Our Anglican Roots: Christina Rosetti

Stand Firm (Mississppi) ^ | 1/1/2005 | unk

[AnAmericanMother]

Is that Reformed Episcopal Church, or Dutch Reform?

There doesn't seem to be an REC parish anywhere near us - besides we are from the "high" (not to say ultramontane) wing, and the REC at least from its website seems to be more middle or low.

Anyhow, glad you found a place to light and that it's suiting you. I imagine because the ECUSA was such a broad umbrella, we're all going to land in a lot of different places . . . but all will be ELSEWHERE than where ECUSA is today.

[Ryle]

Is that Reformed Episcopal Church, or Dutch Reform?

Dutch :) - there's no REC in our area, and at the moment a complete break from any sort of Anglican/Episcopal church seems to be best - the change is refreshing and is giving a whole new perspective.

[Claud]

And many of the Oxford Movement types came "home to Rome" - Rossetti of course was Italian (at least her father was) and I wonder if she really wasn't a crypto-Catholic. Much of her poetry seems more Catholic than Protestant.

Rosetti's brother William Michael in his edited volume of her poetry actually said the same thing--that she really had Roman tendencies and that's where she actually seemed to belong. But earlier in her life, she broke off an engagement when her fiancee swum the Tiber. I suppose this is not an uncommon tension for Anglo-Catholics in general.

Many many thanks sionnsar, for posting this. Rosetti's poetry is spiritually excellent and wonderfully artistic--none the worse for wear since feminists have begun refashioning her into their image (though her intense religion makes them uncomfortable and she was against suffrage I think). She is one of the dazzling lights of the CofE and will always be dear to my heart.

[AnAmericanMother]

But earlier in her life, she broke off an engagement when her fiancee swum the Tiber. I suppose this is not an uncommon tension for Anglo-Catholics in general.

Very common. If you're raised in the old Anglican church (pre-Oxford Movement), you think that the Catholic church is some sort of bugbear (see the novels of William Kingsley, who is wonderful except when he gets launched on the Catholics - the slimy villain in Westward Ho! is an evil cousin converted by the Jesuits, and a couple of asides in The Water Babies will make you open your eyes).

If somebody had asked me 30 years ago would I have become Catholic, I would have reacted very negatively. Of course, what outsiders HEAR about the Catholics and what is actually going on are two different things. I was pleasantly surprised to find in our very conservative and orthodox Catholic parish things that you never hear about -- (1) solid Biblical preaching and teaching (2) inspired evangelism (3) decent music (and getting better all the time!). Plus of course solid and emphatic moral teaching, sound instruction in Catholic doctrine, emphasis on the importance of confession, the Rosary, and special devotions such as Eucharistic Adoration and the Forty Hours . . .

I feel like I've missed a lot by not converting years ago.

[sionnsar]

LOL!