Fruits of the Spirit

The Fruits of the Spirit, Light of Christ, Abba by Evelyn Underhill, 266 pages

This is a collection of transcriptions of three conferences hosted by Underhill, along with some supplemental material.  In The Fruits of the Spirit she guides the reader along a Jacob's Ladder to holiness through the development of Joy and Peace, Long-Suffering and Gentleness, Goodness and Faithfulness, Meekness and Temperance.  Throughout she stresses patience - these fruits are the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the same way earthly fruits are the product of the Sun - they cannot be forced or hurried.  In Light of Christ she expounds on the imitation of Christ as the foundation of the Christian life, especially focusing on His roles as Teacher, Healer, and Rescuer.  In Abba she uses the seven clauses of the Lord's Prayer as a framework for her reflections

Throughout these retreats, Underhill's focus is on transformation in Christ.  Her principal aim is to draw her retreatants deeper into communion with God in the only way that can be accomplished, through complete abandonment to His Will.  Although she draws extensively on the treasures of monastic spirituality, however, her retreats are all intended for those who, like her, live in the world.  This is Underhill's greatest gift - in her reflections, the challenges of ordinary life are revealed as luminous portals of grace.