Dear reader,
I am a Jane Austen fan.
For me, there are many lessons for one’s faith journey to be gleaned from Austen’s novels.
Here are a few:
1. Pride and Prejudice: Just as Lizzy and Darcy realize change is necessary to self-awareness and to make their romance bloom, so is change needed for spiritual growth. How is God calling you to change and grow in holiness right now?
2. Sense and Sensibility: Sisters Elinor and Marianne are the epitome of sense and sensibility. Sense and sensibility are duly needed in faith, too. Feeling the consolation of faith is a blessed thing, but it is sensible to keep at prayer even if we feel like God is not listening—because he is.
3. Persuasion: The long-waited reunion of Anne and Captain Wentworth illustrates that love never fails (see 1 Corinthians 13), which is exactly what we always need to remember in terms of our faith: The long wait for Lent and the sorrow of the cross lead to the victory of the Resurrection and the Easter season.
4. Emma: The gentlemanly guidance of Mr. Knightley helps the heroine become a better person. Love always helps us to become better people, which is what the love of Christ should remind us each day.
5. Mansfield Park: Fanny’s goodness is what matters most in the novel, in achieving her happily-ever-after ending. Goodness is important in our faith lives too, as Romans 8:28 reminds us: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
6. Northanger Abbey: Catherine realizes she needs to pay attention to Henry, not Gothic novels. How does this translate to faith? We should pay due attention to the amazing people God has blessed us with in our lives now, not pining for what might come later—or be unduly plugged into our electronic devices. As St. Gianna—whose feast day is April 28—said, “Live holy the present moment.”
Thanks, Jane, for the inspiring reads...and for faith-filled ideas!
Amy Smith is the associate editor for the National Catholic Register.
