Shirley recently did a presentation on the life of Julian of Norwich, who was an amazing woman. Julian lived in an era that was very challenging and yet she was still able to have a very spiritual life and supported those around her. It seems beneficial to reflect on Julian’s life and the words that she was given by Jesus as we try to live in this present time---with so many difficulties facing us.
We know little of Julian’s early life. She is known to us almost exclusively through her book, “The Revelations of Divine Love,” which is widely acknowledged as one of the great Christian classics of the spiritual life. She is thought to have been the first woman to write a book in English that has survived. When she lived the outbreak of the Black Plague in the middle of the 1300s decreased the population of Europe by a third.
Life for most was short and hard. Death and eternity must have seemed for most a hair’s breadth away because defenses against disease were few and rarely effective. Some historians believe that Julian may have been married and lost her husband and a child/children to the Plague.
In additional to the devasting loss of lives from the Plague many men and much money was sucked out of the economy to sustain England’s forces in the Hundred Year’s War with France. Eventually, the peasants, tradesmen, and well-to-do farmers revolted against the constant collection of war taxes.
As if all this chaos was not enough, religious conflict was added to the mix because John Wycliffe was attacking the wealth and the institutional power of the Catholic Church, seeking a simpler Christianity and the availability of a Bible in English. Social unrest and violent reprisals were prevalent throughout England and Julian’s town of Norwich was not spared any of the social/economic turmoil, wars, or religious questioning.
Julian's “Revelations of Divine Love” is based on a series of sixteen visions she received on the 8th of May 1373. Julian was lying on, what was thought at the time, to be her deathbed (however, she lived to be 74) when suddenly she saw a vision of Christ bleeding in front of her. She received insight into his deep love for us through his Passion. Often Julian referred to Christ as “our courteous Lord.” One of the oft quoted sayings in her book are the words Christ gave to her: “I can make all things well; I shall make all things well; and thou canst see for thyself that all manner of things shall be well.”
We know from the medieval literary work, “The Book of Margery Kempe,” that Julian was known as a spiritual counsellor. People would come to her cell in Norwich to seek advice. Considering that, at the time, the citizens of Norwich suffered from war, plague and poverty, as well as a famine, she must have counselled a lot of people in pain. Yet, her writings are filled with hope and trust in God's goodness.
Presently, we are not living with deadly plagues, extreme poverty and a war like Julian had to deal with. However, we have our own set of challenges and human-made plagues, which makes it easy to become discouraged or stressed out.
Please reflect on Julian’s life and how she was able to have a spiritually rich life that impacted so many people then and now. By doing this it may help all of us to reach out and support those in need. Also reflecting on Jesus words that “he will make all things well,” can give us hope about the future for ourselves, our nation, and the wider world. Peace and blessings to you and your family. Vernon T. (My thanks to Shirley for her wonderful research!)
Copyright © 2025 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved
We know little of Julian’s early life. She is known to us almost exclusively through her book, “The Revelations of Divine Love,” which is widely acknowledged as one of the great Christian classics of the spiritual life. She is thought to have been the first woman to write a book in English that has survived. When she lived the outbreak of the Black Plague in the middle of the 1300s decreased the population of Europe by a third.
Life for most was short and hard. Death and eternity must have seemed for most a hair’s breadth away because defenses against disease were few and rarely effective. Some historians believe that Julian may have been married and lost her husband and a child/children to the Plague.
In additional to the devasting loss of lives from the Plague many men and much money was sucked out of the economy to sustain England’s forces in the Hundred Year’s War with France. Eventually, the peasants, tradesmen, and well-to-do farmers revolted against the constant collection of war taxes.
As if all this chaos was not enough, religious conflict was added to the mix because John Wycliffe was attacking the wealth and the institutional power of the Catholic Church, seeking a simpler Christianity and the availability of a Bible in English. Social unrest and violent reprisals were prevalent throughout England and Julian’s town of Norwich was not spared any of the social/economic turmoil, wars, or religious questioning.
Julian's “Revelations of Divine Love” is based on a series of sixteen visions she received on the 8th of May 1373. Julian was lying on, what was thought at the time, to be her deathbed (however, she lived to be 74) when suddenly she saw a vision of Christ bleeding in front of her. She received insight into his deep love for us through his Passion. Often Julian referred to Christ as “our courteous Lord.” One of the oft quoted sayings in her book are the words Christ gave to her: “I can make all things well; I shall make all things well; and thou canst see for thyself that all manner of things shall be well.”
We know from the medieval literary work, “The Book of Margery Kempe,” that Julian was known as a spiritual counsellor. People would come to her cell in Norwich to seek advice. Considering that, at the time, the citizens of Norwich suffered from war, plague and poverty, as well as a famine, she must have counselled a lot of people in pain. Yet, her writings are filled with hope and trust in God's goodness.
Presently, we are not living with deadly plagues, extreme poverty and a war like Julian had to deal with. However, we have our own set of challenges and human-made plagues, which makes it easy to become discouraged or stressed out.
Please reflect on Julian’s life and how she was able to have a spiritually rich life that impacted so many people then and now. By doing this it may help all of us to reach out and support those in need. Also reflecting on Jesus words that “he will make all things well,” can give us hope about the future for ourselves, our nation, and the wider world. Peace and blessings to you and your family. Vernon T. (My thanks to Shirley for her wonderful research!)
Copyright © 2025 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved
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