Father Don Giovanni Calabria, manager of an orphanage in Verona, first wrote to C.S. Lewis in 1947 after reading The Screwtape Letters. From this came an earnest exchange of letters with particular emphasis on all matters theological. As Calabria did not know English and Lewis did not know Italian, the two corresponded exclusively in Latin.
Oxford
17th March 1953
My dearest Father,
I was delighted, as always, by your letter.
It is a wonderful thing and a strengthening of faith that two souls differing from each other in place, nationality, language, obedience and age should have been thus led into a delightful friendship; so far does the order of spiritual beings transcend the material order.
It makes easier that necessary doctrine that we are most closely joined together… even though as to body, time and place we have lived so differently from both. This unity of the whole human race exists: would that there existed that nobler union of which you write. No day do I let pass without my praying for that longed-for consummation.
What you say about the present state of mankind is true: indeed, it is even worse than you say.
For they neglect not only the law of Christ but even the Law of Nature as known by the Pagans. For now they do not blush at adultery, treachery, perjury, theft and the other crimes which I will not say Christian doctors, but that pagans and the barbarous have themselves denounced.
They err who say “the world is turning pagan again”. Would that it were! The truth is that we are falling into a much worse state.
“Post-Christian man” is not the same as “pre-Christian man”. He is as far removed as virgin is from widow: there is nothing in common except want of a spouse: but there is a great difference between a spouse-to-come and a spouse lost.
I am still working on my book on Prayer.
About this question which I submitted to you, I am asking all theologians: so far in vain…
Farewell,
C. S. Lewis
From Letters: C. S. Lewis, Don Giovanni Calabria. Translated and edited by Martin Moynihan. London: Collins, 1989.
For the story of how Lewis and Calabria’s correspondence began.
Another fan-mail relationship that took a serious turn.