CS Lewis

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David_Zampino

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Greetings all,

Today is the anniversary of the death of the noted Christian author and apologist CS (Jack) Lewis – #1 on every Catholic’s “Gee, I wish he had converted list”. 🙂

Lewis suffered a heart attack brought on by severe renal insufficiency and is buried in the churchyard of his (Anglican) parish in Huntingdon Quarry, just outside of Oxford.

His grave, which he shares with his brother Warnie, is mark with these words:

“Men must endure their going hence”.

In the only sensible thing the Episcopal church has done in decades, Lewis was recently added to their Calendar.

O God of searing truth and surpassing beauty, we give thee thanks for Clive Staples Lewis whose sanctified imagination lighteth fires of faith in young and old alike; Surprise us also with thy joy and draw us into that new and abundant life which is ours in Christ Jesus, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Thanks, Jack – for everything – and rest in peace.
 
David_Zampino said:
Greetings all,

Today is the anniversary of the death of the noted Christian author and apologist CS (Jack) Lewis – #1 on every Catholic’s “Gee, I wish he had converted list”. 🙂

Lewis suffered a heart attack brought on by severe renal insufficiency and is buried in the churchyard of his (Anglican) parish in Huntingdon Quarry, just outside of Oxford.

His grave, which he shares with his brother Warnie, is mark with these words:

“Men must endure their going hence”.

In the only sensible thing the Episcopal church has done in decades, Lewis was recently added to their Calendar.

O God of searing truth and surpassing beauty, we give thee thanks for Clive Staples Lewis whose sanctified imagination lighteth fires of faith in young and old alike; Surprise us also with thy joy and draw us into that new and abundant life which is ours in Christ Jesus, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Thanks, Jack – for everything – and rest in peace.
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Nice message. I always consider the question: Did CS Lewis’ writings more likely lead more people to the Catholic Church or out of it? As a devout fan of Lewis, I believe it is the former and thus his failure to convert may give him the credibility to be read by more than just Catholics. The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways. 👍
 
Orionthehunter said:
Nice message. I always consider the question: Did CS Lewis’ writings more likely lead more people to the Catholic Church or out of it? As a devout fan of Lewis, I believe it is the former and thus his failure to convert may give him the credibility to be read by more than just Catholics. The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways. 👍
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I agree completely. If he had converted, his writings may not have had as much universal appeal throughout all Christian communities. I remember getting “Mere Christianity” as a graduation present from a very protestant parishner at my old church. I didn’t read it for years but once I did it led me to his other stories and helped as a bridge to finding the true church.
 
I like the prayer Lewis’ Church offers in his honor. Of course, they do not ask for his intercession, which is a pity because I know that he must be praying hard for his Anglican communion considering all the heterodoxy that has been allowed to slip in. Lewis was all about seeking the truth, even though he could never get past the prejudice drummed into him as a child.

Like Orionthehunter and dawgfan I too was helped into the Catholic Church through Lewis’ writings. He helped me find my way out of Protestant Pentecostalism back to the ECUSA (the Church of my childhood) and on to the Catholic Church. It would have been so easy for me to have stayed in the communion of Lewis, but I think he now prays for complete conversion (reconciliation) with the true Church for those who come to him to read his words.

In order to have the whole truth–to not compromise–I had to go on from my roots and where I felt comfortable. And that was something he wrote much about, although he himself was unable to do it. So, I too bless his memory and pray that his purgatory be short while all the good he did be merited in his favor.
 
May God bless Clive Staples Lewis, and richly reward him for his devotion to Truth.
May the books Lewis wrote go on bringing people to God.
I have read “Mere Christianity” and other works by Lewis, and I’m very glad that his own people now honor him.
 
Thanks for the reminder. I’ll ask for his intercession in a few minutes, when I do my prayers. He’s one of the wonderful people whose writing kept me Christian, and certainly made it easier for me to convert to Catholicism.
 
Orionthehunter said:
Nice message. I always consider the question: Did CS Lewis’ writings more likely lead more people to the Catholic Church or out of it? As a devout fan of Lewis, I believe it is the former and thus his failure to convert may give him the credibility to be read by more than just Catholics. The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways. 👍
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I agree on all points.

I also suggest that, if he were alive today, he would NOT be part of the peverted “Anglican Communion”.
 
Della said:
I like the prayer Lewis’ Church offers in his honor. Of course, they do not ask for his intercession, which is a pity because I know that he must be praying hard for his Anglican communion considering all the heterodoxy that has been allowed to slip in. Lewis was all about seeking the truth, even though he could never get past the prejudice drummed into him as a child.
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I could not agree more!

Blessings,
 
I love this man to pieces. Bless you Jack!

I’m going to go read The Great Divorce now. 😃
 
Love the man!

If I manage to get to heaven, he is one of the first people I want to look up!🙂
 
I first read the Narnia books as a child, then as a result read Lewis as an adult. I converted to Christianity as a direct result of reading Mere Christianity, along with thousands of others, I’m sure.
God bless C.S. Lewis.
 
Viki59 said:
I first read the Narnia books as a child, then as a result read Lewis as an adult. I converted to Christianity as a direct result of reading Mere Christianity, along with thousands of others, I’m sure.
God bless C.S. Lewis.
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I use “Mere Christianity” and “The Abolition of Man” as cornerstones of the college “Intro to Theology” courses I teach. I’m teaching an upper-division course right now in which I am having the students read “That Hideous Strength”.

Lewis has played a major role in my life.
 
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