Evelyn Underhill

Underhill was a leading authority on modern mysticism. Written just before World War 1, Practical Mysticism reviews the works of the greatest Western mystics, including Teresa of Avila, Julian of Norwich, and Thomas à Kempis. Underhill brings esoteric subjects onto a practical footing, showing that the profound gifts of mysticism are not only for the few but are within reach of us all. Underhill wants the reader to obtain mystical consciousness and to be able to see eternal beauty.

"Unlike many mystics, who celebrate ecstasies, visions, voices, the scent of strange perfumes, and] the hearing of sweet sounds, he believed that the key to a closer relationship with God required private thought and prayer, and the elimination of all other distractions. He distrusted psychic phenomena, believing they were the accidents rather than the substance of the contemplative life, and quite possibly the work of the Devil. He felt that such hallucinations led only to self-deception and brought the believer no closer to God. Humorous at times, and written in plain English, The Cloud of Unknowing is intended for the general reader, especially the beginner in contemplation unsure about how to overcome initial difficulties. British writer of prose and poetry EVELYN UNDERHILL (1875 1941) was a fellow of King s College for Women and King s College, and was the first woman to lecture to the clergy in the Church of England. Through her radio appearances and her stint as editor of the political magazine The Spectator, she was a familiar voice in British public life between the wars. She authored more than 30 books (some under the pseudonym John Cordelier), including Concerning the Inner Life and Radiance: A Spiritual Memoir."

"Ruysbroeck is Evelyn Underhill s biography of 14th-century Flemish mystic John of Ruysbroeck. An ordained priest, Ruysbroeck was active for many years in Brussels before retiring to the Sonian Forest, where many of his surviving works were written. He is perhaps best remembered for conceiving of the spiritual ladder of Christian attainment and its three stages of progress: the active life, the inward life, and the contemplative life. Unlike many mystics, he believed that the soul in its journey was capable of finding God but would never unify with God, maintaining always its own identity. And yet, though remembered for his mysticism, Ruysbroeck at times could be a traditionalist, forcefully writing in favor of historic Church customs. A highly readable and thorough examination of both his life and works, Rusybroeck is a classic profile of the man considered by some to be the greatest of all medieval Catholic mystics. British writer of prose and poetry EVELYN UNDERHILL (1875 1941) was a fellow of King s College for Women and King s College, and was the first woman to lecture to the clergy in the Church of England. Through her radio appearances and her stint as editor of the political magazine The Spectator, she was a familiar voice in British public life between the wars. She authored more than 30 books (some under the pseudonym John Cordelier), including Concerning the Inner Life and Radiance: A Spiritual Memoir."

"British writer of prose and poetry EVELYN UNDERHILL (1875 1941) was a fellow of King s College for Women and King s College, and was the first woman to lecture to the clergy in the Church of England. Through her radio appearances and her stint as editor of the political magazine The Spectator, she was a familiar voice in British public life between the wars. She authored more than 30 books (some under the pseudonym John Cordelier), including Concerning the Inner Life and Radiance: A Spiritual Memoir. This collection of her essays includes: The Essentials of Mysticism The Mystic and the Corporate Life Mysticism and the Doctrine of Atonement The Mystic as Creative Artist The Education of the Spirit The Place of Will, Intellect And Feeling in Prayer The Mysticism of Plotinus and more. Every reader interested in a practical, lucid take on the mystical will want a copy on the bookshelf. "

Over sixty years has passed since Evelyn Underhill's death, yet her devotional writings have endured as a beacon to those who seek a deeper understanding of the interior life in the mystical Christian tradition. The editor's personal discovery of Underhill's works when he was a young student at General Theological Seminary moved him to pursue an extensive knowledge of her writings. From these he has skillfully culled readings appropriate for every day of Lent, from Ash Wednesday to Easter Eve and broadly following liturgical themes. Now back in print, these selections were chosen with the purpose of deepening Lenten observance by allowing the reader to follow the thought of Underhill, from the spiritual stocktaking theme for Ash Wednesday to Easter Saturday's joyous anticipation of God's ultimate Gift.