Seeds of Truth Ministries

Joseph Hollcraft

Till We Have Faces


In today’s book recommendation we will take a look at a work written by C.S. Lewis in his later years. One of Lewis’ lesser known books, Till We Have Faces is a retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche told from the perspective of Psyche’s older sister, Orual.

The original myth tells of Psyche, a woman so beautiful she was revered by men and envied by women, including the goddess, Venus. Fueled by jealousy, Venus approached her son Cupid and charged him with the responsibility of punishing Psyche. However, he fell in love with Psyche and took her away to his palace. They were intimate by the cover of darkness, as Cupid did not allow Psyche to look on his face. Psyche’s sisters visited her and out of jealousy convinced her to light a lamp to reveal the god’s face. Cupid banished Psyche, and she was left to roam the earth until she was able to again prove her worth through many trials, reuniting herself to Cupid.

In Lewis’ exploration of this myth, readers are seeing the story unfold through Orual’s eyes. He presents readers with two sisters: one is beautiful, well- loved, and faith- filled while the other is ugly, bitter, and filled with doubts. Psyche, the great beauty, seems to have it easy, even when her people turn against her she is taken into the home of a god. Orual, the bitter sister, seems to have been dealt a harsh hand, even the one who loves her best, Psyche, leaves her. Both sisters speak to our own humanity. Psyche, in her longing for a great romance and feeling displaced in the world of men, echoes our own longing for a heavenly home. In her bitterness, Orual lodges a complaint against the gods and expresses frustration with the gods’ silence; a frustration not unknown.  

As the story unfolds we find that both sisters must make a hard journey. Psyche must make her way back to a god she has faith in, a god whose love she craves. Orual must journey to find the truth about the gods, and in the meantime must discover her own worth. Lewis’ retelling is beautiful and thought provoking as it addresses our deepest longing, the very thing we were made for, and our deepest wounds. It is certainly a worthwhile and deeply satisfying read. 

Written by Katie Hollcraft

Get the book at http://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/till-we-have-faces/author/lewi...

View Dr. Hollcraft's author profile on Amazon
Unleashing the Power of Intercessory Prayer - Book Cover

“Hollcraft's book engagingly integrates his personal experience with the luminous witness of Scripture and the overflowing holiness of the saints to help you maximize the effectiveness of your intercessory prayer.”
Bishop Liam Cary
Diocese of Baker, Oregon

“With this book, Hollcraft opens the door to the humble act of praying for others and invites us, through practical and accessible tips, to step through that door with trust.”
Dr. Anthony Lilles
Author and Academic Dean of Saint Patrick's Seminary, Menlo Park (CA)

"As I read through these pages, I am reminded of our beautiful calling to pray for others, and Dr. Hollcraft explains here how to do so in deepest intimacy with Jesus Christ!"
Fr. Dave Pivonka T.O.R.
President of Franciscan University of Steubenville

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A Heart for Evangelizing - Book Cover

“Evangelization is never about numbers, and never about programs. It’s one heart setting another on fire. With this book, Dr. Hollcraft helps us keep the home fires burning—even as we set the world ablaze with Christ.”
Mike Aquilina
Award-winning author of more than 40 popular books

“Hollcraft wonderfully displays the tapestry of Catholic life and evangelization by weaving solid Catholic teaching, its application to the modern world, and clearly expressed examples that bring out the light and shadows of this beautiful picture.”
Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J.
Author, television host, Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center
for Biblical Theology

"In a world of burgeoning textbooks and media, the reminder that  catechesis is inescapably a personal task to which we are all called, through a cooperation with the redeeming and educative work of the Person of the Holy Trinity, is a timely and important one."
Dr. Petroc Willey
Professor of Catechetics, Franciscan University of Steubenville

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