Introduction
Julian of Norwich was a very popular Anchoress during her time, yet people know so little about her. The only way people knew about her existence is because of her Revelations that she received by God and would write later on in her life. Julian's writing is kind of difficult to understand because she never mentions her name or her life in the book, she just refers herself as "the Soul, the poor, simple, simple creature, or a mere wretch."^1^ It is understandable why Julian did this because she did not want to have peoples attention on her, but rather in Gods message. One interesting aspect about Julian is the day she recieved the Divine revelation of Love on May 13, 1373. Coinsidently the first apparation of Our Lady of Fatima would fall on May 13, 1917, this can be a way of affirming that Julian is not a hoax, and plus none of her Revelations goes against Church teachings. Throughout the book, "Revelation of Divine Love" Julian persistently reminds the readers that this message was meant for all and not just to herself. "Thus Julian turns our eyes from looking on her to looking with her on the Revelation of Love."^2^ Julian wanted everyone to see what she saw and felt during her Revelations or what she called "Shewings".
Julians First Revelation
Julians first Revelation was the passion of Christ, where Julain saw how Christ was crowned with thorns on His head. As Julian was watching Christ being crowned, she describes how suddenly she felt the Trinity fill her heart with immense joy. Through the Holy Trinity, Julian was able to better understand God and His goodness. Julian mentions how, she was able to see the importance of the Blessed Mother Mary. Julian desribes the Virgin Mary as full of virtues and graces, because of that yes she gave to God in accepting His will. Julian got 6 important points out of her first revelation, which was the passion of Christ, the humlness of our Lady, Gods imense power, God is creator, as maker God loves everything, and lastly God is pure goodness.^3^ Julians visions or revelation are described in depth and she wrote it down. This makes the reader want to imagine, what she felt and what she saw during the passion of Christ.
Julians Second Revelation
Julian's second revelation was very short and simple one. The three main and impotant points in this Revelation is that God desires His people to be willingly to follow Him, second is so people can seek Him with a firm faith and lastly to trust in God.^4^ God is calling people to seek Him diligently with an open heart and to trust in Him. Julians revelations are similar to Biblical accounts and to the Catechism of The Catholic Church. "The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if even one is wise, if even one seeks God"(Ps 14:2 NABRE).
Julians Third-Seventh Revelation
Julians third to seventh Revelations are short yet full of meaning and wisdom. Julian once again sees the passion of Christ, but this time she describes Gods body. In detail she describes Gods body "the fair skin was broken full deep into the tender flesh with sharp smiting all aboout the sweet body."^5^ The beautiful thing about Julian's writing is that after she saw how God sufferend and bled during His passion, she would explain what all this meant for her. For example when she describes how Jesus's blood was dripping off his body "the prescious plenty of His dearworthy blood overfloweth all earth, and is ready to wash all creatures of sin."^6^ Julian reflects on what she saw during her revelations, which helps the reader better undertsand why God is revealing this to Julian. one beautiful thing Julian talks about is Gods reward for those who do His will. She describes it as a King who rewards his sevant for his good deeds and the king would make it known to all his kingdom.^7^ Just reading this, and thinking about what God has stored for those who seek God and who love.
Julian's Eighth Revelation
Julian's eighth revelation is very graphic one by the way she describes it. It is the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Julian describes the Body as if Jesus was dead for couple days and that all his blood has dried out. When Julian saw Christ suffer and full of pain, she too began to feel his pain by just watching Him. Julian saw four manners of dryings that Jesus suffered. first was the dryness of his own blood, second was the pain of his blood drying up, third was how Jesus was hanging like cloths to dry and lastly was how Jesus's body desired liquid but could not satisfy his bodies desire.^8^ This brings an imporatnt point in her revelations which is to meditate Gods passion, "for the highest point that may be seen in the passion is to think and know what He is that suffered."^9^ This is very important to understand how much God truly suffered for all of humanity, becaus ethat is how greatly God loves His creation.
Julians Ninth- twelfth Revelations
Julian demonstrates this great Marian spirituality that God revealed to her. Mary suffered greatly by watching her own suffer an ddie durring the passion. God revealed Julian His mother to her and said "wilt thou see how I love her, that thou mightest joy with me in the love that I have in her an dshe in me?"^8^ God revealed Mary to Julian in three stages showing how precious the Virgin Mary is to Him. The first stage that was revealed was when Mary was with Child, second was the sorrows she suffered under the cross and lastly is that "she is now in pleasing, worship and Joy."^9^ The Virgin Mary is definitly is seen as an important saint who has shown humblness, and sets a great exampe for all human beings.
Julians Thirteenth-Sixteenth Revelation
The thriteenth revelation reveals what sin does to humans, and why the Church through teh Holy Spirit has recieved the sacrament of confession. Human soul desire God because they desire their creator because the "soul and body clad in the goodness of God."^10^ Julian talks about the mercy and forgiveness of God because, humans often fall into sin. Since the soul desires God, and "God is nearer to us than our own soul."^11^ It is only through God Man may receive forgiveness. Julian Revelations were not always about Christ passion but also about the enemy or what she refers to them as fiends. Her description of there smell was physically painful to bare. Gods love is eternal and forgives all sins. This is one of the ways God shows His people His immense love for humanity.
Conclusion
Julian of Norwich wrote a very interesting book, not for herself but for all. Although this book might seem a bit confusing at first to read because of the different type of english it is written in. There are many references that help the readers better understand what Julian is trying to say. Julians Revelations are definitly quite interesting and therefore I recommend this book to readers. There are many good lessons in here, what got my attention was how Julian would humble herself and make her self selfless. all she desired was to comfort those who needed it. She showed compassion to all her brothers and sisters. She showed that same love that she saw in Christ to everyone else. What was Gods greatest commandment. " you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your soul and with all your mind."(Mt 22:37 NABRE) Julian got the Revelation of Divine Love which is one of the greatest commanment. God showed his immense love for all through the passion.
^1^ Julian, Norwich, "Revelations of Divine Love" Translated from British Library MS, edited by Grace Warrack 1901. 10
^2^ Julian, Norwich, "Revelations of Divine Love" 13
^3^ Julian, Norwich, "Revelations of Divine Love" 40
^4^ Julian, Norwich, "Revelations of Divine Love" 43^5^ Julian, Norwich, "Revelations of Divine Love" 45
^6^Julian, Norwich, "Revelations of Divine Love" 46
^7^ Julian, Norwich, "Revelations of Divine Love"48
^8^ Julian, Norwich, "Revelations of Divine Love"50
^7^ Julian, Norwich, "Revelations of Divine Love"53
^8^ Julian, Norwich, "Revelations of Divine Love" 58
^9^ Julian, Norwich, "Revelations of Divine Love" 58
^10^ Julian, Norwich, "Revelations of Divine Love" 10
^11^ Julian, Norwich, "Revelations of Divine Love" 97
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