I’m taking “McDonald’s” to mean the chain’s vast, recognizable organization. On that reading, yes: Teilhard’s description of the Catholic Church as “the only international organization that works” sounds strikingly practical. He stays loyal partly because he believes the Church can carry his vision around the world—even while its leaders silence him.

That comparison also sharpens Dillard’s structure. She first shows us the grandeur of his vision and the reach of his work. Then she brings us close to Lucile, who lives with the limits his loyalty places on their love. From a distance, the institution looks like a way to connect humanity; up close, we see what one person gives up to remain inside it.