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. The - very scant - information on her life in our possession comes mainly from her Revelations of Divine Love in Sixteen Showings, the book in which this kindly and devout woman set down the content of her visions. One of them, venerated both in the Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion, is the mystic Julian of Norwich, of whom I wish to speak this morning. England is a land that has given birth to a great many distinguished figures who enhanced Church history with their testimony and their teaching. I still remember with great joy the Apostolic Journey I made in the United Kingdom last September. 1, 2010 ( vatican.va).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience in Paul VI Hall.

“God’s Promises Are Always Greater Than Our Hopes”

Sixteen revelations of divine love