Julian of Norwich

Julian of Norwich was an English mystic and anchoress who lived enclosed in a cell attached to St Julian's Church in Norwich. In May 1373, during a severe illness, she received sixteen visions, or 'showings', centred on Christ's passion. She wrote a short account soon afterwards and spent decades reflecting on it in a longer version; together they are known as Revelations of Divine Love, the earliest surviving book in English known to have been written by a woman. Her reflections on sin, suffering and God's love, including the assurance that 'all shall be well', continue to draw readers.

Key ideas

• God's love is the meaning of everything that happens: 'Love was his meaning.'
• Sin is 'behovely', or fitting, yet all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.
• God regards humanity without wrath; blame and anger belong to us, not to God.
• Divine love can rightly be described as motherly, and Christ is our mother.
• Everything that exists is held in being by God's love, like a hazelnut in the palm of a hand.

Major works

• Revelations of Divine Love (Long Text, c. 1393 onwards)
• A Vision Showed to a Devout Woman (Short Text, after 1373)

In the Book corner

• Revelations of Divine Love after 1373 (Short Text); Long Text c. 1390s or later · Beginner
  An account of sixteen visions, or showings, received in May 1373 by a woman later known as Julian, who lived as an…

In the conversation

No topics yet. Start one about this thinker.