The Way of the Cross Book

Actually four and a half stars if I could give half stars.

I have seen many a devotional passage from Caryll Houslander, but this is the first book I've read by her. This was a perfect Lenten read with some of her characteristic insights and lovely prose. Houselander was a British Catholic artist, mystic, and writer during the first half of the twentieth century. In The Way of the Cross, she walks us through the Stations of the Cross, each chapter being one of the stations. At each station she puts you in the scene of Christ's suffering, moves to some theological point, connects that station to our lives, and concludes with a prayer poem. In what stands for an introduction, titled Via Crucis, she walks you into a church where a group is praying the Stations.

Three o'clock on a grey afternoon. Outside, a steady drizzle of rain; inside the church, an odd motley of people.

A smartly dressed woman, side by side with one who is shabby and threadbare. A boy and girl who appear to be in love. A very old man, so bowed that he is permanently in an attitude of adoration. A stalwart young soldier whose polished buttons glitter like gems in the candlelight. A couple of students, shabbily but elegantly dressed in corduroys and bright scarves, rubbing shoulders with a gaunt, round-shouldered man who looks like a tramp. A sprinkle of small children. And behind them all, as if he felt himself to be the modern Publican, though there is no reason why he should, a thickset, square-shouldered business man. And a few seconds before the priest, in come a couple of rather flustered little nuns, like birds shaking the rain off their black feathers.

What a diversity of places these people must have come from'luxury flats, tenements, small boardinghouses, institutions, barracks, studios, colleges, doss houses, schools, offices, convents. What sharp contrast there must be between their different lives and circumstances! But they seem to be strangely at one here, gathered round a crude coloured picture on the wall of the church, "The First Station of the Cross," and it seems to come naturally to them to join together in the same prayer:

"We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee."

"Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world."

The tender rhythmic prayer that has been on the lips of men all through the ages is repeated fourteen times as they move slowly around the church, following the priest from station to station, until they reach the last of all, "Jesus Laid in the Tomb." (pp. 1-2)...

That should give you a feel for fluid, even poetic writing style. Well worth reading, especially at the Kindle price of $4.99. Only draw back was its length. At around 100 pages, I wanted more! One should probably save it for during the Lenten season.