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The Reed of God
A new edition of a spiritual classic! Through beautiful prose and meditations, Caryll Houselander depicts the intimately human side of Mary, Mother of God, as an empty reed waiting for God's music to be played through her. Lovingly bringing Our Lady down off her time-honored, ancient pedestal, Houselander shares her insightful and beautiful vision of Mary on earth, Mary among us, Mary as a confused but trusting teenager whose holiness flowered with her eternal "Yes." With profound theological teachings and appealing imagery, The Reed of God is a spiritual classic written in the mystical tradition of Julian of Norwich. Caryll Houselander was one of the outstanding spiritual writers of our time; she was also of necessity a very sensible woman. How, then, did she think of Mary, the Blessed Virgin, Christ's mother? She answers that question and many more in the introduction to this
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 13, 1944
1615 people are currently reading
3272 people want to read
About the author
Caryll Houselander
57 books100 followersCaryll Houselander (1901-1954) was a British Roman Catholic laywoman; a mystic, writer, artist, visionary and healer. Born in London in 1901, Caryll was the second of two daughters born to Willmott and Gertrude (nee Provis) Houselander. Her first book, This War is the Passion. written during World War II, launched her prolific writing career. Houselander's talents included painting and many woodcarvings.
Caryll's "divinely eccentric" life was principally a devotion to contemplating Christ in all and men and women and in all life circumstances. Maisie Ward (a friend of Caryll and author of her principal biography, Caryll Houselander: That Divine Eccentric (Sheed & Ward, 1962), states, "Her message can be summed in a single sentence; we must learn to see Christ in everyone." Msgr. Ronald Knox was quoted as saying about Caryll's writing style, " . . . she seemed to see everything for the first time and the driest of doctrinal considerations shone out like a restored picture when she finished it."
Though she remained a single woman throughout her life, Caryll was engaged for a time to Sidney Reilly, who was the model for Ian Fleming's character, "James Bond."
Caryll Houselander has been described as being a mystic in the tradition of Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, and Teresa of Avila. She is best known for her works such as The Reed of God.
Caryll died of cancer on October 12th, 1954. Her bibliography consists of more than seven hundred written works including poems, short stories and articles, articles for juvenile publications and children's books (for some of these she did artwork for as well), articles for various Catholic publications, and, of course, her own books.
Caryll's "divinely eccentric" life was principally a devotion to contemplating Christ in all and men and women and in all life circumstances. Maisie Ward (a friend of Caryll and author of her principal biography, Caryll Houselander: That Divine Eccentric (Sheed & Ward, 1962), states, "Her message can be summed in a single sentence; we must learn to see Christ in everyone." Msgr. Ronald Knox was quoted as saying about Caryll's writing style, " . . . she seemed to see everything for the first time and the driest of doctrinal considerations shone out like a restored picture when she finished it."
Though she remained a single woman throughout her life, Caryll was engaged for a time to Sidney Reilly, who was the model for Ian Fleming's character, "James Bond."
Caryll Houselander has been described as being a mystic in the tradition of Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, and Teresa of Avila. She is best known for her works such as The Reed of God.
Caryll died of cancer on October 12th, 1954. Her bibliography consists of more than seven hundred written works including poems, short stories and articles, articles for juvenile publications and children's books (for some of these she did artwork for as well), articles for various Catholic publications, and, of course, her own books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews
July 15, 2013
It seems to me that one of the best things a person can say about a book upon completing it is that he wishes it was longer. This is my experience with "The Reed of God." Not simply a journey with the Virgin Mary from the Annunciation to the Assumption, it is one long prayer with her. Spiritual insights into her life as Mother of Jesus evolve into spiritual insights into how we are called to live our lives as Christians. A real, human Mary becomes a real, human exemplar for us as we walk along our journey to God. All of this comes during a time when the author is in the midst of the carnage of the Second World War in England. Acknowledging the devastation and loss, she rather chooses to focus on the love of Christ and His mother, a love that overcomes everything, a love we are to accept, espouse, share, and imitate.
Eminently quotable, you will find passage after passage that you will wish to mark so that you can return to them time and again or pass them along to friends. (One of my favorite examples: "What we are asked to do is to be made one with Christ, to allow Him to abide in us, to make his home in us, and gradually, through the oneness that results from living one life, and through the miracles of His love consummated again and again in Communion with Him, to become Christs, to live in Him as Our Lady did.") Take it to prayer, reading a chapter, a page, or a paragraph as the Spirit moves you -- you will be blessed.
Eminently quotable, you will find passage after passage that you will wish to mark so that you can return to them time and again or pass them along to friends. (One of my favorite examples: "What we are asked to do is to be made one with Christ, to allow Him to abide in us, to make his home in us, and gradually, through the oneness that results from living one life, and through the miracles of His love consummated again and again in Communion with Him, to become Christs, to live in Him as Our Lady did.") Take it to prayer, reading a chapter, a page, or a paragraph as the Spirit moves you -- you will be blessed.
September 18, 2012
AMAZING! BEAUTIFUL! Reads like poetry!
Have put ALL the rest of her works on my wishlist--as money and time permit.
Have put ALL the rest of her works on my wishlist--as money and time permit.
February 18, 2024
The hype is real. This is hands down one of the best books I’ve ever read and will ever read. Caryll writes with such beauty and intention I wish this book didn’t end!!!!!!!!
December 24, 2025
12/24/2025: Beautiful as always. This time’s reminder is to let Jesus’ life happen in me, to notice all the places where it’s happening around me, and to love wholly, given fully.
1/1/2024: Sr. Miriam described Caryll Houselander’s writing accurately - delicious. It’s so beautiful, truly a spiritual classic as it’s described. This time’s take away is to seek Christ everywhere. Literally everywhere. And trust that He will always be found.
12/27/2020: I could honestly start re-reading this immediately and it would still pack a punch. This book is immensely full; there’s nothing cheap here. I could spend time pondering every single sentence.
Ultimately it’s reminded me that the seeking is what makes everything in life somehow beautiful, and complacency just means I’ve given into despair.
I’ll definitely read this again...and maybe again and again and again.
1/1/2024: Sr. Miriam described Caryll Houselander’s writing accurately - delicious. It’s so beautiful, truly a spiritual classic as it’s described. This time’s take away is to seek Christ everywhere. Literally everywhere. And trust that He will always be found.
12/27/2020: I could honestly start re-reading this immediately and it would still pack a punch. This book is immensely full; there’s nothing cheap here. I could spend time pondering every single sentence.
Ultimately it’s reminded me that the seeking is what makes everything in life somehow beautiful, and complacency just means I’ve given into despair.
I’ll definitely read this again...and maybe again and again and again.
February 7, 2021
This book contains wonderful reflections on the mysteries of the Rosary, and makes me want to read the rest of Houselander's works.
December 19, 2015
I remember that this book was very good, wow just forgot how good. Such an excellent meditation on Mary and Jesus. Really brings out the truth of the phrase "To Jesus through Mary."
December 16, 2024
Full of poetic and quotable thoughts. Definitely more meandering and reflective as a devotional-type book. These types are often not my style, but I needed something to wash over me this week.
“It is useless to flog a tired mind, useless to reproach a tired heart; the only way to God, when we are tired out, is the simplest wordless act of faith.”
“It is impossible to say too often or too strongly that human nature, body and soul together, is the material for God’s will in us.”
“The one thing that he did ask of her was the gift of her humanity.”
“Christ laid hold of the world with His human hands; He took it to His human heart; with His body He wed Himself to it. Our life is the response of the bride.”
“With faith we are like blind men learning, through the touch of caressing fingers, the features of a Face that we cannot see.”
“It is useless to flog a tired mind, useless to reproach a tired heart; the only way to God, when we are tired out, is the simplest wordless act of faith.”
“It is impossible to say too often or too strongly that human nature, body and soul together, is the material for God’s will in us.”
“The one thing that he did ask of her was the gift of her humanity.”
“Christ laid hold of the world with His human hands; He took it to His human heart; with His body He wed Himself to it. Our life is the response of the bride.”
“With faith we are like blind men learning, through the touch of caressing fingers, the features of a Face that we cannot see.”
November 12, 2025
So many great things to say about this book and the author’s depiction of Mary’s adoring faith/trust in God and of Christ’s presence throughout the world. I seriously feel like I could’ve annotated each sentence. This has definitely become one of my new favorite books on Mary and the Church!
January 30, 2024
True this book is about Mary, but more than that it is about how Mary reveals and brings forth to us Christ Incarnate. Mary, as both the Mother of God and the Mother of man, teaches us to seek and to see the face of Christ in each soul before us. She teaches us to see her Son’s face in the consecrated Host. She teaches us to see His face in the simple, in the everyday.
This book so eloquently details the love and beauty of the hearts of Christ and His mother. It has moved me in the depths of my prayer. What more could I ask from a book? Needless to say, this is the best book I have read in a long time. It deserves all 5 stars and then some. I will be recommending this over and over again.
This book so eloquently details the love and beauty of the hearts of Christ and His mother. It has moved me in the depths of my prayer. What more could I ask from a book? Needless to say, this is the best book I have read in a long time. It deserves all 5 stars and then some. I will be recommending this over and over again.
January 12, 2014
A Fantastic book for the season of Advent and Christmas.
The reflections on the passages of the Infancy narratives of the Holy Bible are often viewed as very little and hardly adequate. Yet, Houselander's reflections on them reveal more than what a true Christian can expect. Her reflections on Finding of Child Jesus and the Pre-natal Jesus in the womb of Mary are just the examples. Besides just formulating reflections, Houselander also applies to the common situation and analyses the same features in the present society and this section caught me gasping for more writings/reflections.
The book is also primarily about the Mother of God, Mary. Under Houselander's thoughtful observations Mary's Virginity, Assumption, and her Search for the Lost Child begin to shine differently and very brightly.
I had read the book just before Christmas and still most of the chapters are fresh in my mind. I need to write a different review. I will be reading it again for sure and I will update the review too.
It was a Christmas gift from a GR friend and undoubtedly it is one of the best gifts.
The reflections on the passages of the Infancy narratives of the Holy Bible are often viewed as very little and hardly adequate. Yet, Houselander's reflections on them reveal more than what a true Christian can expect. Her reflections on Finding of Child Jesus and the Pre-natal Jesus in the womb of Mary are just the examples. Besides just formulating reflections, Houselander also applies to the common situation and analyses the same features in the present society and this section caught me gasping for more writings/reflections.
The book is also primarily about the Mother of God, Mary. Under Houselander's thoughtful observations Mary's Virginity, Assumption, and her Search for the Lost Child begin to shine differently and very brightly.
I had read the book just before Christmas and still most of the chapters are fresh in my mind. I need to write a different review. I will be reading it again for sure and I will update the review too.
It was a Christmas gift from a GR friend and undoubtedly it is one of the best gifts.
December 18, 2021
Recommended by an online friend in a Zoom meeting, this is a lovely collection of meditations, poems, and hymns about the Theotokos and Advent.
January 7, 2024
“Christ laid hold of the world with His human hands; He took it to His human heart; with His body He wed Himself to it. Our life is the response of the bride.”
“How can we imitate an example of uncompromising unworldliness, chastity, sacrifice, and love, offered two thousands years ago by someone we have never seen, when we are unable to keep our promises to people we know well and saw yesterday, and instinctively belittle the qualities of our more heroics friends because we dislike and resent the fact that their example challenges our rationalization of the line of least resistance?”
“With faith we are like blind men learning, through the touch of caressing fingers, the features of a Face that we cannot see.”
“Christ on earth was a man in love.”
“How can we imitate an example of uncompromising unworldliness, chastity, sacrifice, and love, offered two thousands years ago by someone we have never seen, when we are unable to keep our promises to people we know well and saw yesterday, and instinctively belittle the qualities of our more heroics friends because we dislike and resent the fact that their example challenges our rationalization of the line of least resistance?”
“With faith we are like blind men learning, through the touch of caressing fingers, the features of a Face that we cannot see.”
“Christ on earth was a man in love.”
November 25, 2025
Beautiful, tangible, gentle but challenging reflections about Jesus through the frame of Mary. Greatest expression of Marian devotion that I've read, or at least the one that I've connected with the most and made the most sense to me.
It's about seeing Jesus in everything and everyone, and looking to Mary to learn how to do that. Houselander says "the song of the Incarnation is a folk song," a song of the people. She says it's easy to believe that Christ is in the souls of imaginary people, in people we don't know, in the saints, "in those people who seem to have the sort of character we personally consider to be Christian, that which we call our 'ideal,'" but it's very difficult to believe it in the case of our own relatives and our intimate friends. In the people that annoy us, people that we disagree with, people that we see everyday.
"Faith simplifies the search. We do not have to discover in which of several people Christ is to be found: we must look for Him in all."
It's about seeing Jesus in everything and everyone, and looking to Mary to learn how to do that. Houselander says "the song of the Incarnation is a folk song," a song of the people. She says it's easy to believe that Christ is in the souls of imaginary people, in people we don't know, in the saints, "in those people who seem to have the sort of character we personally consider to be Christian, that which we call our 'ideal,'" but it's very difficult to believe it in the case of our own relatives and our intimate friends. In the people that annoy us, people that we disagree with, people that we see everyday.
"Faith simplifies the search. We do not have to discover in which of several people Christ is to be found: we must look for Him in all."
December 23, 2025
Best Advent book! Love Caryll Houselander’s imagery which is practical but demands time and reflection of the reader to get to know the Christ child and prepare a place for Him.
March 7, 2008
Through the words and illustrations of this book what shines through is the beautiful love of a woman for Christ and His Church. It is a devotional work, interspersed with Houselander's poetry. She writes from an early twentieth century English outlook and thus her chapters are interspersed with examples from the war. She doesn't get stuck in this contemporary setting though, but rather effectively uses it to bring the life of the Christian to greater clarity. In the course of the book she accomplishes two things beautifully. First she shows the importance for the Christian of a relationship with Mary. How the example of Mary can inspire and guide us, especially in difficult times, and how we can turn to her as an intercessor and mother. Secondly, she shows how Mary draws us towards Christ, and how ultimately our relationship with Mary is senseless otherwise.
March 18, 2021
This could be a hot take but I think this book I’ve ever read. Amazing.
June 20, 2022
A read to go back to anytime I doubt my capacity to receive Jesus and share Him with the world. Mary is the most lovely!!
December 23, 2025
Absolutely beautiful. I was continuously amazed every page.
January 10, 2024
Absolutely incredible- one of the top faith books I’ve read! A great Advent read too!
February 1, 2019
I bought this book as an ebook, but I'm going to have to acquire the printed version, as well. I loved this book so much! It's one of those rare books that I know I will read again and again over the years, each time finding something new and striking to ponder.
"Our search through faith and courage and love is a great going out into darkness, a reaching out to others in darkness, believing that Christ is there in each one; but not in the way that we expect, not in the way that we think He should be, not in the way that we already understand, but in the way that He chooses to be, Who is Himself the Way."
"Our search through faith and courage and love is a great going out into darkness, a reaching out to others in darkness, believing that Christ is there in each one; but not in the way that we expect, not in the way that we think He should be, not in the way that we already understand, but in the way that He chooses to be, Who is Himself the Way."
September 8, 2021
ENGLISH: A classic book of devotion to the Virgin Mary, although she rather is a pretext to speak about Jesus Christ, as it should be.
I liked a lot the vignette in the last chapter about the woman who lost her only son and child in the war and adopted a black boy.
Two interesting quotes:
Many people do not use their intellect—excepting once or twice in their lifetime—to accept truths which they know that they must. They put these truths away in some sort of drawer in the mind and leave them there. They feel that they have done their duty and that the truth in question is quite useless save to be accepted and put away.
[H]e must be conscious that privations, pain, and weariness of the body are prayer; but that so, too, are the pleasures and labours of the body.
ESPAÑOL: Un libro clásico de devoción a la Virgen María, aunque ella sirve más bien de pretexto para hablar de Jesucristo. Así debe ser.
Me gustó mucho la anécdota del último capítulo sobre la mujer que perdió a su único hijo en la guerra y adoptó a un niño negro.
Dos citas interesantes:
Muchas personas no usan su intelecto, salvo una o dos veces en toda su vida, para aceptar verdades que saben que deben aceptar. Estas verdades las guardan en una especie de cajón mental, y ahí las dejan. Con ello sienten que han cumplido con su deber, y que la verdad en cuestión es completamente inútil, salvo para aceptarla y no volver a pensar en ella.
Hay que ser consciente de que las privaciones, el dolor y el cansancio del cuerpo son oración; pero también lo son los placeres y las labores del cuerpo.
I liked a lot the vignette in the last chapter about the woman who lost her only son and child in the war and adopted a black boy.
Two interesting quotes:
Many people do not use their intellect—excepting once or twice in their lifetime—to accept truths which they know that they must. They put these truths away in some sort of drawer in the mind and leave them there. They feel that they have done their duty and that the truth in question is quite useless save to be accepted and put away.
[H]e must be conscious that privations, pain, and weariness of the body are prayer; but that so, too, are the pleasures and labours of the body.
ESPAÑOL: Un libro clásico de devoción a la Virgen María, aunque ella sirve más bien de pretexto para hablar de Jesucristo. Así debe ser.
Me gustó mucho la anécdota del último capítulo sobre la mujer que perdió a su único hijo en la guerra y adoptó a un niño negro.
Dos citas interesantes:
Muchas personas no usan su intelecto, salvo una o dos veces en toda su vida, para aceptar verdades que saben que deben aceptar. Estas verdades las guardan en una especie de cajón mental, y ahí las dejan. Con ello sienten que han cumplido con su deber, y que la verdad en cuestión es completamente inútil, salvo para aceptarla y no volver a pensar en ella.
Hay que ser consciente de que las privaciones, el dolor y el cansancio del cuerpo son oración; pero también lo son los placeres y las labores del cuerpo.
June 16, 2012
One of my favorite books, and certainly my favorite inspirational book! This book, written in 1944 (I believe) is just wonderful. It, more than anything I have read, has brought me closer to Our Blessed Mother, and hence, to Christ Himself. Filled with lyrical prose and touching analogies, Houselander shows how Mary was the "Reed of God" waiting to be filled (with her maternity)...and that we are ALL vessels waiting to do God's work, and carrying Christ within us. Just remarkable.
May 6, 2020
Wow, such a beautiful book! Definitely the most helpful book I have read on the Blessed Mother so far.
Very helpful meditations on our role as Christ-bearers and on how we can imitate Our Lady's spirit in our day-to-day lives even though we don't know that much about her daily life.
Caryll Houselander has jumped onto my list of favorite writers. Highly recommend!
Very helpful meditations on our role as Christ-bearers and on how we can imitate Our Lady's spirit in our day-to-day lives even though we don't know that much about her daily life.
Caryll Houselander has jumped onto my list of favorite writers. Highly recommend!
March 20, 2019
This book was a beautiful meditation on Mary, Mother of God and so much more. The image of finding the lost child in others around us really stuck with me. This would be a wonderful book to read during Advent as a devotional.
May 19, 2021
I really wanted to love this book, but I just can’t relate to her style of writing - it’s just a bit flowery for me and I had hard time understanding her ideas. Maybe her style of writing would suit me better a few years down the track when the house is quieter and I can focus more.
February 18, 2015
so much richness and beauty in this book. need to reread, maybe once a year, especially portions during advent, lent, Easter, and other feast days that correspond to the chapters. highly recommend.
January 8, 2020
This was a beautiful book. It read like poetry, and gave me much to think about. This is a book I will definitely be Re-reading.
July 7, 2025
I'll probably put this in annual rotation, perhaps for Advent.
December 24, 2025
Phenomenal advent book - will return to it again and again!!! love u Mary :’)
“The Mother has found the lost Child.
The empty Chalice is brimming with wine.
The Reed is filled with infinite music.
The Divine Little Bird is in His nest.”
“she is the sharer of all earth's joys and griefs.
She is not wearied with our littleness”
“She was the flowerlike chalice into which the purest water of humanity was to be poured, mingled with wine, changed to the crimson blood of love, and lifted up in sacrifice.”
“What courage it would take to try to walk on the sea, even if we could see the face of Christ; but it needs much more courage to leave our false securities, our leaking boats of materialism, and to walk towards Him on the churned-up, angry sea of our civilisation.”
“In this great fiat of the little girl Mary, the strength and foundation of our life of contemplation is grounded, for it means absolute trust in God, trust which will not set us free from suffering but will set us free from anxiety, hesitation, and above all from the fear of suffering. Trust which makes us willing to be what God wants us to be, however great or however little that may prove.”
“It is a time of darkness, of faith. We shall not see Christ's radiance in our lives yet; it is still hidden in our darkness; nevertheless, we must believe that He is growing in our lives; we must believe it so firmly that we cannot help relating every thing, literally everything, to this almost incredible reality. This attitude it is which makes every moment of every day and night a prayer.”
“The modern world's feverish struggle for unbridled, often unlicensed, freedom is answered by the bound, enclosed helplessness and dependence of Christ-Christ in the womb, Christ in the Host, Christ in the tomb.”
“If Christ is growing in us, if we are at peace, recolected, because we know that however insignificant our life seems to be, from it He is forming Himself; if we go with eager wills, "in haste," to wherever our circumstances compel us, because we believe that He desires to be in that place, we shall find that we are driven more and more to act on the impulse of His love.”
“In the seasons of our Advent-waking, working, eating, sleeping, being-each breath is a breathing of Christ into the world.”
“He was joy itself; He asked her to give Him tears.
He was God; He asked her to make Him man.”
“In giving her humanity to God, Mary gave all humanity to Him, to be used for His own will.”
“Not only now did He give His body: all His life He had given His body as the expression of His Father's love, the Love which He who is the Word had come to express and which could be expressed only by union between God and man in Christ.”
“He gave Himself through His body from the beginning to the end in tears, in sweat, in weariness; with spoken words, with glances of love; walking the dusty roads, visiting the homes of His friends and His enemies; in the gift of His blood.”
“We think less often of the joy that should be ours through Christ's body.
It was the Word that was made flesh. Not only did He take our sorrows to Himself, but He gave the delight, the happiness that He is, to our humanness.
No man ever enjoyed life as He did. He gathered up the colour, sound, touch, meaning of everything about Him and united it all to the most exquisite sensitiveness, the most pure capacity for delight.”
“Our search through faith and courage and love is a great going out into darkness, a reaching out to others in darkness, believing that Christ is there in each one; but not in the way that we expect, not in the way that we think He should be, not in the way that we already understand, but in the way that He chooses to be, Who is Himself the Way.”
“So, too, to be forgiven. When we ask and give forgive-ness, we discover Christ's redeeming wounds in one another.
And when we ask the Father to forgive us, He discovers the Child who was lost in us. He sees the shining wounds of Mary's Son, the lost Child in the human race come back to Him. And God forgives.”
“He could have approached us through beauty and power and strength, but He has chosen to come to us through littleness and humility; and for His great purpose, the lives that we consider the most useless are often the best material.”
“The Mother has found the lost Child.
The empty Chalice is brimming with wine.
The Reed is filled with infinite music.
The Divine Little Bird is in His nest.”
“she is the sharer of all earth's joys and griefs.
She is not wearied with our littleness”
“She was the flowerlike chalice into which the purest water of humanity was to be poured, mingled with wine, changed to the crimson blood of love, and lifted up in sacrifice.”
“What courage it would take to try to walk on the sea, even if we could see the face of Christ; but it needs much more courage to leave our false securities, our leaking boats of materialism, and to walk towards Him on the churned-up, angry sea of our civilisation.”
“In this great fiat of the little girl Mary, the strength and foundation of our life of contemplation is grounded, for it means absolute trust in God, trust which will not set us free from suffering but will set us free from anxiety, hesitation, and above all from the fear of suffering. Trust which makes us willing to be what God wants us to be, however great or however little that may prove.”
“It is a time of darkness, of faith. We shall not see Christ's radiance in our lives yet; it is still hidden in our darkness; nevertheless, we must believe that He is growing in our lives; we must believe it so firmly that we cannot help relating every thing, literally everything, to this almost incredible reality. This attitude it is which makes every moment of every day and night a prayer.”
“The modern world's feverish struggle for unbridled, often unlicensed, freedom is answered by the bound, enclosed helplessness and dependence of Christ-Christ in the womb, Christ in the Host, Christ in the tomb.”
“If Christ is growing in us, if we are at peace, recolected, because we know that however insignificant our life seems to be, from it He is forming Himself; if we go with eager wills, "in haste," to wherever our circumstances compel us, because we believe that He desires to be in that place, we shall find that we are driven more and more to act on the impulse of His love.”
“In the seasons of our Advent-waking, working, eating, sleeping, being-each breath is a breathing of Christ into the world.”
“He was joy itself; He asked her to give Him tears.
He was God; He asked her to make Him man.”
“In giving her humanity to God, Mary gave all humanity to Him, to be used for His own will.”
“Not only now did He give His body: all His life He had given His body as the expression of His Father's love, the Love which He who is the Word had come to express and which could be expressed only by union between God and man in Christ.”
“He gave Himself through His body from the beginning to the end in tears, in sweat, in weariness; with spoken words, with glances of love; walking the dusty roads, visiting the homes of His friends and His enemies; in the gift of His blood.”
“We think less often of the joy that should be ours through Christ's body.
It was the Word that was made flesh. Not only did He take our sorrows to Himself, but He gave the delight, the happiness that He is, to our humanness.
No man ever enjoyed life as He did. He gathered up the colour, sound, touch, meaning of everything about Him and united it all to the most exquisite sensitiveness, the most pure capacity for delight.”
“Our search through faith and courage and love is a great going out into darkness, a reaching out to others in darkness, believing that Christ is there in each one; but not in the way that we expect, not in the way that we think He should be, not in the way that we already understand, but in the way that He chooses to be, Who is Himself the Way.”
“So, too, to be forgiven. When we ask and give forgive-ness, we discover Christ's redeeming wounds in one another.
And when we ask the Father to forgive us, He discovers the Child who was lost in us. He sees the shining wounds of Mary's Son, the lost Child in the human race come back to Him. And God forgives.”
“He could have approached us through beauty and power and strength, but He has chosen to come to us through littleness and humility; and for His great purpose, the lives that we consider the most useless are often the best material.”
January 27, 2024
This book was wonderful. In much of Catholic literature about Our Lady, the focus is solely on her, isolated. However, Houselander does an amazing job showing what it means to be "to Christ through Mary," as the Church intended to teach. As you observe the relationship between God and Mary, Our Lady and her Son, and how she cares for us as her sons and daughters, you are drawn closer to her, love her, and desire to be at her bosom to receive love. This brings you closer to her Son, the firstborn among many, our brother, Jesus Christ.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews