Fairy Tales Can Come True

My blog of yesterday was about fire-breathing dragons and angels.   It left me wondering about fairy tales and reminded me of the article: “For receptivity to the impossible, we fervently pray” by Melissa Musick Nussbaum.  She published her article in the September 12-25 issue of the National Catholic Reporter.  What’s so attractive and useful about fairy tales?  Why do they appeal to children, as well as adults? 

Melissa Nussbaum explains with examples including this one quote from G.K. Chesterton:  “Fairy tales do not tell children that the dragons exist.  Children already know that dragons exist.  Fairy tales tell children that the dragons can be killed.” 

She notes that children are receptive to the impossible and that sooner or later they will come to understand – using fairy tales as their key to understanding – that good will overcome evil, that men and women can exchange forgiveness for hate, that love triumphs over death.  

It seems that fairy tales make us receptive to all we encounter when first learning our faith especially that part based on biblical tales.   It’s later when we must find and cross the bridge from fantasy to the truths of our faith and the real meaning of what we hear every Sunday, such as bushes that burn and water that turns into wine. 

As a young boy, I for one will never forget Prince Charming’s kiss that awakened Snow White from her deathly sleep caused by the evil queen [no wonder I’m not so crazy about apples]. Perhaps the lesson from that childhood tale is kisses, and the love that flows from them, can awaken people from deathly sleeps of loneliness, sadness, and despair.  Kisses and love do triumph over these deaths.

So, pucker up!

Deacon David Pierce