pastoral service
to the faithful. Every Sunday for more than 42 years, he celebrated Mass at St.
Agnes Parish in his hometown of Arlington, Mass.; he also presided at the noon
Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s in Cambridge for more than 20 years. Fr. Harrington
delighted in telling fellow Jesuits that a parishioner once said him, “You know
I used to think you were boring until I started listening to you.”
The
son of an Irish immigrant, Fr. Harrington was born in Arlington and attended
St. Agnes Grammar School where he was taught by the Sisters of St.
Joseph. He won a full academic scholarship to Boston College High School
where he also played hockey and baseball. Citing his positive experience with
his Jesuit teachers, he chose to enter the Society of Jesus upon graduation and
was in the first class of novices to enter the Jesuit Novitiate in Gloucester
in 1958.
In
1962 Fr. Harrington studied philosophy at Weston Jesuit School of Theology
where he met Fr. John J. Collins, S.J., then editor of New Testament
Abstracts (NTA), who enlisted his help in writing abstracts
and book notices. He would be associated with New Testament Abstracts
for more than 50 years, serving as its editor from 1972 until his death. After
studying philosophy, Fr. Harrington studied Ancient Near Eastern languages at
Harvard University, where he received his doctorate. While studying at Harvard,
he took courses at Hebrew University and the Dominican École Biblique de
Jerusalem. Fr. Harrington completed his theological studies at Weston Jesuit in
1969. He was ordained in 1971 at St. Ignatius Church – in the very shadow of
Boston College – and after serving as a professor of sacred scripture at St.
Mary of the Lake Seminary in Illinois, became a faculty member at Weston Jesuit
School of Theology in 1972.
He
is survived by his brother Edward, of Braintree, Mass.
A wake is scheduled for St. Ignatius Church on Wednesday February 12, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, followed by a Mass that evening. He will be buried at the province cemetery in Weston, Mass., on Thursday, February 13 after a mass at 10:00 am at the Holy Spirit Chapel in Campion Center.
Juan Miguel Betancourt
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