Julian of Norwich's Life Story
Julian of
Norwich also known as Juliana, was born around the year 1342 but not much is
known about her early life. Even her real name is a mystery to this day. She
described herself "as a simple creature, unlettered" but that can't be entirely true given she was to write a book that would impact the christian faith. When she was a nun, the Bubonic plague was at
its most deadly and citizens who were suffering would seek her
advice. She was known as a
spiritual counsellor, helping many people through pain and loss.
In 1373 Julian became extremely sick, she was close to dying and remained so for seven days and seven nights. On 8th of May, of that same year, at the age of 30, Julian received 15 spiritual visions from god (showings) and on the next day she had one more. The showings contained both visual images and spoken words, reflecting clear spiritual events. Her fame came from the book she wrote about the showings, called 'The Revelations of Divine Love' . In the beginning of her book she wrote "THIS is a Revelation of Love that Jesus Christ, our endless bliss, made in Sixteen Shewings, or Revelations particular." The book reveals all of the details about the showings. Most of the visions she witnessed were about the ways of God and Christianity. Julian originally wrote a shorter, less detailed version of the Revelations of Divine love, then some years later, wrote a more detailed and embellished copy, the more widely read version.
Julian lived as an anchoress after her revelations, probably as a Benedictine nun in the East part of St Julian's Anchorage. She lived a monastic life, though legend says she had a cat as her companion that kept the vermin away. The anchorage cell was very plain and simple containing a hard bed, a crucifix and a private alter. There would have been three windows, one including a squint, which was the window opening into the church. This allowed her to participate in Holy Communion. The second window, allowed contact with an assistant, food to be given to her and waste to be taken. The third window enabled people to come and seek her guidance. The life of an Anchoress, was lived in extreme poverty, mainly eating vegetarian food. Time was passed in prayer and contemplation, though we know that Julian wrote her book too.
Julian of Norwich's year of death was around 1416. She lived a very long life over the age of 70, more than double the life expectancy in the Middle ages.
In 1373 Julian became extremely sick, she was close to dying and remained so for seven days and seven nights. On 8th of May, of that same year, at the age of 30, Julian received 15 spiritual visions from god (showings) and on the next day she had one more. The showings contained both visual images and spoken words, reflecting clear spiritual events. Her fame came from the book she wrote about the showings, called 'The Revelations of Divine Love' . In the beginning of her book she wrote "THIS is a Revelation of Love that Jesus Christ, our endless bliss, made in Sixteen Shewings, or Revelations particular." The book reveals all of the details about the showings. Most of the visions she witnessed were about the ways of God and Christianity. Julian originally wrote a shorter, less detailed version of the Revelations of Divine love, then some years later, wrote a more detailed and embellished copy, the more widely read version.
Julian lived as an anchoress after her revelations, probably as a Benedictine nun in the East part of St Julian's Anchorage. She lived a monastic life, though legend says she had a cat as her companion that kept the vermin away. The anchorage cell was very plain and simple containing a hard bed, a crucifix and a private alter. There would have been three windows, one including a squint, which was the window opening into the church. This allowed her to participate in Holy Communion. The second window, allowed contact with an assistant, food to be given to her and waste to be taken. The third window enabled people to come and seek her guidance. The life of an Anchoress, was lived in extreme poverty, mainly eating vegetarian food. Time was passed in prayer and contemplation, though we know that Julian wrote her book too.
Julian of Norwich's year of death was around 1416. She lived a very long life over the age of 70, more than double the life expectancy in the Middle ages.