‘a rising and growing light’ (Donne): the soul friendship in letters of Rose Macaulay to Fr Hamilton Johnson SSJE (1950-58). ZOOM LINK BELOW
At the end of the 1940s, successful English novelist and witty socialite Rose Macaulay began to work on a book on ancient ruins. The image of ruins is an apposite image for her life at this time: her flat had been destroyed by bombing over London in 1941, the secret lover of her life had recently died of cancer, and though attuned to the eternal, she felt powerfully separated from God. Unexpectedly in 1950 she received a letter from an acquaintance expressing congratulations on her latest novel.
And so began a friendship in which Rose Macaulay could share not only her deep love of literature, the English language and history, but also her estrangement from faith in God and belonging in the Anglican church. This friendship, only ever in letters, transformed her whole life until her death in 1958.
Zoom Meeting Rose Macaulay with Carol O’Connor
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81911719715?pwd=NjlOV05wV0w3SEwxRHpSWi9iNnNZdz09
Meeting ID: 819 1171 9715
Passcode: 743279
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdz4DWXfX3
About the presenter: Carol O’Connor is a writer, teacher and the Manager of St Peter’s Bookroom in Melbourne. She has a Masters in English Literature; a particular interest in poetry, meditation and Celtic spirituality; and follows her own mystical path.
The photo is Quarr Abbey, Isle of Wight, UK
COST OF SESSIONS: Would you shout us a coffee and cake?
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The Spiritual Reading Group will continue in 2023 on the third Wednesday of the month from 10.30 am to 12.00pm. All are welcome to join for a particular session or regularly. More details will be given about each of these session closer to the event.
The program for the remainder of the 2023 is below:
20 September – Philip Harvey on The Cloud of Unknowing – In person at the Carmelite Library
18 October – Bata Bardak on Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich
15 November – Susan Southall on the Book of Ecclesiastes
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.
