Julian of Norwich

 'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.'

This quote has been a bit of a mantra for me lately when the stress starts to get to be too much. This quote comes from the book Revelations of Devine Love written by Julian of Norwich in the 14th or 15th century. The book is the first written in English by a woman.

Julian, also known as Dame Julian or Mother Julian, is usually referred to as "blessed" or "Saint", although she has never been beatified or canonized. Therefore, I am stepping a little outside of my stated objective with the November Saint posts - but they are my rules, so I am free to break them.

Nothing is known for certain about Julian's actual name, her history, or her life prior to becoming an anchoress in the English city of Norwich. For much of her life she lived in permanent seclusion in a cell attached to St. Julian's church. It is thought that her name was taken from the name of the church to which she was attached. During her lifetime, the city of Norwich suffered the devastation of the Black Death of 1348-50 and a peasant revolt. 

Julian's writings indicate that she was born in 1342 or 1343 and died after 1416. It is speculated that she was educated by the Benedictine nuns of Carrow Abbey, as it is known that there was a school for girls there during her childhood. At the age of thirty, during a serious illness, she had a series of visions of Christ's Passion. She recovered from her illness and wrote about her visions. Preferring to write anonymously and seeking isolation from the world, she was still influential in her own time. 

After her death, Julian's writings were preserved by Brigittine and Benedictine nuns. It was first published in 1670. Julian is now recognized as one of England's most important mystics. The most characteristic element of her theology is likening divine love to motherly love.

Another quote: “He said not 'Thou shalt not be tempested, thou shalt not be travailed, thou shalt not be dis-eased'; but he said, 'Thou shalt not be overcome.”

Julian's feast is celebrated on May 8 in the Anglican Church, the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Although she is not officially recognized as a Saint in the Catholic Church, her feast day in Catholic tradition (by popular celebration) is May 13.