Endless Dwelling

In the Sixteenth Revelation, Julian of Norwich writes:
The place that Jesus takes in our soul he shall never leave it without end, as to my sight, for in us is his homeliest home and his endless dwelling. And in this he showed the delight that he has in the making of the human soul. For as well as the father might make a creature, and as well as the son knew how to make a creature, so well would the holy ghost ordain that the human soul be made. And so it was done. And therefore the blessed trinity rejoices without end in the making of the soul, for [God] saw without beginning what should please [God] without end.

Julian is convinced that “alle shalle be wele” in the end because all was well in the beginning, when the Trinity fashioned the human soul in the image and likeness of itself. The making of the soul is so perfect, that, through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ it will be brought up into a perfection greater even than its first creation. This perfection will not be human perfection alone . . . it will be the divine perfection of the God/Man, Jesus Christ. This theme has reverberated throughout the Revelations.

Julian understands that “our soul may never have rest in any thing that is beneath itself.” And when the soul rises above all creatures in a state of contemplative prayer, it cannot even rest in beholding itself. It must set its concentration on the vastness of God’s presence within the soul. “For in the human soul is [God’s] true dwelling,” and “the highest light and the brightest shining of the city” within that soul is God’s glorious love. And what could make the soul happier than to know that God “delights in us, the highest of all his works”?

For I saw in the same shewing that if the blessed trinity might have made man’s soul any better, any fairer, any nobler than it was, [God] should not have been fully pleased with the making of the human soul. But because the trinity made man’s soul as beautiful, as good, as precious a creature as it might make it, therefore the blessed trinity is fully pleased without end in the making of the human soul. And [God] wills that our hearts be mightily raised above the depths of the earth and all vain sorrows, and rejoice in [God].
​
This was a delectable sight and a restful shewing that is without end. And the beholding of this while we are here, it is very pleasant to God, and a very great benefit to us. And the soul that thus beholds, makes itself like to him that it is beheld, and becomes one with it in rest and in peace by his grace. And this was a singular joy and bliss to me that I saw him sit, for the sekernesse [certainty] of sitting showed endless dwelling.

Julian takes great comfort in this final Revelation that God dwells in her soul. And she is certain that God wants us all to take the same comfort through the practice of “beholding.” This type of contemplative prayer (waiting on God, in stillness, without asking for anything) gives God great pleasure and the soul great profit. Such silent prayer forms the soul into a truer image and likeness of the very One who is being contemplated. Julian is especially delighted that she saw the Lord seated in her soul (rather than standing or moving), because sitting symbolizes the familiar rest one takes at home, in complete contentment, peace, and love. God is not going anywhere. It is we who rush about, too busy with our lives and too distracted by our sufferings to take time to experience his inward presence. He thirsts for us to “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Ps 46:10). And if we come to him with our labors and our heavy burdens, he promises to give us true rest (Mt 11:28). Julian rejoices that God’s true dwelling is forever in the soul.

And he [Christ] gave me knowing truthfully that it was he who showed me all before. And when I had beheld this with careful consideration then our good lord revealed words very humbly, without voice and without opening of lips, just as he had done before, and said very sweetly: “Know it now well, it was no raving that thou saw today. But take it and believe it, and keep thee therein, and comfort thee therewith, and trust thee thereto, and thou shalt not be overcome.”
​
Julian receives this tender reassurance of the truth of her Revelations with immense gratitude. She declares that these last words Christ spoke in her heart were said to teach her absolute certainty that all the Revelations had come directly from himself, and that she should accept, believe, and hold onto them with her life. She was also instructed to take comfort in them during times of temptation and suffering, and in moments of darkness to trust all that she had seen in the light.

In these desperate times of escalating hatred, divisiveness, and war; famine, disease, and persecution, let us go silently into the center of our own souls to behold the Divine Presence who alone can assure us of unconditional love and speak to us, personally, the promise that we shall not be overcome. Then may our souls rejoice, becoming more and more "like to him that is beheld," and dare to live our lives in hope, as sons and daughters of Christ’s resurrection.

Please Note: Excerpts above and my translations from the Middle English are from my book: Julian’s Gospel: Illuminating the Life & Revelations of Julian of Norwich (Orbis Books), copyright © by Veronica Mary Rolf.