--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not surprising if, despite being…" description: "\"“It is not surprising if, despite being far apart, we are present to each other and, without being acquainted, know each other, because we are members ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/pope-benedict-xvi-414_far-apart_it-is-not-surprising-if-despite-being-fa_1810618.jpg" --- # It is not surprising if, despite being far apart, we are… ![“It is not surprising if, despite being far apart, we are present to each other and, without being acquainted, know each other, because we are members of one body, we have one head, we are steeped in one grace, we live on one loaf, we walk on one road, and we dwell in the same house” (Ep. 6, 2).” quote by Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/pope-benedict-xvi-414_far-apart_it-is-not-surprising-if-despite-being-fa_1810618.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/pope-benedict-xvi-414_far-apart_it-is-not-surprising-if-despite-being-fa_1810618.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/pope-benedict-xvi-414_far-apart_it-is-not-surprising-if-despite-being-fa_1810618.jpg) > ““It is not surprising if, despite being far apart, we are present to each other and, without being acquainted, know each other, because we are members of one body, we have one head, we are steeped in one grace, we live on one loaf, we walk on one road, and we dwell in the same house” (Ep. 6, 2).”” [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human beings share a spiritual unity that transcends distance and acquaintance, forming one body under divine grace. **In simple terms:** We are spiritually connected as one. Key Takeaway Recognize shared humanity. Themes unity spirituality community Mood hopeful serene Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - social work - global cooperation Key Concepts Theology anthropology Questions to Reflect On - How can we nurture this unity daily? - What barriers hinder our sense of on? A Different Perspective Physical separation can still cause misunderstanding and division. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquainted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquainted/) [Acquainted Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquainted-know-2110873/) [Apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apart/) [Apart Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apart-present-2090228/) [Far apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far-apart/) [Present Acquainted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-acquainted-2110872/) ## Related quotes > [“Don't put the material first, for you have to live with yourself a long, long while! Become acquainted with yourself. Know yourself and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/don-t-put-the-material-first-for-you-have-to-live-with-yourself-a/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [“I can’t imagine a without her. Even while we’re apart, she’s still so present in my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurelin-paige/i-can-t-imagine-a-without-her-even-while-we-re-apart-she-s-still-so/) [Laurelin Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurelin-paige/) > [Know thyself means this, that you get acquainted with what you know, and what you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menander/know-thyself-means-this-that-you-get-acquainted-with-what-you-know/) [Menander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menander/) > [“Let's just say that during my travels I've become acquainted with interior states that collapse the distance between people. Sometimes, despite how far apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/let-s-just-say-that-during-my-travels-i-ve-become-acquainted-with/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [With those people, I'm very far apart, because I believe that government access to communications and stored records is valuable when done under tightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-those-people-i-m-very-far-apart-because-i-believe-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Though we're far apart, you're always in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-loveable/though-we-re-far-apart-you-re-always-in-my-heart/) [Arjun Loveable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-loveable/) > [The covers of this book are too far apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/the-covers-of-this-book-are-too-far-apart/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [When two people are meant for each other, no time is too long, no distance is too far, and nobody can keep them apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-two-people-are-meant-for-each-other-no-time-is-too-long-no-4/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It’d been a long time since they’d been together, but as close as they were physically, they’d never been so far apart in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-faye/it-d-been-a-long-time-since-they-d-been-together-but-as-close-as-they/) [Jennifer Faye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-faye/) > [Two separate, distinct personalities, not separate at all, but inextricably bound, soul and body and mind, to each other, how did we get so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/two-separate-distinct-personalities-not-separate-at-all-but/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [But I know this. We're ready to move forward again in our way. Together or apart, no matter how far apart, we live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/but-i-know-this-we-re-ready-to-move-forward-again-in-our-way-together/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [We were gone our own ways. Oue lives grew apart and we've made a life with another. But despite of how far apart we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldyna-threesya/we-were-gone-our-own-ways-oue-lives-grew-apart-and-we-ve-made-a-life/) [Aldyna Threesya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldyna-threesya/) > [“Why are they crying so far apart?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/why-are-they-crying-so-far-apart/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I judge movies on how much fun I had while I was doing them. I had a great time on 'The Right Stuff.' Doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/i-judge-movies-on-how-much-fun-i-had-while-i-was-doing-them-i-had-a/) [Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/) > [No matter how far apart we are we will always be under the same sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-far-apart-we-are-we-will-always-be-under-the-same-sky/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Pope Benedict XVI > [The fact that the Lord can work and act even with insufficient means consoles me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-fact-that-the-lord-can-work-and-act-even-with-insufficient-means/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Continue to witness to the Gospel every day and commit yourselves generously in the next missionary initiatives in the Diocese of Rome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/continue-to-witness-to-the-gospel-every-day-and-commit-yourselves/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus’ example of fidelity to prayer challenges us to examine the time and effort we devote to our own prayer. While prayer is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-example-of-fidelity-to-prayer-challenges-us-to-examine-the-time/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [If we look to the saints, this great luminous wake with which God has passed through history, we truly see that here is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-we-look-to-the-saints-this-great-luminous-wake-with-which-god-has/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“Joseph Ratzinger never developed his own theological system. As a theologian he took on what was there, discerned its essentials, situated it in relation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joseph-ratzinger-never-developed-his-own-theological-system-as-a/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus Christ does not teach us a spirituality “of closed eyes”, but one of “alertness”, one which entails an absolute duty to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-christ-does-not-teach-us-a-spirituality-of-closed-eyes-but-one/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Joy is the true gift of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joy-is-the-true-gift-of-christmas/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Material possessions, in themselves, are good. We would not survive for long without money, clothing and shelter. We must eat in order to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/material-possessions-in-themselves-are-good-we-would-not-survive-for/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [One of the promising indications of a renewal in the Church's missionary consciousness in recent decades, has been the growing desire of many lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/one-of-the-promising-indications-of-a-renewal-in-the-church-s/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [God loves us despite our shortcomings and sins, and his love gives meaning to our lives and to the life of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/god-loves-us-despite-our-shortcomings-and-sins-and-his-love-gives/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [It's a great responsibility before God, the judge who guides us, who draws us to truth and good, and in this sense the church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-s-a-great-responsibility-before-god-the-judge-who-guides-us-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Discovering the beauty and joy of faith is a path that every new generation must take on its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/discovering-the-beauty-and-joy-of-faith-is-a-path-that-every-new/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods that are cleverly drawn up and "efficient", but is the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/apostolic-and-missionary-fruitfulness-is-not-principally-due-to/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) [Explore all 575 Pope Benedict XVI quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## More Acquainted quotes > [“But I believe we don't know folks, we're acquainted with them. There's always something in an individual you ain't never going to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/but-i-believe-we-don-t-know-folks-we-re-acquainted-with-them-there-s/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) > [“personally acquainted with them,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-gaffney/personally-acquainted-with-them/) [Virginia Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-gaffney/) > [People are becoming more intimately acquainted with people who are different than them - it's not so unusual anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/people-are-becoming-more-intimately-acquainted-with-people-who-are/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [A lot happened in Vancouver. It was my first Western experience. I learned English, which is my second language. I became very acquainted with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/a-lot-happened-in-vancouver-it-was-my-first-western-experience-i/) [Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/) > [Avarice and Happiness never saw each other, how then should they become acquainted?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/avarice-and-happiness-never-saw-each-other-how-then-should-they/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Poetry carries its history within it, and it is oral in origin. Its transmission was oral. Its transmission today is still in part oral,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fenton/poetry-carries-its-history-within-it-and-it-is-oral-in-origin-its/) [James Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fenton/) > [He that has never known adversity is but half acquainted with others, or with himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/he-that-has-never-known-adversity-is-but-half-acquainted-with-others/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The best way to become acquainted with a subject is to write about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-best-way-to-become-acquainted-with-a-subject-is-to-write-about-it/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The churches have no confidence in each other. Why? Because they are acquainted with each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-churches-have-no-confidence-in-each-other-why-because-they-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“When we become acquainted with any person on a human level, even a great enemy, we begin to see that no person is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-we-become-acquainted-with-any-person-on-a-human-level-even-a/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“An artist has got to get acquainted with himself just as much as he can. It is no easy job, for it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/an-artist-has-got-to-get-acquainted-with-himself-just-as-much-as-he/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [“Acquainted with the Night I have been one acquainted with the night. I have walked out in rain—and back in rain. I have outwalked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/acquainted-with-the-night-i-have-been-one-acquainted-with-the-night-i/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [I see by your eagerness, and the wonder and hope which your eyes express, my friend, that you expect to be in formed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-see-by-your-eagerness-and-the-wonder-and-hope-which-your-eyes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have had the opportunity to become acquainted with many wonderful people from many walks of life. I have known rich and poor, famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/i-have-had-the-opportunity-to-become-acquainted-with-many-wonderful/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [In friendship, as in love, we are often more happy from the things we are ignorant of than from those we are acquainted with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/in-friendship-as-in-love-we-are-often-more-happy-from-the-things-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) [Browse all 39 Acquainted quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquainted/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is not surprising if, despite being far apart, we are present to each other and, without being acquainted, know each other, because we are members of one body, we have one head, we are steeped in one grace, we live on one loaf, we walk on one road, and we dwell in the same house” (Ep. 6, 2).”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pope Benedict XVI" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-is-not-surprising-if-despite-being-far-apart-we-are-present-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acquainted" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-is-not-surprising-if-despite-being-far-apart-we-are-present-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/pope-benedict-xvi-414_far-apart_it-is-not-surprising-if-despite-being-fa_1810618.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/pope-benedict-xvi-414_far-apart_it-is-not-surprising-if-despite-being-fa_1810618.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/pope-benedict-xvi-414_far-apart_it-is-not-surprising-if-despite-being-fa_1810618.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not surprising if, despite being far apart, we are present to each other and, without being…” — Pope Benedict XVI", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Pope Benedict XVI", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is not surprising if, despite...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-is-not-surprising-if-despite-being-far-apart-we-are-present-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-is-not-surprising-if-despite-being-far-apart-we-are-present-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```