Julian of Norwich

All the surface details of Julian’s life could be written on half a page, but the all-embracing greatness of her inner spirit shines out through the words she wrote and which are influencing now more people than they ever did before.

The essence of her experience in her 31st year was that the God who often seemed fearsome to the struggling people of her time was really, as she liked to say, ‘all-love.’ It was one of those ‘near-death’ experiences. The images that she saw implied that all the love which was experiencing came to her through the Christ whom she perceived as wanting to give his own life to her. It was the surpassing love itself which was the essence of her own experience and of the revelation which she did so much to share.

Through the image of enfolding clothes she saw a sign of God’s protective presence. He was a warm and consoling God who could both shelter and sustain her in the midst of all the storms of life and so prepare her for the contribution which she knew she had to make. This God in some ways is a mother to us.


Mary she perceived as what she herself could be and, even if imperfectly, already was. Thus Mary was one who marveled that the One who is so very great should come to her who was so very small. Despite her disappointments and the struggles and at times the doubts, she does appear as one who managed to maintain in her own prayerful life that attitude of grateful marveling.


Other Contributions of Julian:

In an age of emphases on refutation of heresy Julian is entirely positive, focusing on divine grace and not on the errors of His creatures.Suffering in the world was not a punishment but a channel through which God can draw us closer to Himself. There is purification but a joyous one, not the lash!Julian glories in redemption but shows unusual insight in admitting we cannot know precisely how this was accomplished.

 She does not emphasize using intercessors but is keenly aware of the rejoicing of saints in heaven. She however advocates approaching God directly as what best pleases Him.
 Her picture of the devil is of one eternally frustrated. The images of the sinner’s redemption as leading to greater joy in heaven, makes even the evil one an unwilling co-operator with divine providence. All of creation serves its purpose in the divine will’s being fulfilled.
She does not emphasize using intercessors but is keenly aware of the rejoicing of saints in heaven. She however advocates approaching God directly as what best pleases Him.
 Her picture of the devil is of one eternally frustrated. The images of the sinner’s redemption as leading to greater joy in heaven, makes even the evil one an unwilling co-operator with divine providence. All of creation serves its purpose in the divine will’s being fulfilled.


 The idea of the Church as a vehicle of divine revelation is essential to understanding Julian. Her obedience to the Church is a thankful awareness for a divine gift. It is stronger because it does not assume that the hierarchy exceeded anyone else in personal holiness, not that any role in the Church was less vital to its members as a whole (whether shoemaker, gatekeeper or just penitent).
 The trust in God Julian stresses is rooted in our awareness of our limitations.

“I will make all things well, I
shall make all things well, I may make all things well and
I can make all things well; and
you will see for yourself, that
all things will be well.”

“Of all the things we may do for Him in our penitence the most honoring to him is to live gladly and gaily because of his love…“And I saw for certain, both here and elsewhere, that before ever he made us, God loves us; and that His love has never slackened, nor ever shall… Our beginning was when we were made, but the love in which He made us never had beginning. In it we have our beginning…”