The Role of Literature in Formation
Written by Colleen Hutt
I was delighted to see Pope Francis’s recent “Letter on the Role of Literature in Formation” and I wholeheartedly agree that we need “a radical change of course” in education.
As we become more dependent upon technology and artificial intelligence, I am grateful Pope Francis is challenging us to awaken our humanity!
Stories have staying power. They can show us the depravity of sin and the greatness for which we are created in short order by artfully crafting images that move our hearts.
Literature has the ability to bring reality to life in a concrete way. Reading Les Miserables, I was moved by Jean Valjean‘s perseverance as he crawls through stench and filth, with Marius on his back, to give his life for another. When I am challenged to find the strength to keep loving, I think of Valjean, and I am encouraged to take another step.
We might know theologically that sin stains the soul, but when we read a book like The Picture of Dorian Gray, we see that precept enfleshed. The disfigured portrait of Dorian reminds us our daily choices matter. Sin and selfishness corrupt our beauty and darken the mind.
Literature informs our moral imagination by providing us with examples to follow when we might not know what to do or how to act. Literature also develops our sacramental imagination. By this, I mean the ability to believe there is more to life than what is simply materially present.
When we read, we have to do the hard work of bringing the scenes and characters to life through our imagination. This work requires both an intellectual and emotive engagement. When our head and heart work together to discern meaning, transformation becomes possible.
For the past 12 years, Well-Read Mom has seen firsthand how literature transforms lives. In Well-Read Mom, our mission is to accompany women in the reading of great books and spiritual classics to encourage personal growth, friendship, and meaningful conversation in order to explore the human condition and re-orient ourselves to what is good, true, and beautiful. We are just beginning our 12th year and we invite you to join us!
When we reclaim leisure and prioritize reading, our lives, become a “telescope” and a “photo lab” as Pope Francis describes. We learn to see our own beautiful, mysterious, created existence more clearly and we get a better picture of how to live in this world and prepare for the next.
When we grow in our humanity, we become closer to God. Loving God and loving people can never be separated.
Perhaps literature could be a new entry point to bring people to God by bringing forth the deepest questions of human existence. Thank you, Pope Francis, for encouraging us to grow!
About Colleen Hutt
Colleen Hutt graduated from the University of Notre Dame’s Program of Liberal Studies. She has worked as a Director of Religious Education in Venice, FL and as a Pastoral Associate for Adult Formation in Whitefish Bay and Fox Point, WI. She and her husband, Colin, have five children and one grandchild. She is an active parishioner of St. Monica Parish in Whitefish Bay. She continues to help with adult and youth formation, Eucharistic Adoration, leads Church tours, contributes to St. Vincent de Paul meal program, mentors engaged couples and is passionate about supporting the Women’s Care Center in Milwaukee. She leads two Well Read Mom groups currently and serves on the WRM national committee and is the WRM Director of Pilgrimage. She loves learning and growing in her faith and tries to approach the struggles of modern life from the heart of the Church.
About Well-Read Mom
In Well-Read Mom, women read more and read well. Our hope is to deepen the awareness of meaning hidden in each woman’s daily life. We long to elevate the cultural conversation and revitalize reading literature from books. If you would like us to help you select worthy reading material, we invite you to join and read along. We are better together! For information on how to start or join a Well-Read Mom group visit our website wellreadmom.com
