Silence of Space

Paul Claudel (1868–1955), the French dramatist and poet is perhaps best known as the author of the play “The Satin Slipper.” As a young man, Claudel experienced a private revelation while attending services on Christmas Day in the famous Notre Dame Cathedral. He wrote that in a single moment that day, he realized, “God exists; He is there. He is someone; He is a being as personal as I am! He loves me; He calls me.” His conversion, though, was not immediate or simple; he struggled mightily with doubts and fears. Nevertheless, he eventually entered the Church — dedicating himself to writing about the drama of salvation, the struggle of faith in a faithless world, and the intimate love God has for his creatures.

Among Claudel’s most significant influences was the 17th-century philosopher and mathematician, Blaise Pascal, who wrote: “The Pensées” (Thoughts), which is a collection of fragments on theology and philosophy. In one of the reflections He writes, “When I consider the short…