Today in Lent Madness it's a tea drinking mystic vs. the patron saint of stage mothers. Only one of these women will advance to the Round of the Elate Eight to try her hand against Mary Magdalene.
Yesterday, Thomas Cranmer defeated Columba 60% to 40% and will face off against either Emma of Hawaii or Paul of Tarsus. View the updated bracket and prepare for the wild ride yet to come.
Mystic and theologian Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941) wrote prolifically and influentially about spirituality, including her foundational text Mysticism, published in 1911. She was the first woman allowed to lecture to Church of England clergy and was widely sought after as a lecturer and spiritual director.
In addition to her spiritual works, Underhill also wrote several novels: The Grey World (1904), The Lost Word (1907), and The Column of Dust (1909). In The Grey World, her protagonist says, "It seems so much easier in these days to live morally than to live beautifully. Lots of us manage to exist for years without ever sinning against society, but we sin against loveliness every hour of the day."
She constantly emphasized the importance of beauty and of reality in the spiritual life. In her meditations on the Christian creed (first published in 1934, and now compiled as The School of Charity), she writes, “The spiritual life is a stern choice. It is not a consoling retreat from the difficulties of existence; but an invitation to enter fully into that difficult existence, and there apply the Charity of God and bear the cost.”
But she is also cognizant that the spiritual life can be neither hurried nor forced. Again, in The School of Charity, she writes,
“We are constantly beset by the notion that we ought to perceive ourselves springing up quickly, like the seed on stony ground; show striking signs of spiritual growth. But perhaps we are only required to go on quietly, making root, growing nice and bushy; docile to the great slow rhythm of life. When we see no startling marks of our own religious progress or our usefulness to God, it is well to remember the baby in the stable and the little boy in the streets of Nazareth.”
For Underhill, spirituality is rooted in an existence with God in all aspects of life. In The Spiritual Life (1936), she writes,
“We mostly spend [our] lives conjugating three verbs: to Want, to Have, and to Do. Craving, clutching, and fussing, on the material, political, social, emotional, intellectual—even on the religious—plane, we are kept in perpetual unrest: forgetting that none of these verbs have any ultimate significance, except so far as they are transcended by and included in, the fundamental verb, to Be: and that Being, not wanting, having and doing, is the essence of a spiritual life.”
Monnica is well-known as the icon of the relentlessly supportive mother. In his Confessions, her son, St. Augustine, describes the Lord’s favor for the tears she wept on his behalf. “They flowed down from her eyes and watered the earth beneath, in whatsoever place she prayed.”
Still, Monnica must have had her moments. Just as she was getting fed up with Augustine’s dissolute behavior and distancing herself from him, she had a dream. Her son later recounts:
“She saw herself standing upon a certain wooden rule, and coming towards her a young man, splendid, joyful, and smiling upon her, although she grieved and was crushed with grief. When he asked her the reasons for her sorrow and her daily tears...she replied that she lamented for my perdition. Then he bade her rest secure, and instructed her that she should attend and see that where she was, there was I also. And when she looked there she saw me standing on the same rule.
“Whence too was this, that when she had narrated the vision to me and I attempted to distort it to mean rather that she should not despair of becoming what I already was, she immediately replied without any hesitation: ‘No!’ she said. ‘It was not said to me, ‘Where he is, there also are you,’ but ‘Where you are, there also is he.’ .... By this dream the joy of that holy woman, to be fulfilled so long afterwards, was predicted much beforehand so as to bring consolation in her then present solicitude.” Confessions 3.19-20
While her tears and concern for Augustine’s eternal fate did not abate, she began to take heart in the reassurance of the vision she received from God and to act as though his conversion would come to pass. A similar thing happens to Harry Potter in “The Prisoner of Azkaban” when he has the confidence to conjure a protective charm to shield himself, Hermione, and Sirius because he knows he already did it three hours before. Jesus riffs on the same theme just before he is betrayed when he says, “I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” (John 16:31) Perhaps in God’s economy time is a frivolous and untrustworthy commodity when we’re assured of the outcome.
Apparently, however, she did not have such faith in all of her fanciful notions concerning her soon-to-be famous son. During a particularly pushy episode, Monnica advocated for a socially advantageous marriage and saw “certain vain and fantastic things” that might come to pass if the marriage was made. However, she is clear to Augustine when it all came to naught that she did not confuse her imaginings with true revelations from God. “She said that she could distinguish by some sort of savor, which she could not explain in words, the difference between your revelations and her own dreaming soul.” Confessions 6.23
When she visited a local North African bishop to urge him to meet with Augustine, he reassured her that he himself had been misled as a lad but found his way back to the faith:
“When he had spoken these words, and she still would not keep quiet, but by her entreaties and flowing tears urged him all the more to see me and discuss matters with me, he became a little vexed and said: ‘Go away from me now. As you live, it is impossible that the son of such tears should perish.’ As she was often wont to recall in her conversations with me, she took this as if it had sounded forth from heaven.” Confessions 3.21
These encounters inspired in Monnica a remarkable confidence in the efficacy of her ardent prayers to see her son come to accept the Christian faith. Her confidence sustained her until Augustine converted in 387, marking nearly two decades of pressing on for the prize.
-- Heidi Shott
Vote!
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71 comments on “Monnica vs. Evelyn Underhill”
Yes! vote Evelyn - influential for many.
Torn...but I'm choosing Monnica...the faithful and fervent prayers of many a devout parent/grandparent/elder matter much...
Are these separate girl / boy teams on each round? Pleeeze...
Monnica was matched with Augustine, Evelyn Underhill was matched with Nicholas. So the gender match up is a result of prior voting/
Thank you!!
Point 1: Underhill = HOBBIT NAME!
Point 2: The last quote from "The Spiritual Life." !!!
Sorry to admit that I skimmed the entry for Monnica... I love Underhill too much! Go Evelyn!!
I went with Evelyn today. I love the story of a modern woman who is able to help other experience mystic holiness.
Though prayer for one's children is a good practice, it seems all of Monnica's efforts were set in the context of the life of her famous son (who is some circles is considered a mysogynist by the way)...so I think I'm going to go with Eveyln on this one...
This was easy for me. Anyone who could write a book on "Practical Mysticism" gets my vote!
Thank you Lent Madness and the SEC for making this Lent very special, and thanks to all whose comments have deepened the experience for me.
Go Evelyn!
Today's post with the Underhill quotes inspires me to read more of her work. Thank you to the Lent Maddness Team for shining a light on these spiritual jewels. Now for a good cup of tea...
If you're interested, I just found out that Underhill's book, "Practical Mysticism: A Little Book for Normal People," is a FREE Kindle download. How's that for bribing the voters?
Here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Mysticism-Little-Normal-ebook/dp/B004UKCBY4/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1332338615&sr=8-2-fkmr0
Once again, the mystic gets my vote; and not just ANY mystic but a (almost) contemporary who makes this ordinary person yearn for the depth of love she shared! I have always loved this particular quote, "We do not 'follow the footsteps of his most holy life' by the exercise of a trained religious imagination, but by treading the firm, rough earth, up hill and down dale.” (Evelyn Underhill)
Thank you!
Nice work on the Evelyn Underhill piece. I don't see how Monnica can stand up to it, even with Harry Potter in her midst.
Underhill all the way. The quotations used today are beyond lovely.
100% Team Underhill.
After voting for Monnica in round 1 and against Underhill in round 1, I'm switching it up today and voting for Underhill. Such is Lent Madness.
me too, but I was voting FOR Santa and AGAINST Augustine
Your wording captures the reason behind me votes better.
Generally, I have a difficult time with English mystics (yes, even blessed Julian!), but Underhill makes sense to me.
Although I voted for Monnica in the first round, I am wondering if she would be considered a "Helicopter Parent" in today's world. My vote goes to Evelyn - love the quotations!
It was a different time bcd then, but yes, I believe so!
". . . Being, not wanting, having, and doing, is the essence of a spiritual life." IF I HAD been wavering, that quote would have pushed me into the Hobbit camp.
I'm with Joe's reference and the Hobbit!!
Mama Rose vs. the Julian of Norwich of the modern era? Got to go with Evelyn.
Our EFM group just did a theological reflection on new growth last night. So the quote from Evelyn grabbed my attention this morning.
“It seems so much easier in these days to live morally than to live beautifully." Why must the two be seen as mutually exclusive? Being honest, charitable, giving, trustworthy and respectful are both moral and beautiful, as they reach out to others and encourage others to reach towards us, building community. And why are a parent's concern, desire, prayers and encouragement (and sometimes nagging) equated with being a medieval version of Mama Rose?
Monnica all the way!
I suspect many of us would not be here if not for Augustine, so we have his momma to thank, much as I like Underhill.
A "helicopter parent"? "Mama Rose"? Is that how intercessory prayer for your own children is regarded? Monnica desired for her son the gift of eternal life, and a life of virtue. In his own Confessions, he described himself as tormented in his search for the Truth, and this brilliant Doctor of the Church, who has done immeasurable good for believers across the centuries, credits his mother for her perseverance in prayer on his behalf.
I'm voting for Monnica, for all the women and men who get down on their knees for their kids, for all the wives and husbands who pray for their spouse. They are in the millions, and they don't have any "fine quotes", just faithful and anonymous care for their domestic church.
Gotta go with Evelyn, on Mysticism alone. What an amazing book!
Thanks for the Kindle link, Laura! I've already downloaded the book.
I had decided for Evelyn before Laura provided the address for the free download to my ever-ready Kindle, but it isn't a bad bonus for voting for her. Of course everyone knows your Kindle will burst into flame if you try the free download and haven't first voted for her. Just a little example of practical mysticism...
Many of us go through what Monnica went through (even if our children do not become famous). I work with gifted students, and get the feeling that Augustine was one of those. I admire Monnica, and identify with much of the heartache of wayward children. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Prov. 22:6) has comforted me often.
Now, to the matter at hand. I also voted for Monnica in the first round. I learned much about mystic EH today, and she has my vote. Harry Potter is great, but I'll go with the classic Hobbit.
Monica has my vote--her persistence and faith were rewarded and all to our benefit
I went with Evelyn. Thanks for all the comments. They really add to the experience - and sometimes to the madness! Thanks for the Kindle link.
Just a quick corrective in case any Harry Potter fanatics read the piece on Monnica above and get bent out of shape. When Heidi wrote of a shield charm (protego), she obviously meant patronus charm (expecto patronum).
Heidi -- if you read this comment, do I have your permission to go in and make that change before the Potter superfans notice?
Hey Adam,
My intent was to use the word "shield" in a generic sense, not to suggest that Harry used a Protego charm instead of a Patronus charm (and a full corporeal one at that!) I meant to imply that by driving the dementors away with the Patronus he was, in fact, shielding them from harm.
We may need to take this up on another board. The SEC might kick us off...but then again who would write their bios?
I never thought mysticism could be so relatable. I prefer good writing to copious tears.
This contest is like watching a documentary on the History of St. Augustine, Florida. In St. Augustine there is a major hotel called Casa Monica named after (of course) St. Monica the mother of St. Augustine. Plus the Cathedral in St. Augustine is filled with stained class windows on St. Monica. Got to vote for Monica.