“Ash Wednesday” by Christina Rossetti

At the very beginning of this yearโ€™s Lenten season, weโ€™re going to read a short poem by Christina Rossetti (1830โ€“1894), the celebrated English poet and writer of devotional literature.  Her two-part poem โ€œAsh Wednesdayโ€ brings into focus the meaning of this important day in the church calendar. The poem is simple, but it's not exactly …

Book review: “Loss and Gain” by John Henry Newman

John Henry Newman was one of the intellectual giants of the Victorian era. Born in London in 1801, he led a long life filled with intellectual curiosity and deep concern with matters of faith. Originally an Anglican priest and theologian based in Oxford, he famously converted to Roman Catholicism in 1845, continuing his ministry as a …

“Some Questions for Saint Valentine’s Day” by Amos Russel Wells

Amos Russel Wells (1862โ€“1933) was an American scholar and Christian activist. He authored numerous works, including poetry, essays, young adult fiction and devotional writings.  In this post weโ€™ll read his poem โ€œSome Questions for Saint Valentineโ€™s Day.โ€ You can tell that Wells was a classicist: addressing Cupid rather than the venerable Christian saint and martyr, …