The story of “The Little Prince” is coming to an end in section XXV. In this section, the author begins to communicate that this was a very spiritual experience for him. The author/narrator uses many Catholic themes in section XXV. He begins by talking about a well that is not like the wells in the Sahara which were simple holes in the ground. The author is most likely referring to natural flowing artesian wells in the Sahara. He says that the well he found was like a well in a village with a bucket, a pulley, and a rope. This analogy relates to the spiritual well of God’s love that St. Teresa of Avila describes in her own mystical desert experiences.
The author/narrator goes on to describe “Its sweetness was born of the walk under the stars, the song of the pulley, the effort of my arms. It was good for the heart, like a present. When I was a little boy, the lights of the Christmas tree, the music of the Midnight Mass, the tenderness of smiling faces, used to make-up, so, the radiance of the gifts I received.” What is the author describing here?
The author/narrator is describing a life experience when he grew in gratitude for all those around him and within him. The author/narrator is clarifying his mystical nature by communicating to us about this radiant moment of unity with all of life. He is on a “spiritual high” after suffering for a long time. For those who are still suffering, they will not fully comprehend this “ah-ha” moment that the narrator is describing. The author/narrator is experiencing a birth into a way of living. His spiritual high is like the emotional high of a mother having just given birth successfully – all the suffering was worthwhile.
The sense that other people will not understand this life experience is made apparent by the little prince saying, “Oh, that will be alright,” he said, “children understand.” There is a lot more behind this statement than meets the eye. No, it is not necessarily children who will understand, it is that those who are spiritually open and childlike, free from pride, will have the humility to read this little novella and be open to hearing the spiritual lessons contained within. The character of the little prince is now taking on the image of the Christ child. The author is expressing the significance of his spiritual life experience in the desert. The fact that the author/narrator likely experienced a visit from Jesus Christ in the form of the Holy Spirit is given in the next paragraph by the words of the little prince, “You know- my descent to the earth…Tomorrow will be its anniversary.” Then after a silence, he went on: “I came down very near here.” What is the author trying to communicate?
The author is telling us that he met his childhood image of God in the form of Jesus Christ in the desert when his plane crashed and his life was in jeopardy. During that time in the desert, he did a lot of thinking about what really matters in life and he felt compelled to write what he learned for others to read. The author/narrator wants to inspire others to know that there is more to life than what the eye can see. Again, the author’s message is “What is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Legends and Fairytales 