“As You Wish” – are three word lines spoken many times in a movie that was co-produced by Rob Reiner back in 1987. The name of the movie – “The Princess Bride.”
It is an American fantasy-adventure-comedy film that just entertains from the very beginning to the very end. It was a favorite in our home when we were raising two young boys and it still is a favorite in the present day!
Why?
The movie begins with a sick young boy in bed (played by Fred Savage). His grandfather (Peter Falk) comes over to read to him. In his hands, he has a book entitled – “The Princess Bride .” Hearing this title, the grandson is not thrilled at all thinking it’s a boring love story!
The story unfolds with “Grandpa” taking his grandson on a wild adventure through the pages of the book.
Once the Grandfather begins – the grandson is hooked, line and sinker!!!!
The story is basically about a young farm boy named “Westley” played by (Carey Elwes) and “Buttercup” played by (Robin Wright.) The cast is one lively one and entertains from the very beginning to the very end.
Wesley is in love with Buttercup! Whenever she demands something of the “farm boy”, he always replies, “as you wish.”
Those three words of “as you wish” truly meant to me three other words – “I love you.”
Buttercup soon realizes that she, too, is in love with Westley. He then leaves to work overseas to make money so they can marry – and then the adventure truly begins.
The grandson is wide-eyed and ears glued to his grandfather’s telling of the story.
So much so….that at the end of the book – the grandson tells his grandfather – “maybe you can come back tomorrow and read it again!” -and he replies “as you wish.”
Another BookI began this posting with “The Princess Bride” and the three little words of “as you wish” for a very good reason.
Because long before this book was written and then made into a movie….those three little words were spoken to a young French woman named Gabrielle Bossis in yet another book – entitled “He and I”.
The passage below is from May 21, 1942 spoken to Gabrielle from the heart of Jesus to hers:
“Don’t refuse me anything Say: “My Beloved, just as you wish.”
Jesus tells Gabrielle – “this will make Me happy, and the thought of My happiness will help you. Do you very utmost to be one with Me.”
Reading these words that Jesus was spelling out to Gabrielle, my mind went back to the movie of “The Princess Bride.” Wasn’t “Westley” telling “Buttercup” the same? He was telling her – “his beloved” – that he was ready to do anything that she commanded of him. However, there was more to that command! It was a “command of love” – of fulfilling the “happiness of another.”
In the words to Gabrielle Bossis – though – it was the tenderness of a God speaking to His love asking her to come closer to Him. And doesn’t He ask the same of us?
Jesus continues to speak and tells Gabrielle and “us” the following:
“Come closer, always closer. Give up everything that separates us – the lack of confidence and hope. It is a great thing to hope. Hope for holiness. Would I ask every soul to be holy if it were not possible?
Very well, then believe in My help.
Call Me often, still more often.
Don’t be afraid of being too insistent. Don’t you repeat the same prayer many times in the rosary?
You must persevere in asking, poor finite one in the presence of the Infinite. And unite your words with the words I said to My Father in those nights spent on My knees in His presence.
Let it be said of you, “She is a friend of Christ” The honor will be Mine and you will add to My glory.”
I love matching images and words – my own and those of the words of Jesus. Just look at this image above – of that “far off” gaze of our God!
Is He looking at you right now? Is He addressing those words spoken to Gabrielle back in 1942 to you now in 2026?
Listen to the following ending words of the passage quoted above:
“You forget what you do for Me and what you say to Me; you leave it in the past. But all these things are eternally present for Me, and you will find them again one day exactly as you gave them to Me.
Always stay very near to Me.
This will be a token of your love.”
Our Blessed Mother did and continues to “Do as Her Son wishes”. . .and isn’t that the same as “Thy Will Be Done?” Didn’t She tell the wine stewards at the Wedding of Cana – “Do as He tells you!”
In every apparition that Our Blessed Mother appears – She requests a Church to be built. Why? So that we can receive Her Son present in the Holy Eucharist at Mass – and to visit Him in the Tabernacle where He abides waiting for us.
Then why is it so hard for us?
He gives us freedom of will and we choose other paths.
He tells Gabrielle in the message above “to do away with everything that separates us.”
What separates us?
Is it our phones, is it the busyness of our lives or is it that we are running away from the silence?
Didn’t He give us life to share it abundantly with Him?
That was what “Westley” in “The Princess Bride” went off to do. He went off to provide….
He went off to make money so they could be married and live together happily ever after. Jesus invites us to the Holy Mass and Adoration and yet we tarry. He wants to provide for us – filling us with “good things.”
Like the “rich young man” who walked away sad, we still have other things we are attached to in this life or want to do that takes us away from Him.
The rich young man walked away from Jesus because he didn’t realize that “Mr. Wonderful” was standing before him.
What does that mean? Fr. Wayne Sattler in his book entitled, “Remain in Me and I in You” explains just what Mr. Wonderful means. He asks a question to everyone that he directs on retreat –
“Is God a Person to you, or an idea?”
That question was directed to a nun who was nearing her final vows. She had shared with Fr. Sattler that she had been drawn to a priest in the parish that she had worked with. However, she stated that this priest wasn’t even that great!
The sister then asked Fr. Sattler – “what happens when Mr. Wonderful comes into the room?” His response was a good one because in essence “Mr. Wonderful” should have already been in the “room” of “her life.” Jesus was just an “idea” and not a “person.”
So the rich man did exactly the same. Jesus was standing before him and yet sadly he walked away because he didn’t get it.
Jesus continues His dialog with Gabrielle and tells her:
“Let me come in and take over everything. Give yourself to Me. Don’t let anything in you hinder Me from working through you. I act through those who put their entire selves at My disposal.
Give me your voice, your look, and go on your way with the firm resolution to let Me do whatever I want, since I’m living in you.
Think about this often. Make all the preparations for a new life within you. Didn’t I give you your life? Then give it back to Me as a charming gift from you.”
In “The Princess Bride” movie, Westley takes not only the hand of Buttercup but wishes to take her heart and give her his.
Jesus wants to do the same for us. He tells Gabrielle –
“For love I take you. Give yourself for love. Already I loved you; I loved everyone without exception. Love Me for all of them – or at least offer Me your desire to do so.”
What should our response be?
©2026 Anita Guariglia
Photo Credits/ Instagram and Pinterest
Passages taken from “He and I” Gabrielle Bossis
May 21, 1942 and June 19, 1942
One Response
Thank you, Anita, for linking this story so beautifully with words from Jesus to Gabrielle in “He and I. I haven’t seen this movie but I plan to soon. I think it will bring forth a more deep and meaningful message after reading your illuminating words.