Revelations of Divine Love

These words were written by Mother Julian of Norwich, a Christian mystic, in A.D. 1373. Her book, Revelations of Divine Love, is an account of the sixteen visions she had while recovering from near-death, and her commentary upon them over which she pondered for fifteen years. Her writing glows, such that I found it a very great comfort at a time of deep despondency.

The following quotation comes from the final chapter.

"From the time these things were first revealed, I had often wanted to know what was our Lord's meaning. It was more than fifteen years after that I was answered in my spirit's understanding. 'You would know our Lord's meaning in this thing? Know it well. Love was his meaning. Who showed it you? Love. What did he show you? Love. Why did he show it? For love. Hold on to this and you will know and understand love more and more. But you will not know or learn anything else - ever!'

So it was that I learned that love was our Lord's meaning. And I saw for certain, both here and elsewhere, that before ever he made us, God loved us; and that his love has never slackened, nor ever shall. In this love all his works have been done, and in this love he has made everything serve us; and in this love our life is everlasting. Our beginning was when we were made, but the love in which he made us never had beginning. In it we have our beginning.

All this we shall see in God for ever. May Jesus grant this.

Amen."

Rather than give you several links, I'd like to suggest that you could use the search box above. Type in "Julian of Norwich". This should give you several very relevant references from which you can surf further for sites about Medieval Christian mysticism in England.

The music is Ave, generosa written by Hildegard of Bingen, a German visionary of the twelfth century. The singer is Margaret Philpott of Gothic Voices, and the recording was published as part of a collection entitled Feather on the Breath of God by Hyperion Records, London, in 1984. You will need RealPlayer to hear it.

Personal pages
Travel pages

E-mail: Sue@suonnoch.com

Home | Contact me | Resume | Guestbook | George in Egypt | Oman | Cyprus | Thailand