Caryll Houselander: Battering the bodies of innocence

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IC XC NIKA

Do take the time to read this article by Dawn Eden regarding a prophetic passage in a novel by Caryll Houselander, the Catholic mystic whose writings have been an immeasurable blessing in my life.  Dawn Eden's insight here is a gift in raising up before us this profoundly important passage. (If you have not already done so, do read Dawn Eden's two books her most recent of which is a life-saving treasure for those traumatised and injured by sexual wounds.  And as I always do, I heartily recommend reading anything by Caryll Houselander.

Caryll Houselander, Catholic mystic, writer, artist, and evangelist

I am one of many who believe deeply that Caryll Houselander was a saint with a capital "S", and I pray that some day the Church will come to see the value in canonising those whose ongoing Evangelical gift in communication is as much a Miracle of God as any particular Miracle credited to one of the Lord's venerable and blessed sons and daughters.  Here is the link to Dawn Eden's article from December of last year:  Click here.

+Domine, audi nos.

Remembering Caryll Houselander

Since Holy Saturday I have been diving into the writings of Caryll Houselander. I was definitely led by God to read her writings again. I had the books all arranged in my bedroom for my next bit of evening reading with Compline during Eastertide. Little did I know I would be so ill that I would be confined to bedrest during Easter Day and through to the present moment as I type this ... admittedly slowly, and begging forgiveness for poor grammar and spellings. The first book I took up was Caryll's marvellous little book on the Holy Rosary containing Rosary prayers that she wrote in London in the bomb shelters during World War II -- The prayers were originally commissioned by Maisie Ward for her wonderful book The Splendour of the Rosary.

Here is an example of these prayers for the Second Glorious Mystery:

Christ,
ascended into Heaven,
You bear the wounds
of the whole world
in Your hands and feet
and in Your heart.

They plead for us,
shining like stars
before the secret face of God.

By Your five wounds
purify our five senses;
lift up our hearts into Heaven.

While You draw down
God's mercy to us,
showing our wounds
in Your glorified Body,
let us draw men up to You,
showing Your wounds to the world,
scored on our grey dust
in the bright crimson
of Your love.

--Caryll Houselander

Caryll Houselander, pray for us.

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