Julian of Norwich (Rough Draft) Edits welcome!! PLEASE

I have a very rough draft of my Julian of Norwich paper here. It is pretty long, becuase it is meant to be 5-7 pages. It's five as of yet. Let me know what you think. Afterward I will place some of my thoughts on it thus far, because I don't want what I say now to influence how you read it. Please be harsh. Harsher edit makes for better paper.


21 September 2008
Mysticism:
Matt Branstetter
Julian of Norwichian:
Amanda Cunningham
Julian of Norwich (whose real name is unknown) was a fourteenth century mystic who put her recounts of a mystical experience into on of the best mystical books pf her time. The book is entitled The Revelations of Divine Love (which is considered to be the first English book written by a woman), and is available in two volumes. The first of the two was written within weeks of the experience and is the more personal of the two. The second was written some twenty years later and is less personal.
Julian was born in 1342 and was most likely educated at a school for girls run by Benedictine nuns, as was customary of the time. Not much else is know of Julian whose name comes from the St. Julian church where where she lived as an anchoress. There she would have spent her time praying, fasting, meditating, mostly alone. Since she was named as a beneficiary in the wills of some of the Norwichian community members, it can be assumed that she also did some work in the community. Also, it can be assumed that Julian still lived at home during the time of her revelations since her mother and sister were with her during her sick time. Julian is considered one of the greatest English mystics.
As a mystic, Julian had a Theistic experience, which is to say she had an actual, personal, experience with God. She also had actual dialog “with God”, and also and experience with the Devil. Julian fully believes she had these experiences not only for her own good, but for the knowledge of all Christians. Many times throughout her short volume, Julian mentions that she does not want to have eyes of her, but on God. She wants all Christian to know that what God tells her is also meant for their benefit. Part of Julian's way of removing herself from the glory is to remove the personal pronouns form the longer edited second volume of Revelations of Divine Love.
Julian saw Gad and Jesus as the greatest of all beings. She viewed worshiping and following God as the best most fulfilling experience any person could have, instead of some sort of rule she must follow. At one point in her experience, Julian keeps her gaze on the crucifix placed in front of her, even though looking away may relieve pain, because she knows that suffering with Jesus is better than any physical relief without him. As a mystic, Julian experienced exactly what every other mystic of that time wanted, a true personal oneness with the one true God.
In the winter of her thirty and one-half year Julian was overcome with a sickness like no other. This was a sickness that was sure to kill her. Her family called the priest to be with her during her final hours. What nobody knew was that this was a sickness Julian prayed for, an answer from Jesus. Along with an experience of Christ Passion, and three wounds, Julian asked for extreme sickness.
Julian, as many do, understood what Jesus went through. She understood it in the way a female understands what it is like to be male. As much as she may have understood it, she wanted to know what it was like, in the same way a female would only be able to know what it is like to be male, she would have to physically experience it herself. Julian said she wanted to be there with Mary Magdalene to be able to see her face. Julian wanted to feel the pain in Jesus' bod and know the extreme love in his heart.
Julian's sickness came on suddenly and was the start of her visions. For two days she suffered. On the second night she believed she was sure to die by morning. At once her lower body was paralyzed. The curator was called and Julian was placed in bed. Julian mentions at this time that she did not want to die just yet for fear of leaving behind good she could have done for God. Julian kept her gaze upward, toward heaven, where she was going. She only agreed to look down if she had a crucifix to gaze at.
Julian's second prayer was answered. Throughout her sickness she kept her gaze at the crucifix. She would have repeated visions of Christ over the next week: “Suddenly I saw red blood trickle down from under the garland-hot, fresh, plentiful, and lifelike- just as I thought it would have done when the garland of thorns was thrust on his blessed head. So both God and man together suffered for me. I understood clearly and with certainty that it was he who showed it to me, without intermediary; and I said, “Benedicite Dominus!” I spoke reverently, in a strong voice, and was astonished by the wonderful and marvelous fact of his being so friendly with a sinful creature living in this wretched flesh”
Julian's visions came and went, taking her on the entire journey with Jesus. Her body felt his body as he dried out for loss of blood and lack of water. She took every raspy breath with Jesus and yearned for every drop of water. She was able to look into the eyes of Mary Magdalene. Amazingly enough as that was, she was even able to feel the love he has for her. Jesus endured the pain, and Julian endured the pain, but if the excruciating pain became too much for Julian to handle, Jesus was able to relieve her.
“After this our lord revealed an exalted spiritual joy which filled my soul with an abiding security; I was greatly reassured, and free of fear. This feeling was so blissful and pleasing that I was at peace, at ease and at rest. Nothing on earth could have grieved me-but this joy only lasted for a short while. Then I was overcome and left alone in such sad weariness at myself and irksomeness at my life that I scarcely had patience to live. I felt neither ease nor comfort-only hope, faith, and charity, and of these in truth but little.
However, God soon restored both comfort and rest to my soul, a joyous gladness and security so powerful that no fear or sorrow, no recurred, and then the joy and the gladness, and then the one and then the other, I suppose about twenty times. In joy I might have said, with Paul, “Nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ”; and in pain I might have said, with Peter, “Lord save me, I perish.”
This vision's purpose was to teach me the need for each soul to feel this way: sometimes to be in comfort, and other times to fail and be left alone. God wants us to now that he keeps us safe both in well ans in woe, and loves us as much in the hard times as the good. For the profit of his soul, a man is sometimes left to himself, although sin is not the cause/; during this time I was not left alone because I had sinned, nor had I done anything to merit the joy. God freely gives pleasure when he chooses, and other times he leaves us in pain. Both are done for love.”
Julian always knew exactly why Jesus did anything, as we do all know. Jesus does everything to/for us out of love.
Jesus also spoke with Julian, “Thus our good lord answered all my questions and doubts, comforting me with these words: “I may make all things well, I can make all things well, I can make all things well, I shall make all things well; and you shall see yourself that all shall be well.” Where he says I may, I understand the father; where he says I can, I understand the son; where he says I will, I understand the holy ghost; where he says I shall, I understand the unity of the holy trinity, three persons in one truth; and where he says you shall see yourself, I understand the uniting in the uniting in the blessed trinity of all mankind who shall be saved.
With these five phrases, God will be enclosed in rest and in peace, and thus will the spiritual thirst of Christ come to an end. His ghostly thirst- his love longing- shall last until judgment day, for we who shall be saved, and who shall be Christ's joy and bliss, will remain here until that time. His thirst, the failure of his bliss, is that he does not have us in him, as wholly as he shall then have. All this was revealed in the showing of compassion, which shall cease at doomsday; until the he feels pity ans compassion for us, and he longs for us. But his wisdom and his love do not suffer the end to come until best time.
And in these words, I may take all things well, I understand the great comfort of all his works that are yet to come.” Julian understands the Trinity far better than most anybody. God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, he has all the power, and he wants to use it all for us.
Julian asked God to show her things, not out of desire for proof, but out of faith. She knew he had the power to show her anything and do anything he desired. All Julian needed was for her desire and his will to be the same. Julian held strong to her faith, even through temptation from the Devil. God was happy and Julian survived her illness, probably coming out better than any other person of her day. She had strong faith each day until her death. She died some forty-three years later in 1416 at the age of seventy-four.
Julian of Norwich surprisingly has taught me a lot about my own faith. I am most closely related to a Baptist-Christian, and I believe that this mystic most likely had more faith in Jesus Christ than I do. How I wish I could experience Jesus Christ's crucification personally. It would be a pain beyond anything I can imagine, but it would be worth it if I could just feel the pure love in his heart. Julian was privileged, and she knew it.
Julian mentioned no speaking of her visions or “confessing” them to a priest because no pastor would believe her. She was right. I was advised to “be careful with those mystics”, but Julian seems to be a “better Christian” than all of us. She had pure faith, and lived her life that way. What have I to fear of her Jesus spoke directly to her so she could speak to Christians like myself. Her experience was so personal that it could almost be titled “The Gospel According to Julian.”
I am jealous of Julian in the same way that I ma jealous of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. In the game of telephone, I can experience Jesus Christ through Luke from Jesus, or through Mark from Jesus, but these five had a personal one one one experience with Jesus Christ. I lack that extreme faith, and it is hard to say if I ever will.

--------------------------------------------

• I was supposed to have 3 quotes from the actual mystic. Mr. Branstetter hinted at wanting the quotes to be long, thus the reason they are long.
• I read the entire Revelations of Divine Love {Short Version}, since it was only about 100 pages. I am still not sure if I have a grasp on Julian though.
• I am not sure if I have enough of my own writing in between quotes or not. I think that even 2 pages may actually be quotes.
• I think a lot of my hesitation comes from not having a lot of biographical information, but there isn't a lot of biographical information out there. Considereing her real name isn't even known and much has to be assumed.
• HELP ME!! LTM. It isn't my best paper ever.