---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is true that not even Christ is seen…"
description: "\"It is true that not even Christ is seen, but he exists; he is risen, he is alive, he is close to us, more truly than the most enamored husband is close..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/raniero-cantalamessa-37969_alive_it-is-true-that-not-even-christ-is-seen_2426629.png"
---

#  It is true that not even Christ is seen, but he exists; he…

![“It is true that not even Christ is seen, but he exists; he is risen, he is alive, he is close to us, more truly than the most enamored husband is close to his wife. Here is the crucial point: to think of Christ not as a person of the past, but as the risen and living Lord, with whom I can speak…” quote by Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/raniero-cantalamessa-37969_alive_it-is-true-that-not-even-christ-is-seen_2426629.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/raniero-cantalamessa-37969_alive_it-is-true-that-not-even-christ-is-seen_2426629.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/raniero-cantalamessa-37969_alive_it-is-true-that-not-even-christ-is-seen_2426629.png)

> “It is true that not even Christ is seen, but he exists; he is risen, he is alive, he is close to us, more truly than the most enamored husband is close to his wife. Here is the crucial point: to think of Christ not as a person of the past, but as the risen and living Lord, with whom I can speak, whom I can even kiss if I so wish, certain that my kiss does not end on the paper or on the wood of a crucifix, but on a face and on the lips of living flesh (even though spiritualized), happy to receive my kiss.”

[Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote urges believers to experience Christ as a living, present reality rather than a distant historical figure, emphasizing personal intimacy with the divine.

**In simple terms:** Christ is alive and close, not just a past figure.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate a personal, present relationship with Christ.

Themes

faith intimacy spirituality

Mood

reverent hopeful

Type

theological devotional

When to use this quote

- prayer
- personal worship
- spiritual contemplation
- daily devotion

Key Concepts

theology personal relationship incarnation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does personal intimacy with the divine affect daily life?
- What practices help you feel Christ’s presence?

A Different Perspective

Some may view this intimacy as metaphorical rather than literal.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-inspirational/) [Enamored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enamored/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [He is risen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-is-risen/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Kissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissing/) [Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woods/)

## Related quotes

> [The crucified but risen Jesus appears in the believing, assembled community of the church. That this sense of the risen, living Jesus has faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-schillebeeckx/the-crucified-but-risen-jesus-appears-in-the-believing-assembled/)

Edward Schillebeeckx

> [The best proof that Christ has risen is that he is still alive. And for the immense majority of our contemporaries, the only way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-evely/the-best-proof-that-christ-has-risen-is-that-he-is-still-alive-and/)

Louis Evely

> [Jesus's resurrection is the beginning of God's new project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/jesus-s-resurrection-is-the-beginning-of-god-s-new-project/)

[N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/)

> [Our identity as Christians is strengthened as we stand in the lengthening shadows of saints down through the centuries, who have always answered back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/our-identity-as-christians-is-strengthened-as-we-stand-in-the/)

[Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/)

> [Christ the Lord is risen to-day, Sons of men and angels say. Raise your joys and triumphs high; Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wesley/christ-the-lord-is-risen-to-day-sons-of-men-and-angels-say-raise-your/)

[Charles Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wesley/)

> [Christ is risen from the dead!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-green/christ-is-risen-from-the-dead/)

[Keith Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-green/)

> [Death is strong, but Life is stronger ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/death-is-strong-but-life-is-stronger/)

[Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/)

> [Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/immanuel-god-with-us-in-our-nature-in-our-sorrow-in-our-lifework-in/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all he said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-jesus-rose-from-the-dead-then-you-have-to-accept-all-he-said/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [In the bonds of Death He lay Who for our offence was slain; But the Lord is risen to-day, Christ hath brought us life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-the-bonds-of-death-he-lay-who-for-our-offence-was-slain-but-the/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [The message of Easter is that God's new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you're now invited to belong to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/the-message-of-easter-is-that-god-s-new-world-has-been-unveiled-in/)

[N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/)

> [Hear the bells ringing they're singing "Christ is risen from the dead!" The angel up on the tombstone said, He is risen just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-green/hear-the-bells-ringing-they-re-singing-christ-is-risen-from-the-dead/)

[Keith Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-green/)

> [The joyful news that He is risen does not change the contemporary world. Still before us lie work, discipline, sacrifice. But the fact of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-knox-sherrill/the-joyful-news-that-he-is-risen-does-not-change-the-contemporary/)

Henry Knox Sherrill

> [But He is risen, a later star of dawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/but-he-is-risen-a-later-star-of-dawn/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer; Death is strong, but Life is stronger; Stronger than the dark, the light; Stronger than the wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/tomb-thou-shalt-not-hold-him-longer-death-is-strong-but-life-is/)

[Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/)

## More by Raniero Cantalamessa

> [The biggest sin against the poor and the hungry is perhaps indifference, making believe we do not see, passing by on the other side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/the-biggest-sin-against-the-poor-and-the-hungry-is-perhaps/)

[Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/)

> [Laypeople are a kind of nuclear energy in the Church on a spiritual level. A layperson caught up with the gospel and living next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/laypeople-are-a-kind-of-nuclear-energy-in-the-church-on-a-spiritual/)

[Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/)

> [“In any love-story there are usually two stages or phases. There is the initial stage, where love is expressed by the giving of gifts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/in-any-love-story-there-are-usually-two-stages-or-phases-there-is-the/)

[Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/)

> [“The undivided heart is a good thing, as long as you love somebody. In fact, a divided heart that loves someone is better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/the-undivided-heart-is-a-good-thing-as-long-as-you-love-somebody-in/)

[Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/)

> [“People can be, or can pose as, the enemies of God, but God will never be the enemy of any person. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/people-can-be-or-can-pose-as-the-enemies-of-god-but-god-will-never-be/)

[Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/)

> [Throughout history there have been many men and women who have chosen to imitate Jesus as he withdraws into the desert... To pass time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/throughout-history-there-have-been-many-men-and-women-who-have-chosen/)

[Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/)

> [“There is a lot of talk about the betrayal of Judas, and people are not aware that it is happening again. Christ is being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/there-is-a-lot-of-talk-about-the-betrayal-of-judas-and-people-are-not/)

[Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/)

> [I believe that the most necessary thing to do on the feast of Corpus Christi is not to explain some aspect of the Eucharist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/i-believe-that-the-most-necessary-thing-to-do-on-the-feast-of-corpus/)

[Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/)

> [The immense wealth of doctrine and institutions can become a handicap if we are trying to present all of that to a person who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/the-immense-wealth-of-doctrine-and-institutions-can-become-a-handicap/)

[Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/)

> [“If Jesus were to ask me, as He did that poor demoniac in the Gospel: "What is your name?" I too would have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/if-jesus-were-to-ask-me-as-he-did-that-poor-demoniac-in-the-gospel/)

[Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/)

> [We are not heading for an eternal void and an eternal silence but we are on our way to an encounter, an encounter with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/we-are-not-heading-for-an-eternal-void-and-an-eternal-silence-but-we/)

[Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/)

[Explore all 12 Raniero Cantalamessa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/)

## More Alive quotes

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/)

Adam Ant

> [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/)

[Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/)

> [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/)

[Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/)

> [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/)

[David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/)

> [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/)

[James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/)

> [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/)

[Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/)

> [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/)

[Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/)

> [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

> [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

[Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is true that not even Christ is seen, but he exists; he is risen, he is alive, he is close to us, more truly than the most enamored husband is close to his wife. Here is the crucial point: to think of Christ not as a person of the past, but as the risen and living Lord, with whom I can speak, whom I can even kiss if I so wish, certain that my kiss does not end on the paper or on the wood of a crucifix, but on a face and on the lips of living flesh (even though spiritualized), happy to receive my kiss.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Raniero Cantalamessa"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/it-is-true-that-not-even-christ-is-seen-but-he-exists-he-is-risen-he/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Alive"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/it-is-true-that-not-even-christ-is-seen-but-he-exists-he-is-risen-he/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/raniero-cantalamessa-37969_alive_it-is-true-that-not-even-christ-is-seen_2426629.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/raniero-cantalamessa-37969_alive_it-is-true-that-not-even-christ-is-seen_2426629.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/raniero-cantalamessa-37969_alive_it-is-true-that-not-even-christ-is-seen_2426629.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is true that not even Christ is seen, but he exists; he is risen, he is alive, he is close to us, more…” — Raniero Cantalamessa",
                "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": "Raniero Cantalamessa",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is true that not even...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/it-is-true-that-not-even-christ-is-seen-but-he-exists-he-is-risen-he/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/it-is-true-that-not-even-christ-is-seen-but-he-exists-he-is-risen-he/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
