Books Quote by John Irving
““while we waited to see what God would do. I heard a tear fall—it was one of my grandmother’s tears, and I heard it patter upon the cover of the Pilgrim Hymnal, which she held in her lap. “Please give us back Owen Meany,” Mr. Merrill said. When nothing happened, my father said: “O God—I shall keep asking You!” Then he once more turned to The Book of Common Prayer; it was unusual for a Congregationalist—especially, in a nondenominational church—to be using the prayer book so scrupulously, but I was sure that my father respected that Owen had been an Episcopalian””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving, 1989
The passage reflects a family's desperate hope and prayer for a lost loved one, intertwining grief, faith, and the ritual of prayer.
In simple terms: Family prays for a lost child.
Key Takeaway
Hold onto hope and ritual in grief.
Themes
faith
grief
hope
family
ritual
Mood
somber
hopeful
contemplative
Type
spiritual
emotional
When to use this quote
- family bereavement
- church services
- personal prayer
- coping with illness
Key Concepts
prayer
loss
spiritual yearning
intergenerational trauma
Questions to Reflect On
- What role does ritual play in coping with loss?
- How does faith shape our response to unanswered prayers?
A Different Perspective
Faith may not always bring immediate answers, leading to frustration.
![“JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" [Owen Meany] said crossly. "LOOK AT THOSE WEIRDO TV MIRACLE-WORKERS--THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC! BUT THE REAL MIRACLES AREN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN…” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70e/john-irving-337_atheists_just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-bet_31804.jpg)
