A Rocking-Horse Catholic

2021 Reprint of the 1955 Edition. Facsimile of the original edition and not reproduced with Optical Recognition. In all she wrote there was a candor as of childhood; she seemed to see everything for the first time and the driest of doctrinal considerations shone out like a restored picture when she had finished with it. Houselander had a fascinating life not least of which included a variety of mystical experiences throughout her life beginning at an early age. She died at only 53 of breast cancer and even had fallen in love with a British double agent who broke her heart. Houselander recalled traveling from work on an underground train with every manner of man headed home from the days work writing: Quite suddenly I saw with my mind but as vividly as a wonderful picture Christ in them all. But I saw more than that; not only was Christ in every one of them living in them dying in them rejoicing in them sorrowing in them - but because he was in them and because they were here the whole world was here in this underground train not only the world as it was at that moment not only at the people in the countries of the world but all those yet to come. I came out into the street and walked for a long time in the crowds. It was the same here on every side in every passerby - Christ. Her writings express a vibrant form of Catholic mysticism.