Compline (Night Prayer) - Thursday, 27 April 2023

Today the Church celebrates the life and work of Christina Rossetti. 

A woman whose poems and works have inspired and blessed so many. 

The carol 'In the bleak midwinter' and carols such as 'Not I, But He' which I include here: 

 Lord Jesus, who would think that I am Thine? 

Ah! who would think, who sees me ready to turn back or sink, that Thou art mine? 

 I cannot hold Thee fast tho' Thou art mine: 

Hold Thou me fast, so earth shall know at last and heaven at last that I am Thine.

Compline (night prayer) - Wednesday, 27 April 2022

I take my heart in my hand--I shall not die, but live--Before Thy face I stand;

I, for Thou callest such: All that I have I bring, all that I am I give, smile Thou and I shall sing, but shall not question much.

Today (27 April) the Church celebrates the life and ministry (through her poetry) of Christina Rossetti.

Christina Rossetti was born in 1830 and was associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, of which her older brother, Dante, was a prominent member.

Her elder sister became an Anglican Religious. Christina’s own fame rests upon her poetry, which dealt mainly with religious subjects but also the sadness of unrequited or disappointed love. Her first recorded verses, addressed to her mother on the latter’s birthday, were written on 27 April 1842.

She was the author of the Christmas carol In the bleak mid-winter.

She died on 29 December 1894.