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Evelyn
Underhill was born in 1875 and grew up in London. Her friends included
Laurence Housman (poet and brother of the poet A E Housman) and Sarah
Bernhardt (actress), and Baron Friedrich von Huegel, a writer on theology
and mysticism. Largely under his guidance, she embarked on a life of
reading, writing, meditation, and prayer. From her studies and experience
she produced a series of books on contemplative prayer.
Miss Underhill (Mrs. Hubert Stuart Moore) taught that the life of
contemplative prayer is not just for monks and nuns, but can be the life of
any Christian who is willing to undertake it. She also taught that modern
psychological theory, far from being a threat to contemplation, can
fruitfully be used to enhance it. In her later years, she spent a great deal
of time as a lecturer and retreat director. She died on June 15, 1941.
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