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Julian of Norwich
Julian of Norwich (c. 1343–c. 1416). Born around November 8, 1343, likely in Norwich, England, Julian of Norwich was an English mystic, anchoress, and one of the earliest known female Christian authors. Little is known of her early life, including her birth name, but she may have been from a well-to-do family, possibly educated at a convent. At around 30, during a severe illness in May 1373, she experienced 16 visions or “shewings” of Christ’s Passion, which she later recorded as Revelations of Divine Love, the first book in English known to be written by a woman. Choosing a life of seclusion, she became an anchoress at St. Julian’s Church in Norwich, from which she derived her name, living in a cell to pray and counsel visitors. Her writings, blending profound theology with accessible prose, emphasize God’s love, the motherhood of Christ, and optimism despite sin, famously noting that “all shall be well.” Julian’s work, preserved in short and long texts, influenced medieval spirituality and later readers, though she remained obscure until the 20th century. Unmarried, with no recorded family, she likely died around 1416 in Norwich. She said, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”
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Julian of Norwich emphasizes the significance of prayer as a deliberate and persevering action of the soul, connecting us to God's will through the work of the Holy Spirit. She assures that when we pray according to God's will, we can be confident that our prayers will be answered. Julian highlights that everything we are led to pray for by God is ordained for us to receive even before time began. She also shares the comforting thought that our prayers will be waiting for us in heaven, adding to our eternal joy and gratitude.
The Ground of Our Praying
Prayer is the deliberate and persevering action of the soul. It is true and enduring, and full of grace. Prayer fastens the soul to God and makes it one with his will, through the deep inward working of the Holy Spirit. I am the ground of your praying. First, it is my will that you should have this; then I make it your will, too: then I make you ask for it, and you do so. How then should you not have what you pray for? Everything our good Lord makes us to pray for he has ordained that we should have since before time began. When we come to heaven, our prayers shall be waiting for us as part of our delight with endless joyful thanks from God.
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Julian of Norwich (c. 1343–c. 1416). Born around November 8, 1343, likely in Norwich, England, Julian of Norwich was an English mystic, anchoress, and one of the earliest known female Christian authors. Little is known of her early life, including her birth name, but she may have been from a well-to-do family, possibly educated at a convent. At around 30, during a severe illness in May 1373, she experienced 16 visions or “shewings” of Christ’s Passion, which she later recorded as Revelations of Divine Love, the first book in English known to be written by a woman. Choosing a life of seclusion, she became an anchoress at St. Julian’s Church in Norwich, from which she derived her name, living in a cell to pray and counsel visitors. Her writings, blending profound theology with accessible prose, emphasize God’s love, the motherhood of Christ, and optimism despite sin, famously noting that “all shall be well.” Julian’s work, preserved in short and long texts, influenced medieval spirituality and later readers, though she remained obscure until the 20th century. Unmarried, with no recorded family, she likely died around 1416 in Norwich. She said, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”