"Mystics of the Church"

Paper Summary:

Evelyn Underhill was a prolific writer of some thirty-nine published books and more than three hundred and fifty articles and reviews, who wrote about mysticism in her early years and about the spiritual life of ordinary people in her latter years. This paper discusses her 1925 book, "Mystics of the Church," in which she reveals the spiritual history of those mystical saints whom she considered of great importance and influence, especially John of the Cross.

From the Paper:

"It is said that Underhill did not like the growing practice of many devout Christians who shortened their prayer time in order to give more time and energy to do social services, declaring that such work was indeed prayer (Durkin pp). Just as the mystics and saints of the past, Underhill insisted that prayer must precede work, that one must take time for communion with God, first: by withdrawing from activity, "seek solitude, be silent, rest in his presence, listen to God speaking to you, and then praise him for his goodnes" (Durkin pp). All mystics have followed this path to God, through prayer and meditation."

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