Carl Jung: The pilgrim’s way is spiked with thorns everywhere,

To the Rev. John A. Sanford

Dear Mr. Sanford, 10 March 1961

Thank you very much for kindly sending me your sermon. I have read it with interest and pleasure.

It is a historical event, as you are so far as my knowledge goes-the first one who has called the attention of the Christian congregation to the fact that the Voice of God can still be heard if you are only humble enough.

The example you give is very beautiful and meaningful, as it shows the benevolent intention and the meaningful allusion to a continuation of our existence-two important postulates of the Christian creed.

The understanding of dreams should indeed be taken seriously by the Church, since the cura animarum is one of its duties, which has been sadly neglected by the Protestants.

Even if confession is a relatively poor version of the cura the Catholic Church knows at least the function of the directeur de conscience, a highly i mportant function which is unknown to the Protestants.

I admire your courage and sincerely hope that you will not become too unpopular for mentioning a topic so heartily hated and despised by most of the theologians.

This is so at least over here.

There are only single individuals who risk the fight for survival.

The pilgrim’s way is spiked with thorns everywhere, even if he is a good Christian, or just therefore.

My best wishes!

Yours sincerely,

C.G. Jung Carl Jung, Letters Vol. II, Page 630