In a time parched for wisdom like ours … we are invited to return to our ancestors who have proven themselves wise. Julian is such an ancestor.
—Matthew Fox, Julian of Norwich
Theologian Matthew Fox describes Julian of Norwich as a mystic for our times. He highlighted her writings during the COVID-19 pandemic, living as she did through the Black Death (bubonic plague). He writes:
A time of crisis and chaos, the kind that a pandemic brings, is, among other things, a time to call on our ancestors for their deep wisdom. Not just knowledge but true wisdom is needed in a time of death and profound change, for at such times we are beckoned not simply to return to the immediate past, that which we remember fondly as “the normal,” but to reimagine a new future, a renewed humanity, a more just and therefore sustainable culture, and one even filled with joy.
Julian of Norwich … is one of those ancestors calling to us today…. Julian is a stunning thinker, a profound theologian and mystic, a fully awake woman, and a remarkable guide with a mighty vision to share for twenty-first-century seekers…. Julian knew a thing or two about “sheltering in place,” because she was an anchoress—that is, someone who, by definition, is literally walled up inside a small space for life. Julian also knew something about fostering a spirituality that can survive the trauma of a pandemic. While others all about her were freaking out about nature gone awry, Julian kept her spiritual and intellectual composure, staying grounded and true to her belief in the goodness of life, creation, and humanity and, in no uncertain terms, inviting others to do the same. [1]
Julian was not afraid to face reality. By entering fully into it, she discovered God’s grace:
Julian’s response to the pandemic [of her time], as we know it from her two books, is amazingly grounded in a love of life and gratitude. Instead of running from death, she actually prayed to enter into it and it is from that experience of death all around her and meditating on the cruel crucifixion of Christ that she interpreted as a communal, not just a personal event, that her visions arrived….
What is remarkable about her life and teaching is that instead of yielding to despair or blame, she sought out in depth the goodness of life and creation. Indeed, she established her entire worldview on this sense of goodness and the sacred marriage of grace and nature, a sense of God-in-nature. [2]
Julian’s teachings are encouragement for our time:
Our sister and ancestor Julian is eager not only to speak to us today but to shout at us—albeit in a gentle way—to wake up and to go deep, to face the darkness and to dig down and find goodness, joy and awe. And to go to work to defend Mother Earth and all her creatures, stripping ourselves of racism, sexism, nationalisms, anthropocentrism, sectarianism—anything that interferes with our greatness as human beings. And to connect anew to the sacredness of life. [3]
References:
[1] Matthew Fox, Julian of Norwich: Wisdom in a Time of Pandemic—and Beyond (iUniverse, 2020), xvii.
[2] Fox, Julian, xix.
[3] Fox, Julian, xxxviii.
Image Credit and inspiration: Syuhei Inoue, untitled (detail), 2020, photo, Japan, Unsplash. Click here to enlarge image. The light streaming through the window represents Julian of Norwich’s quiet revelation; she is illuminated by a wisdom and strength she cannot contain or fully grasp—available to all of us, whether in peacetime or in crisis.
Story from Our Community:
I’ve learned much from reading and listening to the mystical writers of our time, like Fr. Richard and Thich Nhat Hanh, as well as more ancient mystics, like Julian of Norwich. In my adult life I’ve dealt with a certain amount of unexplained depression, particularly in the waking hours of the morning. I’ve learned that I can simply sit quietly, breathe, and center my thoughts on Divine Love. As I sit in the Presence, I find that my mind, with its bent toward a dark place, is aligning with the light. The heart fills with gratitude. For many years I’ve been on medication as well, but I find that I can employ all the tools God has granted.
—Daniel K.
