"Be grateful for holiness when you find it among churchmen, but do not expect it. As Flannery O'Connor wrote, 'All human nature vigorously resists grace because grace changes us and the change is painful. Priests resist it as well as others.' To combat the temptation to idealize the clergy, practice thinking of them not as saints but as fellow sinners. Tolkien's advice about viewing your partner in love as a 'companion in shipwreck' is a useful point of view to adopt toward the Church and its clergy."
- How Dante Can Save Your Life, by Rod Dreher
So very true. What a great quote! I like that phrase, 'companions in shipwreck'.
ReplyDeleteYes - leave it to Tolkien!
Deleteso, I totally have to read this book based on this quote. thank you. came at the perfect time, so beautiful....
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