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Julian of Norwich: Showings (Classics of Western Spirituality)

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Julian, an anchoress who lived in solitude in Norwich, England in the late 14th century, received the 16 “showings” or revelations of God’s love in a series of experienced visions. The first version used to be a short text. The second, longer version used to be it appears written some years after the first, when she had had time to pray and reflect about the teachings God had given her.

In the light of their thirteen years of work on the critical edition of Showings, Colledge and Walsh give us this first modern English rendering from the place of Julian’s teaching in Catholic Spirituality. The editors present Julian as a skilled theologian and master of rhetorical style. Jean Leclercz, the noted monk, creator, and medievalist, in his preface addresses himself to the question, “Why is this the most important work today?”

Showings reveals a Julian who experienced God directly and not self-consciously as “our mother.” Her revelations of the feminine side of God represent a significant contribution to the tradition. Her graphic visions of the humanity of Christ are marked by vivid imagery and detail. But the special appeal of Julian lies in her theology of the all- embracing fullness of divine love. Julian is certainly a warm and approachable companion for the mystical journey.
In a time when Christian women mystics are at last being discovered, Julian of Norwich still stands out as one of the vital essential–and one of the vital approachable. An anchoress who lived in solitude in Norwich, England, in the late 14th century, Julian’s book consists of the 16 “showings” or revelations from God. Most famous is her vision of the universe as she gazes into the smallness of a hazelnut, but the book is rich all through with beauty. Her style is simple and homely in its images, not unlike the later St. Teresa of Avila. “God almighty is our loving Father,” she writes, “and God all wisdom is our loving Mother.” She affirms, “our substance is in God, and … God is in our sensuality.” For Julian God is the foundation of all that is, and the foundation of God is love. As she concludes, “What, do you need to know your Lord’s meaning in this thing? Comprehend it well, love used to be his meaning. Who reveals it to you? Love. What did he reveal to you? Love. Why does he reveal it to you? For love.”

The editors, Edmund Colledge, O.S.A., and James Walsh, S.J., worked for 13 years on this beautiful edition. Including a detailed analysis of the text in the introduction, the book also contains an insightful preface from Jean Leclercq, who explores the relevance of Julian’s work for today. All of this, on the other hand, is in service to these astonishing visions, given to a woman whose single desire used to be to give up all to God. –Doug Thorpe

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