The Lost Art of Letter Writing

A few weeks ago, I wrote a letter to a friend in Wisconsin. A real letter—using a pen and paper. I used to write letters all the time, but now it’s really a rarity. And as much as I enjoyed picking out the stationery I would use and the feel of my favorite fountain pen gliding across the paper, I probably wouldn’t have taken the time to do this but for the fact that this particular friend doesn’t use email. She’s not on Facebook. No tweeting. No texting. But she writes the most delightful letters! Her handwriting is neat and so pretty. She shares snippets of her life in rural Wisconsin and always includes pictures of her garden.

Speaking of letters, Servant Books has a new book on Padre Pio coming out this fall, Padre Pio’s Spiritual Direction for Every Day. Translated from Italian, it’s a wonderful collection of 365 letters written by this beloved saint. The letters are full of spiritual wisdom and advice to laypeople and priests, and some of the letters are between Padre Pio and his spiritual directors. Somehow, it’s hard to picture such richness shared via email or Facebook. Sometimes there’s just nothing like a real letter.

In fact, I have a few other friends who also have chosen not to join the digital age. It’s sad, but I’ve pretty much lost touch with them. But I think I’ll plan to write some more letters—soon!

How about you? Are there special people in your world who would welcome a card or letter from you?

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Photo: Simon Howden

About the Author

Claudia Volkman

Claudia Volkman is a director of product development for Servant Books. She and her husband, Scott, live in Connecticut, where she enjoys walking, knitting, and spending time with her Corgis.