Publisher: Christian Classics; Revised edition (May 29, 2020)
Language: English
Paperback: 192 pages
ISBN-10: 0870612409
ISBN-13: 978-0870612404
Item Weight: 6.4 ounces
Dimensions: 7 x 0.5 x 5 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #52,242 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #24 in Christian Mariology #54 in Christian Saints #146 in Christian Meditation Worship & Devotion (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars 647Reviews
Product Information
From the Publisher
Relate to Mary in Everyday Life
In the world as it is, torn with agonies and dissensions, we need some direction for our souls which is never away from us; which, without enslaving us or narrowing our vision, enters into every detail of our life. Everyone longs for some such inward rule, a universal rule as big as the immeasurable law of love, yet as little as the narrowness of our daily routine. It must be so truly part of us all that it makes us all one, and yet to each one the secret of his own life with God. To this need, the imitation of Our Lady is the answer; in contemplating her we find intimacy with God, the law which is the lovely yoke of the one irresistible love.
The Intimately Human Side of Mary
In TheReed of God, Caryll Houselander gives flesh and spirit to solid theological affirmations about Mary; her portrait, designed for contemplation, is founded on the lengthy theological tradition but was enriched by her understanding of the complex human condition and her insight into the contemporary hunger for meaning. Houselander deals not only with the theological, but also stresses the historical realities of Mary: her peasant status, the problem of her pregnancy, and the anxiety and danger of her flight into Egypt.
“The Reed of God is the best book I’ve ever read about Mary."
“The Reed of God is the best book I’ve ever read about Mary. It is life-changing. Caryll Houselander's breathtaking insights into the faithfulness, patience, and love of the Mother of God reveal a beautiful portrait of Our Lady as a model for Christian living. A perfect read for Advent, Lent, or any season, The Reed of God will open your eyes to the call to be full of grace—a reed through which God will play his song. It is a spiritual classic not to be missed.”
—Haley Stewart
Catholic blogger, podcaster, and author of The Grace of Enough
"Caryll Houselander has profoundly influenced my spirituality."
“Caryll Houselander has profoundly influenced my spirituality. Although written decades ago, her message continues to offer resonance and inspiration for those seeking a closer relationship to Christ in daily life.”
—Joyce Rupp
Author of Open the Door
"A privileged peek into the soul of a holy woman."
"This wonderful book gives us a privileged peek into the soul of a holy woman as she engages beautiful biblical texts in prayer. In ways witty and winsome, Miss Houselander teaches us to unite our will with God's will, as the Blessed Virgin Mary did."
—Scott Hahn
Author of Hail, Holy Queen
“Such a work can only come from a deep and abiding love for Mary."
“Such a work can only come from a deep and abiding love for Mary. Take these words to heart, and there Jesus will be conceived in you.”
—Curtis A. Martin
Founder and CEO of FOCUS
About the Author
Caryll Houselander (1901–1954) is a figure as complex as she is fascinating. She was a survivor of two world wars, an art school bohemian, and a member of the same community of London writers that produced the likes of G.K. Chesterton. Houselander experienced a world fractured by war and ideological conflicts and sought to understand its roots in individual human emotions and choices. These concerns are evident in The Reed of God. The Mary that Houselander presents for our contemplation is at home in our world just as she was in Houselander's own. It also anticipates some of the theological principles for a renewed theology of Mary that flowed from Vatican II.