The Supernatural as Remedy to Totalitarian Regimes: Simone Weil on Sanctity and the Eucharist

Publication Type

Book Chapter

Year of Publication

2010

Author

Meaney, Marie Cabaud

Editor

Rozelle-Stone, Rebecca Stone, Lucian

Book

The Relevance of the Radical: Simone Weil 100 Years Later

Pages

38-52

Publisher

Continuum

Place Published

New York

Language

English

Chapter

3

Keywords

attention
Eucharist
force
gravity
supernatural

Annotation

Meaney argues in this relatively short chapter that in its rejection of the supernatural and ever increasing secularization, "humanity is inevitably drifting towards the next bloodthirsty regime" (p. 38). Weil's writing on the supernatural, offers, Meaney claims, an important source for those who would seek to counter such a drift. Meaney draws on Weil's writing on force, gravity, attention and the supernatural to support her claim. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the need for true saints, who would engage in a mystical adoration of the Eucharist.