An Explorer's Guide to Julian of Norwich by Veronica Mary Rolf

Author:Veronica Mary Rolf
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Julian;Julian of Norwich;Norwich;Revelations;Revelations of Divine Love;Showings;Shewings;English;anchoress;mystic;mysticism;Christian mysticism;theology;Christian spirituality;medieval;Christian history
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Published: 2018-04-12T17:46:33+00:00

A Julian Gem

For this was shown: that our life is all grounded and rooted in love, and without love we may not live. And therefore, to the soul that because of his special grace sees so deeply into the high, marvelous goodness of God, and sees that we are endlessly oned to him in love, it is the most unpossible that may be that God should be wrath. (49:3-7.269)

Julian’s Plea

In spite of the sublime illuminations she has been receiving, Julian feels increasing conflict and confusion. She dares to ask the Lord for greater clarity:

But yet here I wondered and marveled with all the diligence of my soul, meaning thus: “Good lord, I see that thou art very truth, and I know truly that we sin grievously all day and are much blameworthy. And I may neither abandon the knowing of this truth, nor can I not see the shewing [Christ has made] to us of no manner of blame. How may this be?” (50:5-9.271)

Essentially, she is being pulled between two strongly held beliefs: on the one hand, the lack of wrath and blame in God, and on the other hand, the teaching of the church that God condemns sinners.

And between these two contraries, my reason was greatly afflicted by my blindness and could have no rest, for dread that his blessed presence would pass from my sight and I would be left in unknowing how he beholds us in our sinne. For either it behooved me to see in God that sinne was completely done away with, or else it behooved me to see in God how he sees it, whereby I might truly know how it is fitting for me to see sinne and the manner of our blame. (50:14-19.273, emphasis added)

This is such a crucial moment in Julian’s revelations. Let us try to place ourselves in her state of mental and emotional conflict:

My longing endured, while I was continually beholding him [Christ]. And yet I could have no patience for my great fear and perplexity, thinking: “If I take it thus, that we are not sinners nor not blameworthy, it seems as if I should err and fail in knowing of this truth. And if it be true that we are sinners and are blameworthy, good lord, how may it then be that I can not see this truth in thee, who art my God, my maker, in whom I desire to see all truth?” (50:19-24.273, emphasis added)

It is clear that Julian was deeply troubled that in her human ignorance of such exalted teachings she would be unable to accept both aspects of the revelation at once; she might cling to one and reject the other and thus fall into heresy. However, she took courage in that her request for clarity was “so low a thing; for if it were one high, I should be afraid” (50:25-26.273). Indeed, she was not questioning Christian doctrine; she simply wanted to know how she should view sin and salvation. At the

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