About Julian Of Norwich
Julian was born in 1342, a contemporary of Chaucer and believed to be the first woman to write a book in Middle English: “Revelations of Divine Love.” She lived well into her seventies, experiencing the turmoil of the Hundred Years’ War, three outbreaks of the Black Plague, the Peasants’ Revolt, the Great Western Schism and gale winds of hurricane force.
When she was thirty Julian passed through a desperate illness during which she experienced dramatic, mystical visions which healed her and radically changed her. She wrote extensively of these “showings” for the rest of her life.
St. Julian's Church, Norwich
Lady Julian's Cell
Julian was an “anchoress” and lived in a cell attached to St. Julian and Edward’s church in Norwich. Many came to her for spiritual counsel, encouragement and healing. At the core of her revelations and teachings, these words: “Love is His meaning”. Thomas Merton called her the greatest theologian for our times.
The Window in Lady Julian's Cell
St. Julian's Church, Norwich
In the midst of great turmoil, Julian spoke words of comfort, of hope, of forgiveness, of revelation. She speaks to our time as well. In the face of the AIDS epidemic, violent wars and terrorism, hunger and homelessness, and a creation scarred by our apathy and abuse—we need to hear that “all is well” and commit ourselves anew to treasuring God’s precious creatures and creation.