Charles Williams : The New Christian Year: The Feast of the Circumcision

This is a reprint of 2 devotionals, "The New Christian Year" (1941) and "The Passion of Christ: Being the Gospel Narrative of the Passion with Short Passages Taken from the Saints and Doctors of the Church" (1939), both chosen by Charles Williams, an English poet, novelist, theologian, literary critic, and teacher. Charles Walter Stansby Williams was most often associated with the Inklings (a group of christian writers including J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis), Williams was also cited as a major influence on W.H. Auden's conversion to christianity and he was a peer and friend of T.S. Eliot, Dorothy Sayers and Evelyn Underhill. These devotionals collect writings from throughout the history of christian thought. His choices were novel at the time, referencing Kierkegaard just as his translations were appearing in english print (Williams helped edit the first translations in England) and drawing upon the little known sermons of the poet John Donne. For each day of the Church year (starting in Advent), quotes will be posted as they appeared in the 1941 edition of "The New Christian Year". They are categorized by the source on the left, so that readers can read more from each author. I will also add links to websites about each source. During lent the "The New Christian Year" will be supplemented by quotes from "The Passion of the Christ". This text has passages from the Gospel accounts of the passion supplemented by quotes from the "Saints and Doctors of the Church".

About

Charles Williams

Categories

« Christmas Week Friday | Main | Christmas Week Saturday »

The Feast of the Circumcision

He began betimes to suffer for us, and he that never did sin began this day to bear pain in his sweet tender body for our sin. Much ought we to have compassion and weep with him, for he wept this day full sore . . . for that bodily circumcision we have ghostly circumcision, that is cutting away from us all superfuluous things that dispose to sin, and holding with us an affection only that is needed to virtuous living. For he that is truly poor is virtuously circumcised.

The Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ, tr. by Nicholas Love.

Comments

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

Posted by: |

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Your comment could not be posted. Error type:

Your comment has been saved. Comments are moderated and will not appear until approved by the author. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Post a comment

Comments are moderated, and will not appear until the author has approved them.

Your Information

(Name is required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)

Name is required to post a comment

Please enter a valid email address

Invalid URL

Subscribe to this blog's feed

Recent Comments

Archives

The Downtown Presbyterian Church (USA)

The Downtown Presbyterian Church (USA)
This is my church in Nashville, TN.
Common Prayers Wednesday Night Service
This is a blog of our Wednesday Night prayer service.