In this contemporary translation of one of the best loved and influential mystical texts of all time, Julian of Norwich: The Showings brings the message and spirituality of this 14th-century mystic to 21st-century readers. Included is Revelations of Divine Love, the first published book in English attributed to a woman, which was highly liberal and incredibly progressive for its time.
Julian of Norwich, a contemporary of Geoffrey Chaucer, was an English anchoress in East Anglia. At the age of 30, suffering from a severe illness and believing she was on her deathbed, Julian had a series of intense visions of Jesus, which she recorded and then expanded on later in her life. God in Julian's visions was not angry and wrathful. Instead, the three properties of God were presented as life, love, and light, and all of His creation was good, including his servant, man. In Julian's version, man is not to blame for his sin; instead, it is something that he must experience and overcome in his spiritual journey with God.
Her message for today's readers is simply this:
• She reveals the feminine face of the Divine and reminds us to see God there
• All our failings are an opportunity to learn and grow; they should be honored, but not dwelled upon.
• God's love has nothing to do with love and retribution and everything to do with love and compassion.
• In spite of all appearances, all is well.
The book contains some of the most profound spiritual writing ever produced and remains a perennial favorite among Christians.
