A Vision of C. S. Lewis

So, thanks to 'Brer' (Rabbit? Fox? Bear?), I now have the source for the story of CSL's punitive posthumous miracle: A. N. Wilson's 1992 biography (p. 305-306). Wilson in turn takes it from Canon J. B. Phillips' RING OF TRUTH (1967), which I don't have. But as 'Brer' points out, the episode is also referenced in Warnie's diary (entry for Th. Dec 5th 1968), which reproduces the original version of Phillips' account ("I Saw a Spirit") from that month's Parish Magazine (presumably the December 1968 issue).

Since my own recollection was so faulty, it seems appropriate to print Phillips' own account here. And, since Wilson's biography is easier to find than Warnie's diaries, I've provided the less-accessable account here, taken from an editorial footnote provided by the editors to Warnie's diaries:


"Many of us who believe in what is known as the Communion of Saints must have experienced the sense of nearness, at some time, of those we love after they have died. This has happened to me several times. But the late C. S. Lewis, whom I did not know very well and had only seen in the flesh once but with whom I had corresponded a fair amount, gave me an unusual experience. A few days after his death, while I was watching television, he appeared sitting ina chair within a few feet of me, and spoke a few words which were particularly relevant to difficult circumstances through which I was passing. He was ruddier in complexion than ever, grinning all over his face and positively glowing with health. The interesting thing to me was that I had not been thinking about him at all. And I was neither alarmed nor surprised. He was just there. A week later, when I was in bed reading before going to sleep, he appeared again, even more rosily radiant than before, and repeated to me the same message, which was very important to me at the time. I was a little puzzled by this, and mentioned it to a certain saintly Bishop. His reply was: 'My dear J, this sort of thing is happening all the time.' The reason I mention this personal experience is that although 'Jack' Lewis was real in a certain sense it did not occur to me to reach out and touch him. It is possible that some of the appearances of the risen Christ were  of this nature, being known as versidical visions."
--BROTHERS AND FRIENDS, p. 288-289
Warnie's response was a mix of incredulity with despair. On the one hand, while not doubting Phillips' sincerity he wondered if he'd just "dreamt the whole thing", particularly since the vision spoke, wh. is not usually the case ("so far as I can recollect it is contrary to all stories of revenants, except the Witch of Endor; speaking ghosts are normally to be found only in literature or on the stage"). More bitter was the thought that his brother was able to manifest after death but not to him:

"why, oh why, if able to do so, should [he] never have come to me in the lonely study some evening with a word of comfort and good cheer? Is it that I am of such an earthly nature that to make contact with me is impossible for him? Perhaps he has so far outstripped me that I shall never see him again -- a horrible thought . . . Whatever the communication it seems to have been relevant and sensible, not the sort of slush by any means which is dealt out by mediums" (ibid.)

All in all, thin stuff to build a case for sainthood from, particularly since Phillips wdn't reveal the message. But in such matters it's often the case that those who want something to happen are far more dedicated and tenacious than those who don't want it, so I guess we'll see.

-JDR


Brer said...This sounds like the story told by Canon J. B. Philips, in which he says Lewis actually appeared and spoke to him (incident related in A. N. Wilson's biography of Lewis). Warren Lewis, C.S.'s brother, wrote in his diary (Brother's and Friends, Thursday 5th December 1969) of reading the story and being disturbed and depressed by it for several reasons.