A Reading

from

The Essence of Julian

translated by Ralph Milton

Northstone, 2002

This reading is from the first book written in English by a woman. Julian of Norwich (we don’t know her real name) was born in 1342 and lived to about 1415. Her book reveals a theology that is progressive, even now in the 21st century.

As surely as God is our father, so surely God is our mother. That is why God tells us,

“It is I.

It is I, the power and goodness of fatherhood.

It is I, the wisdom and love of motherhood.

It is I, the light and the grace that is love.

I am the Trinity.

I am the Unity.

I am the one who teaches you to love.

I am the one who makes you yearn for me.

I am the one who responds

to all your genuine desires.”

As we yearn for God,

so God yearns for us.

God thirsts for us.

God longs to have union with all humanity.

Until that is fully accomplished, God thirsts.

God thirsts for us

as we thirst for God.

Two delightful and inspiring books related to Julian of Norwich are available from Wood Lake Productions.

Julian’s Cell (the earthy story of Julian of Norwich) by Ralph Milton

The Essence of Julian (a paraphrase of Julian’s of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love) by Ralph Milton

Ralph's list of readings and stories