The Leader’s Way 61: Poetry by Heart with Pádraig Ó Tuama
11 snips
Sep 1, 2025 Pádraig Ó Tuama, an Irish theologian, poet, and conflict mediator, shares his insights on the enchanting power of poetry. He discusses how language can evoke delight or terror and the deep connection between poetry and spirituality. Pádraig reflects on the wisdom of Meister Eckhart and the role of poetry in healing divided communities. He also opens up about his journey, including his early call to the priesthood. Throughout the conversation, he reads some of his own evocative poems, emphasizing the transformative nature of words in our lives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Poetry Embedded In Childhood Schooling
- Pádraig learned poetry weekly in school, memorizing about 70 poems between ages five and seventeen.
- That early curriculum embedded poetry into public life and political memory in Ireland.
Language Does Moral Work
- "All language can do the work of delight or terror in us," he says, highlighting language's moral force.
- He prizes style that serves meaning rather than mere cleverness.
Poetry And Theology In Conversation
- Poetry and theology converse from different windows, sometimes describing God and sometimes pointing to what cannot be said.
- He values apophatic approaches like Meister Eckhart's that hold mystery rather than forcing certainty.
