Revelations of Divine Love

This work, Revelations of Devine Love, is not well known. Julian of Norwich questions existence and it can take the reader to deeper thinking. Her religious views we far advanced of others of that age. This book was enlightening and fascinating.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. ( )

Julian's writing 5-stars. I won't try to add to the description in other reviews, but want to offer advice when selecting an edition.

There is a generally accepting numbering system for Juilan's writings, but not all publications of "Revelations of Divine Love" include them (I was surprised to find that my 2015 OUP edition did not have the numbered text.. If you intend to use a guidebook along with the writings, be sure you get one with the text numbered. ( )

Wonderful spiritual lessons from a walled in woman. ( )

This was a more difficult read than I had anticipated, but I'm glad I plowed through it, little by little. My edition (Penguin 1966) was translated and introduced by Clifton Wolters, who is rather patronizing toward Julian . . . thus I made the right decision when I skipped the 45 page introduction until after I had read Julian's revelations. I was a bit disappointed that he chose to translate her most famous passage as "it is all going to be all right; it is all going to be all right; everything is going to be all right" rather than the more traditional/familiar/resonant "All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well." (Chapter 27)

I terms of Julian's actual revelations, the beginning was a rather bloody account of Christ's Passion, thus rather difficult reading. Her later revelations and discussions of God's Love help put the earlier gruesomeness in context. And for those not willing/able to wade through all the revelations, know that the final passage sums them up nicely: "Love was his meaning. Who showed it you? Love. What did he show you? Love. Why did he show it? For love." Amen. ( )

The scribe who put the words of Mother Julian to paper offered a warning:

"I pray God almighty that this book shall fall only into the hands of those who intend to be his lovers, and who are willing to submit to the Faith of the Holy Church, and to obey such sound and instructive teaching as is given by men of virtue, maturity, and profound learning. For this revelation contains deep theology and great wisdom, and is not meant for those who are enslaved by sin and the Devil" (213).

His warning is apt. Like my experience with The Imitation, this is the sort of writing that you have to deeply commit to before you benefit from it. If you try to skim it quickly—as if it were some modern day best-seller—it feels shallow and repetitive. On the other hand, I dare any believer to pray, open the book, and not be changed.

The form of The Revelation is simple. In 86 short chapters, Julian recounts and interprets 16 separate visions she received while praying. These visions focus on the pain Jesus was willing to bear for us, the depth of Jesus' love for us, and the incomprehensible role of evil in God's good creation.

Along the way (writing as a fourteenth century Anchorite) she shares some things that will make modern day Western-style evangelicals squirm. Specifically, her comments on St. Mary and her lengthy reflections on the motherhood of Jesus. Please don't let this dissuade you from this work. The expression "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater" comes to mind.

Mother Julian was a devoted believer who was overwhelmed with the love of her God. We could all use a reminder of that.

"So it was that I learned that love was our Lord's meaning. And I saw for certain, both here and everywhere, that before ever he made us, God loved us; and that his love has never slackened, nor ever shall. In this love all his works have been done, and in this love he has made everything serve us; and in this love our life is everlasting. Our beginning was when we were made, but the love in which he made us never had beginning. In it we have our beginning"(212).

One last thought. There are more editions of this work than you can shake a stick at. I read the Penguin Classics edition, with an introduction by the translator, Clifton Wolters. His 33 page introduction was a valuable aid for me to understand the broad theme of the book as well as Mother Julian's life and setting. ( )