Flannery always said it right

Tuscan school Mid- 12th century

Crucifix with the story of the Passion of Christ

Tempera on wood

276 x 231 cm

Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

“What people don’t realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross.” 

Flannery O`Connor, The Habit of Being

The Christian Science Monitor reminds us that this is the birthday of the American author Flannery O`Connor (1925-1964) 

Next year is the fiftieth anniversary of her death

They quote ten memorable quotes from her pen, one of which is above and quite appropriate in Holy Week

Another one is from Wise Blood:  

“It began to drizzle rain and he turned on the windshield wipers; they made a great clatter like two idiots clapping in church.”

Her literary criticism was spot on as can be seen from the following quote from The Habit of Being:

“I hope you don’t have friends who recommend Ayn Rand to you. The fiction of Ayn Rand is as low as you can get re fiction. I hope you picked it up off the floor of the subway and threw it in the nearest garbage pail. She makes Mickey Spillane look like Dostoevsky.”