"I Give You Back To God"

[parthens]

Victor Hugo did not have many good things to say about the established church of his day, so replete it was with corruption and materialism. As a rebuke to the religious status quo, Hugo created the character of the good bishop Myriel in his immortal novel, Les Miserables, who was in fact modeled after a real-life priest. Of this man of God Hugo writes,

“There are men who toil at extracting gold; he toiled at the extraction of pity. Universal misery was his mine. The sadness which reigned everywhere was but an excuse for unfailing kindness.
‘Love one another’; he declared this to be complete, desired nothing further, and that was the whole of his doctrine.”

The following scene from the 1998 film version of Hugo’s novel depicts homeless convict Jean Valjean’s late-night burglarizing the bishop’s home after the bishop offered him food and lodging. The bishop’s response is one of the greatest passages in all of literature.

[KarenM]

Thank you for your post. I have seen the movie you refer to and remember how touching that scene was and the look on Valjean’s face. How the world needs this reminder today that just one kind, loving gesture can possibly transform a life, and eventually our world.

[chardelle]

Very beautiful thank you!!!

[Florence]

‘Love one another;’ This command is worthy of all the prayers and study in order to understand and live all that that summation of our Master’s mission entails. Yes the clip above is beautiful and so true!

[Author]

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