On this day, June 1, 1985 Dominican priest Paul Hynes died

I imagine most of us in our lives meet people who greatly impress us; they leave their mark on us and we consider them to be fine people. 

I was once asked by a group of Dominicans what criteria did I use to say someone was a great person. I half-seriously half flippantly replied, anyone I felt who liked me I considered them to be a great person. 

Today is the 41st anniversary of the death of Dominican priest Paul Hynes. He was 51 when he died.

Many people of my generation were greatly impressed with him. He was dynamic, always questioning, in touch with people, I imagine a prayerful person. And he could not tolerate all forms of BS, and let it be known

What would he think of the state of the Irish Dominican province today? What at all is he thinking about us as he experiences the Beatific Vision?

Only God knows, maybe he too.

We were told as novices all good Dominicans die in their 40s; maybe there’s something to it? He was close enough.

Maybe dying in our 40s we have less chance of doing all the wrong things, annoying and upsetting people. Do we get more arrogant the older we get? Maybe the opposite is the case and we have the sense to realise the world and everything to do with the world is far more nuanced than we had imagined. We can never see things in terms of black and white, or can we.

Personally I’d much prefer an easy faith to a solid one.

Paul Hynes had the ability to be tough, indeed, he was a no-nonsense man, sometimes, when required.