The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Recommended by Marianne Lucchesi, an Ignatian Spiritual Accompanier.

First published in French and English in 1943, this short little book tells the tale of a pilot’s encounter with a stranger in the desert, after crash landing there. The mysterious boy he meets tells the tale of his journey from his own small planet to earth. He explains what his own planet is like before recounting to the pilot the experiences he has with various people, animals and landscapes in different worlds he visits en route.

The boy speaks of what he learns on his adventures about the values of the ‘adult’ world and how perplexing these seem to a child, revealing the true secret to the pilot that ‘You can only see clearly with the heart. The most important things are invisible to the eyes.’ The profound messages contained within the seemingly simple short chapters, provide real food for thought and reflection. I read this book last lent after a period of many years and found so much nourishment in the pages and pictures. With each ‘character’ whether human, animal or plant, there is a light shone on the notions of self-importance, leadership, work, the transience of human life, the beauty and cost of love, disappointment, friendship, loyalty and ultimately, sacrifice and eternal life. In the little prince, the boy who fell to earth, you may find an image of Jesus and respond to the invitation to enter into the desert journey with him, learning anew what viewing the world through childlike eyes might teach our hearts. You may feel the desire to walk with him in as he shows you how to love, die and flourish.

I think this is a wonderful book for any time of the year, but especially during lent. It could be read alone or as a family, as the language and stories are easily understood by, and could even be read aloud by children. It can be taken on one level as a beautiful story about a little boy and a pilot, or more deeply as explained above. I think it is especially meaningful for Christian readers, but those who would not think of themselves as ‘religious’ or even ‘spiritual’ also find it inspiring and thought provoking as I have discovered when discussing it with people from a variety of backgrounds and views. I read it alone, slowly some years ago but last year my husband and I took a short chapter every couple of days and reflected on it together.

The book was written and illustrated by Antoine de Saint-Exupery who really was a pilot who crashed in the desert, barely surviving. It has become one of the best-selling books of all time and I consider it a spiritual classic.

Marianne Lucchesi