Who was Julian of Norwich? Does a 14th century mystic have any relevance for our times? Why has her work only become known in the last few decades?
Julian of Norwich described herself as "a simple creature unlettered," Revelation chapter 2, but she was chosen by our Lord Jesus Christ to gain a unique insight or higher beholding through sixteen visions.
When Julian was thirty years old in 1373 she was so close to the brink of death through an illness that she received the last rites. But it was not her time to die; our Lord Jesus Christ came to her during this illness with the sixteen visions. These visions included a vision of Heaven and showed the extent of the Passion of our Saviour Lord Jesus, the benevolence of God and the Virgin Mary. They gave discernment of the Trinity, the incarnation and the harmony between God and man's higher entity. They gave enlightenment of the ascent of man's higher entity towards God; the different phases of the spiritual sojourn on Earth, God's involvement in these stages and God's everlasting wisdom.
After the visions Julian regained her health and as consequence dedicated the rest of her life to God at the church, St. Julian's. Over twenty years of prayer and consideration regarding the visions gave her"inward instruction" from the Holy Spirit. She then wrote a second longer version of eighty-six chapters "Revelations of Divine Love."
This was the first book written in English by a woman. It is now a book that is read and loved by people internationally. It is not only valued as an important literary work, but as a spiritual Western classic, ranking Julian as one of the most significant English theologians.
To discern why Julian's work did not become well known, we have to reflect on the times that she lived in. England was going through an anxious and oppressive time. There had been the gloom of the Black Death, which had annihilated one third of the population. There was an alarming insurgence of the peasants' revolt in 1381. Unguided groups increased the lawlessness against the manorial system through the counties. There followed a hundred and fifty executions. The church was also disliked because it charged tithes, one tenth of the peasants' grain. The Lord's of the manner insisted on compulsory labour on their land.
In the 1380's Wyclif's movement endeavoured church reform. His offensive on church doctrine and its abuses was denounced and he was accused of heresy. It had driven the force of the Reformation. But the church in union with the state still had absolute control over men through their doctrine. The monarchy became more absolute than before. People who defied accepted beliefs were seen as a menace to the institutionalized authority. Personal sense of truth was not allowed. In 1401 a statute condemned heretics to be burnt alive.
The vengeful and absolute doctrine of the church focused on iniquity and retribution, and because of the events of the time people believed they were being punished by God. She would therefore have received opposition from the church and the state. Against this background Julian's perception was of a forgiving and benevolent God. She took great personal risk in publishing her works and indeed could have been tied for heresy and burnt at the stake. Another factor to consider was that Julian's work was hand written as the printing press was not invented in Europe until 1450.
The essence of the Revelations is God's benevolence to His children that are regarded by Him with tenderness, being blameless and impeccable through the Holy Passion of Saviour Lord Jesus Christ. Our higher entity and lower entity is totally separate. In chapter sixty-four our Lord reveals that on the point of expiry of our lower entity through death our redeemed higher entity ascends as a small child, in all perfection and purer than a lily, that floats up to the heavenly abode. Our lower entity that can be harsh and unacceptable is what yields to iniquity that causes us our suffering. Our higher entity being in an elevated separate state never yields to iniquity. Iniquity does not have to be the final stage of our life. We can use our gifts in our Lord's service. We like Julian who live in turbulent times can have complete faith in God with His peace and assurance.
More than six centuries after Julian I was inspired to translate Julian's work into contemplative prayers. My prayer is that they further inspire all that read them to consider Julian's teaching of God's benevolence and that they might transform their lives.
"Prayers from Revelations of Divine Love," is published by http://www.authorsonline.co.uk/ ISBN 978-07552-1110-4 You can also visit www.bebo.com/pfrodl
Julian of Norwich described herself as "a simple creature unlettered," Revelation chapter 2, but she was chosen by our Lord Jesus Christ to gain a unique insight or higher beholding through sixteen visions.
When Julian was thirty years old in 1373 she was so close to the brink of death through an illness that she received the last rites. But it was not her time to die; our Lord Jesus Christ came to her during this illness with the sixteen visions. These visions included a vision of Heaven and showed the extent of the Passion of our Saviour Lord Jesus, the benevolence of God and the Virgin Mary. They gave discernment of the Trinity, the incarnation and the harmony between God and man's higher entity. They gave enlightenment of the ascent of man's higher entity towards God; the different phases of the spiritual sojourn on Earth, God's involvement in these stages and God's everlasting wisdom.
After the visions Julian regained her health and as consequence dedicated the rest of her life to God at the church, St. Julian's. Over twenty years of prayer and consideration regarding the visions gave her"inward instruction" from the Holy Spirit. She then wrote a second longer version of eighty-six chapters "Revelations of Divine Love."
This was the first book written in English by a woman. It is now a book that is read and loved by people internationally. It is not only valued as an important literary work, but as a spiritual Western classic, ranking Julian as one of the most significant English theologians.
To discern why Julian's work did not become well known, we have to reflect on the times that she lived in. England was going through an anxious and oppressive time. There had been the gloom of the Black Death, which had annihilated one third of the population. There was an alarming insurgence of the peasants' revolt in 1381. Unguided groups increased the lawlessness against the manorial system through the counties. There followed a hundred and fifty executions. The church was also disliked because it charged tithes, one tenth of the peasants' grain. The Lord's of the manner insisted on compulsory labour on their land.
In the 1380's Wyclif's movement endeavoured church reform. His offensive on church doctrine and its abuses was denounced and he was accused of heresy. It had driven the force of the Reformation. But the church in union with the state still had absolute control over men through their doctrine. The monarchy became more absolute than before. People who defied accepted beliefs were seen as a menace to the institutionalized authority. Personal sense of truth was not allowed. In 1401 a statute condemned heretics to be burnt alive.
The vengeful and absolute doctrine of the church focused on iniquity and retribution, and because of the events of the time people believed they were being punished by God. She would therefore have received opposition from the church and the state. Against this background Julian's perception was of a forgiving and benevolent God. She took great personal risk in publishing her works and indeed could have been tied for heresy and burnt at the stake. Another factor to consider was that Julian's work was hand written as the printing press was not invented in Europe until 1450.
The essence of the Revelations is God's benevolence to His children that are regarded by Him with tenderness, being blameless and impeccable through the Holy Passion of Saviour Lord Jesus Christ. Our higher entity and lower entity is totally separate. In chapter sixty-four our Lord reveals that on the point of expiry of our lower entity through death our redeemed higher entity ascends as a small child, in all perfection and purer than a lily, that floats up to the heavenly abode. Our lower entity that can be harsh and unacceptable is what yields to iniquity that causes us our suffering. Our higher entity being in an elevated separate state never yields to iniquity. Iniquity does not have to be the final stage of our life. We can use our gifts in our Lord's service. We like Julian who live in turbulent times can have complete faith in God with His peace and assurance.
More than six centuries after Julian I was inspired to translate Julian's work into contemplative prayers. My prayer is that they further inspire all that read them to consider Julian's teaching of God's benevolence and that they might transform their lives.
"Prayers from Revelations of Divine Love," is published by http://www.authorsonline.co.uk/ ISBN 978-07552-1110-4 You can also visit www.bebo.com/pfrodl
