Julian of Norwich information

Julian of Norwich
Julian of Norwich
	David Holgate's statue of Julian, outside Norwich Cathedral, completed in 2000
Born	c. 1343
Died	after 1416; Norwich, England
Occupations	Theologian; anchoress; mystic;
Notable work	Revelations of Divine Love
	Theological work
Language	Middle English

Julian of Norwich (c. 1343^{[note 1]} – after 1416), also known as Juliana of Norwich, the Lady Julian, Dame Julian^[4] or Mother Julian, was an English anchoress of the Middle Ages. Her writings, now known as Revelations of Divine Love, are the earliest surviving English language works by a woman, although it is possible that some anonymous works may have had female authors. They are also the only surviving English language works by an anchoress.

Julian lived in the English city of Norwich, an important centre for commerce that also had a vibrant religious life. During her lifetime, the city suffered the devastating effects of the Black Death of 1348–1350, the Peasants' Revolt (which affected large parts of England in 1381), and the suppression of the Lollards. In 1373, aged 30 and so seriously ill she thought she was on her deathbed, Julian received a series of visions or shewings of the Passion of Christ. She recovered from her illness and wrote two versions of her experiences, the earlier one being completed soon after her recovery—a much longer version, today known as the Long Text, was written many years later.

Julian lived in permanent seclusion as an anchoress in her cell, which was attached to St Julian's Church, Norwich. Four wills are known in which sums were bequeathed to a Norwich anchoress named Julian, and an account by the celebrated mystic Margery Kempe exists which provides evidence of counsel Kempe was given by the anchoress.

Details of Julian's family, education, or of her life before becoming an anchoress are not known; it is unclear whether her actual name was Julian. Preferring to write anonymously, and seeking isolation from the world, she was nevertheless influential in her lifetime. While her writings were carefully preserved, the Reformation prevented their publication in print. The Long Text was first published in 1670 by the Benedictine monk Serenus de Cressy, reissued by George Hargreaves Parker in 1843, and published in a modernised version in 1864. Julian's writings emerged from obscurity in 1901 when a manuscript in the British Museum was transcribed and published with notes by Grace Warrack; many translations have been made since. Julian is today considered to be an important Christian mystic and theologian.

^ "St Benedict and Mother Julian". Recording Archive for Public Sculpture in Norfolk & Suffolk. 2006. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
^ Windeatt 2015, p. xiv.
^ Ramirez 2016, p. 5.
^ ""All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well" The Optimism of Mother Julian of Norwich". The Centre for Optimism. 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2023. This is why, in her lifetime, Julian was called "Dame Julian", as is engraved on the funeral monument that contains her remains. She had become a mother to many.

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[racns-1] "St Benedict and Mother Julian". Recording Archive for Public Sculpture in Norfolk & Suffolk. 2006. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.

[FOOTNOTEWindeatt2015xiv-2] Windeatt 2015, p. xiv.

[FOOTNOTERamirez20165-3] Ramirez 2016, p. 5.

[5] ""All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well" The Optimism of Mother Julian of Norwich". The Centre for Optimism. 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2023. This is why, in her lifetime, Julian was called "Dame Julian", as is engraved on the funeral monument that contains her remains. She had become a mother to many.

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