Julian of Norwich was a woman of devout faith who was born and lived her life in Norwich, Norfolk, England in the Middle Ages (1343 – 1416). Her writings are the first recognized writings by a woman in the English language, and give us a picture of her faith in Christ alone for her daily living. She is one of the earliest writers on the list I call, “The Golden Thread.” This is a list of writers who experienced the life of Christ controlling them daily, and understood this to be the only New Covenant expression of the faith. Clearly, Julian had found the secret.

Enjoy a few quotes from her writings.

“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.”

“God, of your goodness, give me yourself; you are enough for me, and anything less that I could ask for would not do you full honour. And if I ask anything that is less, I shall always lack something, but in you alone I have everything.”

“Pray, even if you feel nothing, see nothing. For when you are dry, empty, sick or weak, at such a time is your prayer most pleasing to God, even though you may find little joy in it. This is true of all believing prayer.”

“Greatly ought we to rejoice that God dwells in our soul; and more greatly ought we to rejoice that our soul dwells in God. Our soul is created to be God’s dwelling place, and the dwelling of our souls is God, who is uncreated. It is a great understanding to see and know inwardly that God, who is our Creator, dwells in our soul, and it is a far greater understanding to see and know inwardly that our soul, which is created, dwells in God in substance, of which substance, though God, we are what we are.”

“For we are so preciously loved by God that we cannot even comprehend it.”