The Passion of the Infant Christ: Critical Edition

by Caryll Houselander, Kerry Walters (Editor)

Although forgotten until quite recently, Caryll Houselander, who died in 1954, was a sensitive and profound English Roman Catholic writer on Christian spirituality. In this critical edition of her 1949 book The Passion of the Infant Christ, Houselander argues that the physical world is an ""inscaped"" revelation of the mind of the Creator. Every concrete object and every temporal event mirrors the eternal, just as the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus mirror the circumstances surrounding his death and resurrection. Editor Kerry Walters discusses both Houselander's life and the primary themes of The Passion of the Infant Christ in his introduction to this critical edition of one of Houselander's most insightful books. ""What a delight to have Caryll Houselander's tender and thought-provoking meditation The Passion of the Infant Christ once again available to readers. Her singular vision of the ongoing 'Christing of the World' is explored here through the profound mystery that the divine pattern of the universe is discovered in little things--in the daily care of a child or a childhood sense of wonder--and that in each of us a Bethlehem must be readied for this revelation."" --Wendy M. Wright, Professor Emerita of Theology, Creighton University Kerry Walters is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Peace & Justice Studies at Gettysburg College. He is the author of forty books and hundreds of articles.

Genres: Catholic

120 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1949

About the author

Caryll 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.

Reviews

[Mariangel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Caryll Houselander. Some of the meditations are beautiful, others profound. I will need to reread it in the future. My favorite chapters were The Infant, Justice and the Host-Life.

[Angelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful and life changing book. I love the way she writes and I highlighted so much.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read connecting the infancy of Christ with the Cross.

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this moving book,Houselander insists that the physical world is an "inscaped" revelation of the mind of the Creator. (She borrowed the word but not its meaning from Gerard Manley Hopkins.)  In her vision, every concrete object and temporal event inwardly and completely expresses the eternal pattern of the universe. Her favorite example is a snowflake. She relies heavily on a dazzling prose style with imagery so abundant as to rival St. Francis de Sales, but unencumbered by logic and evidence.

I think her idea of "inscape" works much better as metaphor and as intertextual interpretation of the gospels than in the metaphysical sense she means, but the book is definitely worth reading.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is a profound reminder that Christ is found everywhere. I borrowed this book and there were so many places where I wanted to highlight a passage, so I will definitely be purchasing my own copy.

[Katheryn Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Poverty when those whom we love are dependent on us, illness when those whom we love are in danger of death, teach us our own insufficiency, our dire need of God. We learn not from outside, but from the depths of our own hearts, the meaning of Christ’s words: ‘Without me you can do nothing.’”

[Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, as always Caryl Houselander

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! Christ living in us, suffering in us. I think it’s a more developed version of the Reed of God.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Advent reading

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!

[Mary R. Blanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caryll Houselander writes prose so poetically, this book sings.

A soul stirring read. Houselander sees into the soul of modern man, and finds Christ there. And He is alive.