Communion Quote by Alexander Schmemann
““Not given, not blessed by God, it was food whose eating was condemned to be communion with itself alone, and not with God. It is the image of the world loved for itself, and eating it is the image of life understood as an end in itself.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Eucharist: Sacrament of the Church by Alexander Schmemann, 1973
The quote warns that treating the world merely as an end in itself, detached from the divine, leads to a hollow, self‑absorbing existence.
In simple terms: World‑focused life without God is empty.
Key Takeaway
Seek purpose beyond materialism.
Themes
spirituality
materialism
purpose
Mood
contemplative
serious
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- religious study
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
theology
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance appreciation of the world with spiritual meaning?
- Can material joy coexist with divine purpose?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook the value of tangible experiences and community.
![“To be more precise... death is [contrary to] God, and if death is natural, if it is the ultimate truth about life and about the world, if it is the highest and immutable law about all of creation, then there is no God, then this whole story about creation, about joy, and about the light of life is…” quote by Alexander Schmemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4e8/alexander-schmemann-18392_christian_to-be-more-precise-death-is-contrary-to_126170.jpg)
![“The additional problem with all these proofs [of the immortality of the soul] is that in their attempt to affirm the existence of another world, they in fact undermine the reality and the value of this visible world. It is, of course, the perennial argument: things are awful here, therefore let us…” quote by Alexander Schmemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/85b/alexander-schmemann-18392_another-world_the-additional-problem-with-all-these-pr_278162.jpg)
