Day 20 – Saint Julian of Norwich (1342–c. 1416)

Saint Julian lived in Norwich, England, during a time of plague, war, and uncertainty. At the age of thirty, while gravely ill and near death, she experienced a series of visions of Christ’s suffering and love. She recovered and spent the rest of her life reflecting on those revelations, eventually writing them down in what became the first book in English known to be authored by a woman: Revelations of Divine Love.

Julian chose the life of an anchoress, living in a small cell attached to a church, devoting herself to prayer and counsel. From her seclusion, she became a spiritual guide to many who sought her wisdom. Her writings are filled with warmth, insight, and a deep trust in God’s goodness. Among her most famous words are: “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” This was not naïve optimism but a conviction rooted in her vision of God’s steadfast love.

Her theology was strikingly hopeful. She spoke of Christ as our mother, tenderly nurturing His people, and she emphasized God’s mercy over wrath. In an age marked by fear and judgment, her message was radical: that love is the meaning of all things, and that God will bring His creation to its true fulfillment in Christ.

For us today, Saint Julian of Norwich reminds us that hope is not the absence of suffering but the presence of God’s love in the midst of it. Her voice invites us to trust that even when we cannot see how, God is weaving all things toward His redeeming purpose. Her life is a quiet yet powerful witness that prayer and contemplation can shape the world.