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Julian of Norwich (c. 1342-c. 1413) is considered to be one of the greatest English mystics. Little is known of her life aside from her writings. Even her name is uncertain, the name "Julian" coming from the Church of St. Julian in Norwich, where she occupied a cell adjoining the church as an anchoress. At the age of thirty, suffering from a severe illness and believing she was on her deathbed, Julian had a series of intense visions. These visions would twenty years later be the source of her major work, called Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love (circa 1393). This is believed to be the first book written by a woman in the English language.Julian's theology was optimistic, speaking of God's love in terms of joy and compassion as opposed to law and duty (note the famous quote below). For Julian, suffering was not a punishment that God inflicted, but was a means he used to draw us closer to himself. This was different from the prevailing views of her time, which typically saw afflictions like the Plague as divine punishment. She has also been referred to as a proto- universalist.
She is commemorated by the Anglican Church on May 8.
1 Quotes
- But all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well
- (This was the answer given to her by her dear Lord Jesus Christ when she protested that all could not be well if sinners were eternally punished in the flames of Hell.)
- Also in this He shewed me a little thing, the quantity of an hazel-nut, in the palm of my hand; and it was as round as a ball. I looked thereupon with eye of my understanding, and thought: What may this be? And it was answered generally thus: It is all that is made. I marvelled how it might last, for methought it might suddenly have fallen to naught for little[ness]. And I was answered in my understanding: It lasteth, and ever shall [last] for that God loveth it. And so All-thing hath the Being by the love of God...
2 Works
- Revelations of Divine Love
3 External Links
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Medieval literature
Saints
English theologians
Julian of Norwich
Julian of Norwich
