From The Desk of Deacon Judy

Dame Julian of Norwich (circa 1342-1417)

This is a busy week for remembrances and celebrations.

Sunday, May 12, is Mother’s Day, our sacred tradition in the United States to honor our mothers, grandmothers, and all who have been like a mother to us.

Thursday, May 9, is The Feast of the Ascension, about which I wrote last year, 40 days after the Resurrection of Jesus. Our Compline group at Emmanuel Opelika has a special service for this feast day and shares a meal following the evening service.

Wednesday, May 8, is the day we remember and honor Dame Julian of Norwich. I’m choosing to write about her since I visited her shrine just last June.

I’m always amazed and inspired by these medieval mystics, ordinary people with extraordinary spiritual experiences. This young woman grew up as a commoner in East Anglia, Britain. She became gravely ill and was given the last rites. Seven days later the pain left her entirely. She had visions which gave her peace and joy. She came to realize this was God’s healing love.

She captured these visions or “showings” in her Revelations of Divine Love, which she wrote in her Anglo-Saxon language. She called herself “illiterate” because she didn’t speak Latin, the language of the Church, or French, the language of the ruling class.

She became a recluse, living in a “cell” within St. Julian’s Church in Norwich, which is how she became known as Dame or Lady Julian of Norwich. Throughout the rest of her life, she offered spiritual direction for both clergy and lay people.

On our pilgrimage last spring, we worshiped in St. Julian’s Church and visited her “cell”. Actually, it was a fairly comfortable room with a place to sleep, write, and pray.

We always remember Julian by her wisdom that “all shall be well”. Here are the words that the Lord gave her:

“I can make all things well; I will make all things well; I shall make all things well; and thou canst see for thyself that all manner of things shall be well.”

Ascension Blessings, Judy Q+