I saw that God never started to love humanity, for just as we will ultimately enter into everlasting bliss, fulfilling God’s own joy, his love for us has no beginning and he will love us without end. —Julian of Norwich, Revelations 53, trans. Mirabai Starr
Father Richard Rohr introduces Julian of Norwich (1343–c. 1416), a medieval mystic from England:
Ever since I discovered Julian of Norwich thirty years ago, I have considered her to be one of my favorite mystics. Each time I return to her writings, I always find something new. Julian experienced her sixteen visions, or “showings” as she called them, all on one night in May 1373 when she was very sick and near death. As a priest held a crucifix in front of her, Julian saw Jesus suffering on the cross and heard him speaking to her for several hours. Like all mystics, she realized that what Jesus was saying about himself, he was simultaneously saying about all of reality. That is what unitive consciousness allows us to see.
Afterwards, Julian felt the need to go apart and reflect on her profound experience. She asked the bishop to enclose her in an anchorhold (hermit’s enclosure) built against the side of St. Julian’s Church in Norwich, England, for which she was later named. We don’t know her real name, since she never signed her writing. (Talk about loss of ego!) The anchorhold had a window into the church that allowed Julian to attend Mass and another window so she could counsel and pray over people who came to visit her.
Julian first wrote a short text about these showings, but then she patiently spent twenty years in contemplation and prayer, trusting God to help her discern the deeper meanings to be found in the visions. Finally, she wrote a longer text titled Revelations of Divine Love. Julian’s interpretation of her God-experience is unlike the religious views common for much of history up to her time. It’s not based in sin, shame, guilt, or fear of God or hell. Instead, it’s full of delight, freedom, intimacy, and cosmic hope.
Mirabai Starr offers this translation of Julian’s encouraging account:
For our beloved God is so good, so gentle and courteous that he can never banish anyone forever….
I saw and understood that there is a divine will within every soul that would never give in to sin. This will is so good that it could never have evil intent. Rather, its impulse to do good has no limits, and so the soul remains ever-good in the eyes of God. [1]
The soul is that part of us that has never doubted and that has always said yes to God. It’s in everyone. Even in those moments when we are filled with negativity, there’s a little yes that holds on. That’s what mystics like Julian of Norwich have become aware of and the place to which they return. They trust that infinite yes that shines within all of us.
References:
[1] Julian of Norwich, The Showings: Uncovering the Face of the Feminine in Revelations of Divine Love, trans. Mirabai Starr (Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads, 2013, 2022), 146. Selection from chap. 56.
Adapted from Richard Rohr and James Finley, Intimacy: The Divine Ambush (Albuquerque, NM: Center for Action and Contemplation, 2013). Available as MP3 audio download.
Image credit and inspiration: Jenna Keiper, The Showings, translation by Mirabai Starr (detail), 2022, photo, Albuquerque. Original translation by Mirabai Starr. Cover art by Erin Currier. Click here to enlarge image. Julian of Norwich gazes at us with calm in the midst of her blazing visions.
Story from Our Community:
I resonate deeply with Richard Rohr’s message that God loves things by becoming them. This understanding enriches my life as a retired person. I have long known that I had something to contribute to the world, professionally and personally. And I also know that there were times in my life when I have fallen short. Julian of Norwich’s wisdom reminds me that God loves my attempts to learn from life experience. Most importantly, I know that God was with me in each stage of the journey.
—Robert H.
