Julian of Norwich was born into a time of great anxiety. The Hundred Years War, the Black Plague, and upheaval of authority in the Catholic Church overwhelmed Europe with worry.
In the face of so much death from war and disease, the people of Julian's time were increasingly concerned about the destiny of their own souls and the destination of their deceased loved ones. The Church was going through a crisis in leadership and didn’t seem to have all the answers anymore. Enter the mystics.
Julian the Mystic
This widespread apprehension about personal salvation, paired with the people’s increasing lack of confidence in the church, led to a sudden increase of new forms of experiencing and expressing spirituality. This new spirituality led to the rise of mysticism and the popularity of mystics like Julian.
In the wake of so much trouble, the people felt that they needed a spiritual anchor to keep them steady throughout life’s storms. Blessed Julian was their anchoress: a mystic or female hermit who inhabits a small cell attached to the church and lives her life in silence, solitude and prayer for her community.
Julian’s Revelations
During Julian’s prayerful life of solitude, she authored Revelations of Divine Love, her spiritual diary which reveals sixteen different mystical visions of Jesus. These were deep theological revelations, but Julian merely called them her “showings” and wrote about them in the language of ordinary people, making divine revelation accessible to everyone.
In her Revelations, Julian quotes Christ as saying: “I can make all things well; I will make all things well; I shall make all things well; and you will see yourself that everything will be all right.” She believed that trust in God’s goodness and loving care was the key to squelching anxiety.
Julian also claimed that Christ showed her all of Creation in the form of a hazelnut that fit into the palm of one hand. “What may this be?” she asked, to which He replied, “It is all that is made.” She saw God as a loving protector of all of the world.
God’s Goodness
Julian’s writings affirm the goodness of creation and the kindness, friendliness, and generosity of God. She saw God as not only a father but as a mother, creator, and nurturer. Julian wrote, “As truly as God is our Father, so truly is God our Mother. Our Father wills, our Mother works, our good Lord the Holy Spirit confirms.”
Julian’s central insight was that God created humankind out of love, and that love, not sin, fundamentally determines human existence. She offered solace and inspiration to the people of her time and she continues to offer the same comfort to people today.
How to Ask Blessed Julian for Help
Find a grove of trees and gather a leaf or a twig from a tree. Walk throughout the grove while repeating Blessed Julian’s prayer: "All shall be well / And all shall be well / And all manner of things / Shall be well."
How to Thank Julian
Although there’s no one preferred way to thank Blessed Julian for her help, some people do so by seeking solace and comfort in her mystical writings.
Blessed Julian lived from 1342-1416. Her Feast Day is May 13.
Francine Morrissette - Francine Morrissette is a freelance writer from southern Maine who has published articles on a wide range of topics including health, ...
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