I took this little fun quiz and came up with Blessed Julian of Norwich as a Saint with whom I had things in common. I knew a little bit about her, but in the last couple of days I have been reading some more. This is what Julian of Norwich is teaching me...
To recognize Divine love in all circumstances. Her visions ("showings") of Christ's crown of thorns helped her see the love and sweetness of life, even when faced with sickness or the painful consequences of sin. I have a saying (not sure if I made it up or read it somewhere) that life offers only blessings and opportunities.
To completely trust in the greatness and love of God and to embrace mystery. She had a vision in which Creation amounted to no more than a hazelnut. Physically, a small and simple thing, but spiritually measured by the greatness of God's love. "To gaze into the heart of darkness itself is to enter the mysterious immensity of God's goodness.
To meditate on the feminine qualities of God. "Jesus, she says, is our Mother, who bears us in the womb of his love and nourishes us with his own flesh."
To be more optimistic (imagine that!). She emphasized focusing on the bliss and glory of the Earth with exquisite joy, rather than on sin and the things that are negative. She thought that with the crucifixion of the Son of God, the worst that could ever happened happened and God overcame it. Therefore... "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well"
Finally, Julian of Norwich teaches me to have intimacy with God as an all consuming goal. To seek to see His face in all the days of my life...
Some references...The Website of Unknowing and Julian of Norwich.
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