SOURCE: "Devotional Prose," in Christina Rossetti: A Biographical and Critical Study, fourth edition, Haskell House Publishers Ltd., 1971, pp. 285-318.

In the following excerpt, first published in 1898, Bell surveys Rossetti's works of devotional prose.

Annus Domini, which was issued in 1874, through the publishing house of Messrs. James Parker & Co., Oxford and London, is the first in point of date of Christina Rossetti's devotional prose works, and deserves particular attention, as it presents many features showing the inception of her later devotional prose style. Annus Domini is called on the sub-title page 'a prayer for each day of the year, founded on a text of Holy Scripture.' Following the title-page is a brief commendatory note by the Rev. William Henry Burrows. . . . Next comes a short Prefatory Note by the author, and then two pages occupied by what she names a 'Calendar' wherein the numbers are given of certain of...