This is why, in her lifetime, Julian was called “Dame Julian”, as is engraved on the funeral monument that contains her remains. We also know that Julian too received frequent visitors, as is attested by the autobiography of another fervent Christian of her time, Margery Kempe, who went to Norwich in 1413 to receive advice on her spiritual life.

It was not, therefore, an individualistic choice precisely with this closeness to the Lord, Julian developed the ability to be a counsellor to a great many people and to help those who were going through difficulties in this life. Men and women of every age and condition in need of advice and comfort, would devoutly seek them. In this way they developed a highly refined human and religious sensitivity which earned them the veneration of the people. The anchoresses or “recluses”, in their cells, devoted themselves to prayer, meditation and study. In those centuries a considerable number of women opted for this form of life, adopting rules specially drawn up, for them, such as the rule compiled by St Aelred of Rievaulx. But she was not the only one to make such a choice.

This decision to live as a “recluse”, the term in her day, might surprise or even perplex us. She may have taken the name of Julian precisely from that Saint to whom was dedicated the church in whose vicinity she lived for so many years, until her death. Like an ancient anchoress, she decided to live in a cell located near the church called after St Julian, in the city of Norwich - in her time an important urban centre not far from London. Inspired by divine love, Julian made a radical decision.

Thus I was taught that Love was our Lord’s meaning” (Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, Chapter 86). “‘Would you learn to see clearly your Lord’s meaning in this thing? Learn it well: Love was his meaning. After the priest, who hastened to her bedside, had shown her the Crucified One not only did Julian rapidly recover her health but she received the 16 revelations that she subsequently wrote down and commented on in her book, Revelations of Divine Love.Īnd it was the Lord himself, 15 years after these extraordinary events, who revealed to her the meaning of those visions. God, however, even in periods of tribulation, does not cease to inspire figures such as Julian of Norwich, to recall people to peace, love and joy.Īs Julian herself recounts, in May 1373, most likely on the 13th of that month, she was suddenly stricken with a very serious illness that in three days seemed to be carrying her to the grave. It is known that she lived from 1342 until about 1430, turbulent years both for the Church, torn by the schism that followed the Pope’s return to Rome from Avignon, and for the life of the people who were suffering the consequences of a long drawn-out war between the Kingdoms of England and of France.

Pope Benedict XVI in his General Audience 1 st December 2010 Who was Mother Julian? Pope Benedict Explains:

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