Caryll Houselander Archives

Day 15: The Sacred Vigil of Love – From the writings of Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 15: The Sacred Vigil of Love

The fostering of an infant’s life is a thing of terror as well as of beauty. We are face to face with life at its most precious, housed in its frailest. That life depends for its survival upon us, upon the intelligence, the skill, the perseverance, the unceasing, untiring vigilance of our love.

It requires of us love that is as strong as the worn and hollowed rock, as delicate as the dew that trembles in it.

We stand on one side of the cradle, death stands on the other. The new life is still a spark, a spark that we kneel to fan with the warm breath of our own life, a spark that death could blow out so easily.

So is it with the Christ-life in each of us and in the world. It is lodged in little ones, in the weakest and puniest, and love and death stand over it, face to face. In the mysterious period of natural life between birth and babyhood, there is a parable of the Christ-life in the soul.

Commentary: Caryll Houselander draws a powerful parallel between the fragile care required for a newborn and the nurturing of Christ’s love within our souls. She conveys the delicate responsibility we have in fostering the Christ-life, which, like an infant, relies on our unwavering vigilance and love. Just as a newborn depends completely on those who care for it, the life of Christ within us depends on our attentiveness, our perseverance, and our willingness to protect and nurture this divine presence. Houselander reminds Catholics of the awe-inspiring and at times fearsome responsibility of sustaining this spark of Christ’s life, which requires both tender love and strong resilience.

Personal Reflection: Reflect on how you might nurture the life of Christ within yourself and others. How can you protect and foster this divine presence with loving vigilance? Consider small ways in which you can cultivate patience, care, and attentiveness to keep this spark of Christ’s love burning brightly.

Houselander quote from: Caryll Houselander, The Reed of God, Sheed & Ward, 1944

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Image © Trinity Icons / Joseph M. Malham
Image used with permission
To purchase your own copy, visit Trinity Icons

Day 14: Patience in the Hidden Growth of Sorrow – From the writings of Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 14: Patience in the Hidden Growth of Sorrow

Sometimes this Advent season of the soul is a recurring rhythm through life, deliberately chosen as such or simply given to us. Sometimes it is the immediate result of conversion or of a new awareness of God or of an increase of Love.

Sometimes it is a painful experience. It may be that a soul brimmed with love becomes dumb, inarticulate, blind, seeing only darkness, unable to give things that it longs to give to a world of children asking for bread.

This simply means that the Holy Spirit of Love, by which Christ was conceived in that heart, is compelling it to suffer the period of growth.

The light is shining in the darkness, but the darkness does not comprehend it.

To a soul in such a condition, peace will come as soon as it turns to Our Lady and imitates her. In her the Word of God chose to be silent for the season measured by God. She, too, was silent; in her the light of the world shone in darkness. Today, in many souls, Christ asks that He may grow secretly, that He may be the light shining in the darkness.

We ought to let everything grow in us, as Christ grew in Mary. And we ought to realise that in everything that does grow quietly in us, Christ grows. We should let thoughts and words and songs grow slowly and unfold in darkness in us.

Commentary: Caryll Houselander reflects on the “Advent season of the soul” as a time when, even in silence and darkness, Christ grows within us. This hidden growth can be challenging, especially when we feel brimming with love yet find ourselves unable to express or act on it. Houselander encourages us to look to Mary as a model of patient, silent surrender. Just as she held the Incarnate Word in silence and allowed Him to grow within her, we too are called to let Christ grow in us without rushing the process. Even in the moments when we feel unable to give or express ourselves fully, God is at work in our hidden depths, transforming us.

Personal Reflection: Consider a place of silence or frustration in your spiritual life where you feel “in the dark.” How might you imitate Mary’s trust in God’s timing, allowing Christ to grow quietly within you, even if you don’t yet see the fruit? Embrace this season as an opportunity for Christ to unfold slowly in your heart.

Houselander quote from: Caryll Houselander, The Reed of God, Sheed & Ward, 1944

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Image © Trinity Icons / Joseph M. Malham
Image used with permission
To purchase your own copy, visit Trinity Icons

Day 13: The True Fruit of Advent in Suffering – From the writings of Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 13: The True Fruit of Advent in Suffering

“We need the season of Advent; we need it in suffering, in joy, and in thought. We need it in everything that is to bear fruit in our lives. People sometimes get disheartened because they have read that suffering ennobles and have met people who seem to have come out of the crucible like pure silver, made beautiful by suffering; but it seems to them that in their own case it is quite the opposite. They find that, however hard they try not to be, they are irritable; that astonishing stabs of bitterness afflict them, that far from being more sympathetic, more understanding, there is a numbness, a chill on their emotions: they cannot respond to others at all; they seem not to love anyone any more; and they even shrink from, and dread the very presence of, those who are compassionate and who care for them. They say that in their case suffering is certainly a failure.

The truth is that they are too impatient to wait for the season of Advent in sorrow to run its course; a seed contains all the life and loveliness of the flower, but it contains it in a little hard black pip of a thing which even the glorious sun will not enliven unless it is buried under the earth. There must be a period of gestation before a nything can flower.”

Commentary: Caryll Houselander reminds us that Advent is a time not only for joyful expectation but also for deep, sometimes painful growth. She speaks to those who, in the face of suffering, feel they are failing because they don’t experience immediate transformation or nobility. Instead of emerging like “pure silver,” they may find themselves bitter, numb, or unable to connect with others. Houselander encourages us to understand that suffering doesn’t always yield visible or immediate beauty. Like the silent growth of Christ in Mary, the fruit of our suffering may be hidden, slowly transforming us in ways we cannot yet perceive. Advent teaches us to be patient and gentle with ourselves in these times, trusting that God is at work even in our apparent failures.

Personal Reflection: Consider any struggles or difficulties you may be facing. Rather than judging yourself for not “feeling” transformed, allow yourself to rest in God’s silent work within you. How can you cultivate patience with yourself, trusting that this season will bear fruit in time?

Houselander quote from: Caryll Houselander, The Reed of God, Sheed & Ward, 1944

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Image © Trinity Icons / Joseph M. Malham
Image used with permission
To purchase your own copy, visit Trinity Icons

Day 12: The Virtue of Patience in Small Things – From the writings of Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 12: The Virtue of Patience in Small Things

“There are things that refuse to be violated by speed, that demand at least their proper time of growth; you can’t, for example, cut out the time you will leave an apple pie in the oven. If you do, you won’t have an apple pie. If you leave a thought, a chance word, a phrase of music, in your mind, growing and cherished for its proper season, you will have the wisdom or peace or strength that was hidden in that seed. In this contemplation there is great virtue in practising patience in small things until the habit of Advent returns to us”

Commentary: Caryll Houselander uses the analogy of baking an apple pie to illustrate the importance of patience in spiritual growth. Just as rushing the baking process would ruin a pie, so too does rushing spiritual insights or growth deprive us of the full fruit they can bring. She encourages us to hold thoughts, words, and inspirations in our minds and hearts, allowing them the time they need to deepen and mature. This practice of patience, even in small things, helps us enter into the “habit of Advent”—a season of waiting and readiness for Christ to manifest more fully within us.

Personal Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you may be tempted to rush. How might embracing patience in this area help you develop a deeper sense of peace or insight? Allow yourself to hold this moment gently, trusting that it will bear fruit in God’s time.

Houselander quote from: Caryll Houselander, The Reed of God, Sheed & Ward, 1944

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Image © Trinity Icons / Joseph M. Malham
Image used with permission
To purchase your own copy, visit Trinity Icons

Day 11: Letting Christ Grow Within Us – From the writings of Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 11: Letting Christ Grow Within Us

“We ought to let everything grow in us, as Christ grew in Mary. And we ought to realize that in everything that does grow quietly in us, Christ grows. We should let thoughts and words and songs grow slowly and unfold in darkness in us”

Commentary: Caryll Houselander invites us to approach our inner life as Mary did, allowing Christ to grow quietly within. She encourages us to embrace a gentle, patient approach to spiritual growth, letting our thoughts, words, and prayers unfold naturally, as seeds growing in the darkness. By not rushing or forcing our spiritual development, we create space for Christ to shape us from within, revealing His presence through every part of our being. This quiet, humble growth mirrors the Incarnation, reminding us that even in silence and simplicity, profound transformation is taking place.

Personal Reflection: Consider what areas of your spiritual life need a slower, more patient approach. How can you create space in your heart for Christ to grow quietly, like a seed in the dark?

Houselander quote from: Caryll Houselander, The Reed of God, Sheed & Ward, 1944

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Image © Trinity Icons / Joseph M. Malham
Image used with permission
To purchase your own copy, visit Trinity Icons

Day 10: Faith in the Hidden Christ – From the writings of Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 10: Faith in the Hidden Christ

“This time of Advent is absolutely essential to our contemplation too. If we have truly given our humanity to be changed into Christ, it is essential to us that we do not disturb this time of growth. 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 everything, literally everything, to this almost incredible reality. This attitude it is which makes every moment of every day and night a prayer”

Commentary: Caryll Houselander describes Advent as a time of unseen transformation—a season when Christ’s presence grows quietly within us, veiled in darkness and requiring deep faith. She likens this process to a hidden gestation, where Christ’s light is not yet visible but is growing nonetheless. In this waiting period, we are called to believe so firmly in His presence that it permeates every aspect of our lives, transforming each moment into a silent prayer. For Houselander, this unwavering faith in Christ’s hidden growth is essential to a life of contemplation, shaping us in preparation for His radiance to be revealed.

Personal Reflection: Reflect on the unseen ways Christ may be working in your life. How can you cultivate faith in His hidden presence, letting this trust transform each part of your day into a quiet prayer of expectation?

Houselander quote from: Caryll Houselander, The Reed of God, Sheed & Ward, 1944

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Image © Trinity Icons / Joseph M. Malham
Image used with permission
To purchase your own copy, visit Trinity Icons

Day 9: The Silent Growth of Divine Love – From the writings of Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 9: The Silent Growth of Divine Love

“Advent is the season of the secret, the secret of the growth of Christ, of divine love growing in silence…For nine months, Christ grew in his mother’s body. By his own will, she formed him from herself, from the simplicity of her daily life.”

Commentary: Caryll Houselander reflects on Advent as a time of hidden development, where Christ’s presence grows quietly within us, much like His growth in Mary’s womb. This period emphasizes the importance of nurturing divine love in the simplicity of daily life, allowing it to flourish unseen until it manifests fully. Houselander encourages us to embrace this season of subtle transformation, trusting that, even in silence and simplicity, profound spiritual growth is taking place.

Houselander quote from: Caryll Houselander, The Reed of God, Sheed & Ward, 1944

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Day 8: Transformed by Divine Love – From the writings of Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 8: Transformed by Divine Love

“When God enters into our passions, joys, desires, sorrows, into our relationship with one another, our nature undergoes a transubstantiation. The Paraclete Who rests in the human heart changes the substance of our humanness to Christ, we are charged with the power of Christ’s love. Love is God in us.

This power of love is the beginning of the world’s healing, of human happiness. The world is made up of weak as well as strong people, of dull as well as intelligent people, of blind people as well as those who have vision, of naturally superficial as well as intense people. If all these and the millions more are to be as one, are to find happiness that is good and is a hallowing of God’s Name, they must do it in the only way they can: through the interchange in daily life of the love of Christ.”

Commentary: Caryll Houselander beautifully describes how, when God enters our lives, our very nature is changed—transformed into a reflection of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit within us. This “transubstantiation” of our humanness to Christ means that our love, patience, and kindness become channels for God’s love in the world. For Catholics, this resonates deeply with the sacramental understanding of grace, where God’s love works through us in everyday life to unite, heal, and uplift the world. Houselander challenges us to see that regardless of our personal strengths or weaknesses, we each contribute to the world’s healing through our daily expressions of Christ’s love.

Personal Reflection: Reflect on how you might allow Christ’s love to flow more freely through your actions today. How can you offer His love in even the smallest interactions, seeing them as opportunities to heal and unite? Let your love be a visible sign of God’s presence in the world.

Houselander quote from: Caryll Houselander, The Reed of God, Sheed & Ward, 1944

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Day 7: Embracing God’s Vision for Us – From the writings of Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 7: Embracing God’s Vision for Us

“I often think that the ideal of our perfection that we set up, and often go through torture to achieve, may not be God’s idea of how He wants us to be at all. That may be something quite different that we never would have thought of, and what seems like a failure to us may really be something bringing us closer to His will for us.”

Commentary: Houselander reflects on the difference between our personal ideals of perfection and God’s unique vision for each of us. Often, we set rigid standards for ourselves, struggling to meet them, and feeling discouraged when we fall short. Yet, Houselander reminds us that what seems like “failure” in our eyes may actually be a step toward God’s true purpose for us. She encourages us to trust that God’s idea of who we should become might differ from our own, leading us to let go of self-imposed expectations and embrace His guidance.

Personal Reflection:Reflect on an area in your life where you feel you haven’t measured up to your own expectations. How might this be part of God’s greater plan for you? Consider releasing any self-criticism and asking God to show you His vision for your growth.

Houselander quote from: Caryll Houselander (2005). “Caryll Houselander: Essential Writings”

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Day 6: A Home for Christ Within – From the writings of Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

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Day 6: A Home for Christ Within

“Christ asks for a home in your soul, where he can be at rest with you, where he can talk easily to you, where you and he, alone together, can laugh and be silent and be delighted with one another.“

Commentary: Houselander’s vision of Christ seeking a “home” in our souls is a beautiful and intimate portrayal of His desire for closeness with us. This isn’t a distant or formal relationship; instead, she describes a place where Christ can rest, talk, laugh, and simply be with us. This invitation to create a “home” for Christ within our hearts is about nurturing a familiar, joyful, and personal connection with Him. Through this image, Houselander encourages us to make space in our lives where we can freely enjoy His presence.

Personal Reflection: Reflect on your inner life. How can you make it a welcoming place where Christ feels truly at home? Consider setting aside a moment today to simply “be” with Him, enjoying His presence without any formal prayers or requests.

Houselander quote from: Caryll Houselander, Thomas Hoffman (2000). “A Child in Winter: Advent, Christmas and Epiphany with Caryll Houselander”, Rowman & Littlefield

For more reflections visit: Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit: Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit: Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit: Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit: Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit: Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit: Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit: Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit: Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit: Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

For more reflections visit:
Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts