This accessible introduction to Julian of Norwich's reflection and commentary on a series of her mystical visions opens up her profoundly hopeful vision of humanity and God, her creative imagery and her rigorous honesty about the spiritual life.
Annotation by Mary C. Earle
Foreword by Roberta C. Bondi
Paperback
5½ x 8½, 224 pp | 978-1-59473-513-4
Teachings from this fourteenth-century mystic provide spiritual direction and call for you to open yourself, body and soul, to divine love.
Many people are familiar with the phrase “All shall be well” but do not know much, if anything, about Julian of Norwich, the fourteenth-century English mystic who wrote those words. Thomas Merton declared her to be “without a doubt one of the most wonderful of all Christian voices,” and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams says that her writings “may well be the most important work of Christian reflection in the English language.”
This accessible introduction to Julian’s Revelations of Divine Love, an extended reflection on a series of her mystical visions, includes an informative introduction that addresses the historical, cultural and sociological context of Julian’s life and writings. Mary Earle’s facing-page commentary focuses on Julian’s profoundly hopeful vision of humanity and God, her creative imagery and her rigorous honesty about the spiritual life. Drawing directly from Julian’s text, Earle addresses a variety of topics essential to understanding Julian’s mysticism, including the infinite nature of God, the life of prayer, God’s suffering with us, the eternal and undying life of the soul, the motherhood of Jesus and the motherhood of God, “all shall be well” and more.
“Wise, profound and powerful.... I cannot imagine a better spiritual introduction to the essential teaching of Julian of Norwich.”
—Greg Garrett, PhD, professor of English, Baylor University; author, The Other Jesus and The Prodigal
“Directs people to the God who met a humble woman of Norwich and transformed her into one of Christianity’s most enduring voices of God’s love.... Advances Julian’s legacy, making the saint’s writing accessible to a new generation in its own language.”
—Tara M. Owens, MTS, CSD, spiritual director, Anam Cara Ministries; senior editor, Conversations Journal
“Infused with quiet love, Mary Earle’s commentary brings readers to Julian’s revelations with tenderness, insight and respectful intimacy.”
—Suzanne Guthrie, founder, EdgeOfEnclosure.org
“Mary Earle accompanies Julian’s text with what Julian herself might call ‘light touchings’ that illuminate and translate the medieval visionary’s rich theology for contemporary readers.”
—Amy Frykholm, author, Julian of Norwich: A Contemplative Biography
“An opportunity for the nonspecialist to take a big next step in understanding Julian’s thought and context.”
—Christian Century
“Julian of Norwich is the one mystic I wish everyone would read. Mary C. Earle’s carefully chosen selections and insightful annotations reveal why this medieval visionary has so much timeless wisdom to offer seekers today.”
—Carl McColman, author, The Big Book of Christian Mysticism and Answering the Contemplative Call
“The writings of Julian of Norwich are some of the great literary treasures of the Christian mystical tradition. Mary Earle’s annotations crack open Julian’s world—and allow her to speak powerfully to ours.”
—Rev. John R. Mabry, PhD, author, Growing into God: A Beginner’s Guide to Christian Mysticism; editor, Spiritual Guidance across Religions
