Faith, Pain, Suffering and more – Mary Flannery O’Connor

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Something different that the usual sarcastic shitposting…

I’m probably not the biggest fan of Mary Flannery O’Connor, though I’d like to think I am. I’m not a talented or eloquent enough writer to adequately explain all I think of this writer, but at nearly 70 years of age now, what I can say is that I continue to marvel at her intelligence, creativity, writing abilities, wit, wisdom, faith and more, and all before the age of 39, when she died from Lupus.  

Her suffering from the affects of Lupus was devastating, and started to manifest itself when she was only 24 years old.  Yet she continued to write, continued to create, continued to provide written jolts to awaken those who might need it, or even those who want might want it but don’t know they do.

Bishop Barron Presents – Ethan and Maya Hawke join me to discuss Flannery O’Connor, her short stories, their new film “Wildcat.”  (3 minutes)

“Wildcat”, the movie directed by Ethan Hawke and starring his daughter Maya, is a beautiful film – beautiful in what it shows us of a artist struggling against pain, suffering, doubts and all else that each one of us faces during our lives.

It’s certainly not for everyone, but for those who have read a bit of Miss Flannery, or maybe even just wanted to, or are even a bit intrigued by this woman….it is a gem of a movie, in this old man’s opinion.

It can rented or purchased on Amazon Prime if you might be interested – here’s the link.

Just a note….the first 5 to 7 minutes of the movie are awkward, and one doesn’t really understand where the movie is going.  But if you hang in there beyond those first few minutes…if you have an interest in her and her early writing life, and all she suffered and endured, you probably won’t be disappointed.

And if you might have an interest in her short stories, the following is a wonderful essay on my favorite short story of hers…”Revelation”

 

And the Smug Shall Come Last
Pride, Purgatory and Perfection in Flannery O’Connor’s Short Story “Revelation”
20 April 2002, Stephen Sparrow

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2019 | Martha Argerich plays Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 (rondo) + Bach Gavottes / Scarlatti K141 encores