Dame Julian of Norwich		 May 8
Mystic
Almost all our information about Dame Julian comes from the little she says of herself in her writings. From these we can deduce that she was born about 1342. At the age of 30 she suffered a serious illness, and indeed received the last rites. The priest then gave her a crucifix on which to look and find comfort while she waited for death. The following day, 8 May 1373, she received fifteen revelations or visions, followed by one further one on the evening of the next day. 
She recovered from the illness, and soon after this wrote about her experience. Twenty years later she wrote a longer account, which she called The Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love. This was the product of years of reflection on the experience. It is considered one of the most important and inspiring books of that time. The revelations are chiefly concerned with the passion of Christ and with the holy Trinity. In her reflections on these, Julian shows her keen perception of the power of divine love over evil.
Julian is named as a beneficiary in three wills, the latest of which can be dated to 1416; so she must have died some time after that, but we do not know exactly when. These same wills describe Julian as a recluse at the Church of St Julian and St Edward at Conisford, Norfolk. She may have taken the name Julian from the church. The church itself belonged to the Benedictines, but there is no evidence that Julian was a nun; nor do we know exactly when she became a recluse. 
To be a recluse in the Middle Ages was relatively popular. Although recluses were enclosed for life, in a ceremony that included elements of the funeral rites, they were not cut off from the world. Julian was visited by many in search of spiritual counsel and help. The cell or “anchorage” was frequently a suite of rooms, and like many others Julian had a servant to attend to her needs.
Although she says that the revelations were shown to her, “a simple and uneducated creature”, her book reveals a woman of keen intellect, common sense and compassion. In a number of ways Julian seems very modern; she was one of the first female theologians. Two brief quotations from her writings will give some insight into her deep spiritual awareness and illustrate why she has been noted for her tenderness and naturalness in writing about our approach to God.
I saw that [our Lord] is everything that we know to be good and helpful. In his love he clothes us, enfolds and embraces us; that tender love completely surrounds us, never to leave us.
[Christ’s] will for us is that we should seek for and trust him, rejoice and delight in him, while he in turn strengthens and comforts us until such time as we realize it all in very fact. As I see it, the fullest joy we can have springs from the marvellous consideration and friendliness shown us by our Father and our Maker, through our Lord Jesus Christ, our Brother and our Saviour.
For Liturgical Use
We know little of the life of Julian beyond the fact that she was born about 1342, became a recluse and lived in a cell attached to the Church of St Julian in Conisford, Norwich, and died sometime after 1416. She is best known for her book, The Revelations of Divine Love, one of the finest of English mystical writings. It reveals the depth of her spiritual awareness. Her strong convictions in the victory of God’s love led to her famous saying, “Sin is inevitable, but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”
Sentence
I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called on God and the spirit of wisdom came to me.		Wisdom 7:7
Collects
Eternal and everloving God, 
you look at us in love
and would have us share
in your good work;
encourage us by the teaching 
of your servant Julian of Norwich
to trust your grace at all times,
that in us you may show
your love for all things;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Blessed are you eternal God
in Julian the anchoress
contemplating the sixteen showings of your love;
help us to reach her confidence
that in you all shall be well
and all shall be well
and all manner of things shall be well.
Psalms	27:1-8	116:1-9
Readings
1 Kings 19:9-13a		Revelation to Elijah
1 John 3:18-24		Believing in our hearts
John 20:11-18		Revelation to Mary Magdalene
Post Communion Sentence
Abide in Christ, so that when he is revealed, we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming.	1 John 2:28