My OSV article — Exploring 6 great Christian authors (and how to start reading them)

I had the opportunity to write an article for Our Sunday Visitor which was a lot of fun to write. It includes a sidebar of Christian authors who wrote about things other than faith — like mysteries — but who managed to slip an overtly Christian book into the mix nonetheless.

Here's the introduction and then you can go read the whole thing for yourself online.

“Well, if it’s a symbol, to hell with it.” — Flannery O’Connor, speaking about the Eucharist

“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.” — G.K. Chesterton

“Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine, there’s always laughter and good red wine.” — Hilaire Belloc

Each of these quotes is famous because it pinpoints a truth that is simultaneously reassuring and startling. Yes, the Eucharist is more than a symbol. Yes, children do know about danger. They also need to know it can be overcome. Yes, the Catholic faith is good, delicious and life-affirming.

These quotes are just the tip of the iceberg. We’re going to dive past the quotes and into the work of six great Christian authors of the 20th century to see why they’re so often talked about and cited in the Catholic world. Most people have a superficial sense of these writers and their works. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien are well-known for tales of Narnia and hobbits. Flannery O’Connor seems disturbing, G.K. Chesterton seems confusing, and Graham Greene seems depressing. Hilaire Belloc is practically forgotten — except for the quote above.

But what they all share is a love of Christ and a unique way to bring his message to the world. They wrote to help us readjust our vision to the correct angle for a deeper truth. If you’ve read these authors’ well-known works, we’ve got treasures off of beaten paths. If you have been intimidated by their reputations, we’ve got the perfect “gateway” work to help you see the world — and the Faith — through their eyes.