9/7/23 "Religion Reconsidered" with Jack Fernon. In honor of the 650th Anniversary of the Revelations of Julian of Norwich, I was interviewed at length by Jack Fernon for his podcast: Religion Reconsidered. I delved deep into many aspects of Julian's life and mystical Revelations. I hope you will enjoy viewing the program. It's available on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify, or you may listen to the audio podcast on Podbean.com. Here's the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaAbdyHOBUo
PLEASE SHARE with family and friends!
PLEASE SHARE with family and friends!
6/3/23 JUNE JULIAN LECTURE: "Alle Shalle Be Wele": Living Resurrected Lives.
I was honored to be invited to give the June Julian Lecture in Norwich (via Zoom) to celebrate the 650th Anniversary of The Revelations of Julian of Norwich. My talk focused on exploring the deeper meanings of the words -- "Alle shalle be wele" -- that Julian heard Christ speak to her during her visions. Too often, these words are used as a quick "fix" for all our troubles. That is not their essential meaning. However, if we understand their mystical dimension, these words can become a powerful source of courage and hope in our daily struggles, inspiring us to live as sons and daughters of the resurrection, even now!
Here's the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03ABmHvDpUs&t=2452s
Please share with family and friends!
I was honored to be invited to give the June Julian Lecture in Norwich (via Zoom) to celebrate the 650th Anniversary of The Revelations of Julian of Norwich. My talk focused on exploring the deeper meanings of the words -- "Alle shalle be wele" -- that Julian heard Christ speak to her during her visions. Too often, these words are used as a quick "fix" for all our troubles. That is not their essential meaning. However, if we understand their mystical dimension, these words can become a powerful source of courage and hope in our daily struggles, inspiring us to live as sons and daughters of the resurrection, even now!
Here's the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03ABmHvDpUs&t=2452s
Please share with family and friends!
5/8/23 "One on One" with Robert Ellsberg, Publisher of Orbis Books.
This year marks the 650th Anniversary of the Revelations of Julian of Norwich. There have been glorious celebrations, lectures, art installations, and liturgies, as well as retreats and pilgrimages to Julian's reconstructed anchorage in Norwich. I was delighted to be interviewed by Robert Ellsberg, esteemed publisher of Orbis Books and my first book on Julian entitled Julian's Gospel: Illuminating The Life & Revelations of Julian of Norwich. It was a very special "One on One" sharing of the Tenth Anniversary of that award-winning publication. Hope you enjoy our half hour conversation! Here's the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb4TbTNeQ1s
Please share with family and friends!
This year marks the 650th Anniversary of the Revelations of Julian of Norwich. There have been glorious celebrations, lectures, art installations, and liturgies, as well as retreats and pilgrimages to Julian's reconstructed anchorage in Norwich. I was delighted to be interviewed by Robert Ellsberg, esteemed publisher of Orbis Books and my first book on Julian entitled Julian's Gospel: Illuminating The Life & Revelations of Julian of Norwich. It was a very special "One on One" sharing of the Tenth Anniversary of that award-winning publication. Hope you enjoy our half hour conversation! Here's the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb4TbTNeQ1s
Please share with family and friends!
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Award-winning author Veronica Mary Rolf introduces us to the fourteenth century mystical theologian, Julian of Norwich, who became the first woman to write a book in the English language. Her words, “All shall be well,” echo through the ages. Her message of God’s unconditional love and mercy is one we need to hear. Julian of Norwich is voice for our time.
An Explorer’s Guide to Julian of Norwich is available at InterVarsity Academic Press (www.ivpress.com/an-explorer-s-guide-to-julian-of-norwich) and at www.amazon.com/gp/product/0830850880/ Please join the Julian of Norwich Group on Facebook. All are welcome! |
8/14/18 Podcast Interview with Kris McGregor about An Explorer's Guide to Julian of Norwich on the Spirit Catholic Network, broadcasting to 14 stations in the Middle West. It is available on Kris' highly popular web page: Discerning Hearts. What a joy it was to connect at such a deep level with another Julian devotee! Please share with family and friends:
https://www.discerninghearts.com/catholic-podcasts/ip334-veronica-mary-rolf-an-explorers-guide-to-julian-of-norwich-on-inside-the-pages-with-kris-mcgregor-podcast 7/23/18 Podcast Interview with Daniel Pandolph about An Explorer's Guide to Julian of Norwich. He asks probing questions that allow me to discuss Julian's Revelations of Divine Love, her theological insights, as well as her relevance for contemporary Christian leadership. Share with your family and friends!
http://www.theologianoftheboss.com/podcast/episode-11-revelations-of-love-what-leaders-can-learn-from-julian-of-norwich-w-veronica-mary-rolf |
5/11/17: A Re-Appreciation of Julian of Norwich’s ‘Gospel of Love’
Article commissioned for America Magazine :
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/05/11/re-appreciation-julian-norwichs-gospel-love
Article commissioned for America Magazine :
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/05/11/re-appreciation-julian-norwichs-gospel-love
11/25/13 America Magazine Podcast Interview with Veronica Mary Rolf, talking about Julian's Gospel (18 minutes):
http://americamagazine.org/media/podcasts/julians-revelations
http://americamagazine.org/media/podcasts/julians-revelations
10/4/13 Publishers Weekly -- Religion Update Fall 2013 -- In Profile:
Veronica Mary Rolf: Following the Light of Julian of Norwich
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/religion/article/59408-religion-update-fall-2013-in-profile.html
Here are excerpts:
"Veronica Mary Rolf’s relationship with Julian of Norwich, the 14th-century mystic, began on 91st Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. A theology teacher at the Convent of the Sacred Heart quoted Julian’s most famous line—'All shall be well'—to Rolf in a time of crisis. Then a young Broadway actress . . . , Rolf found comfort in the words of this woman who seemed worlds away. 'I was in crisis a lot, because I was doing eight Broadway shows a week . . . and running myself ragged,' Rolf says. 'And I was trying to live out my Christian faith in the world of the theater.'"
"Years later, Rolf placed Revelations of Divine Love, Julian’s reflections on 16 mystical visions of Christ’s passion, on her nightstand. She has continued to refer to it throughout her career as she trains and directs actors around the globe. 'Julian asked all the big questions I was going through growing up,' Rolf recalls. 'I loved how she confronted fears, and I was in awe of her total trust in God’s unconditional love. Her probing mind and large heartedness made her appealing. Julian became my mentor and guide.'"
"Rolf later moved from New York City to Berkeley, Calif., where she lives with her husband of 42 years. In addition to working at Berkeley Repertory Theater, she began a lecture series on the history of Christian mysticism. Rolf was thrilled when her students also showed interest in Julian of Norwich. 'Everyone wanted to know more about the woman, and I realized I did, too,' she says. Rolf quit her work in theater to immerse herself in the history and drama of the 14th century. The result is Julian’s Gospel: The Life & Revelations of Julian of Norwich (Orbis Books, Oct.)."
"The first part of the book delves into the history surrounding Julian’s life . . . in 14th century England [before she] experienced a series of visions of Christ and began to write about them; the second part delves deeper into Julian’s reflections through a chapter-by-chapter commentary. The text consists of Rolf’s original translation of Julian’s reflections from the Middle English. 'She tells the essential Christian message of God’s unconditional love, but in a woman’s voice and point of view,' Rolf says. 'I think that’s a voice we need to hear, especially in our churches today.' In her translation, Rolf lets stand some Middle English words, syntax, and phraseology, viewing these as 'textured entry points into Julian’s voice, both physical and spiritual.' She adds, 'Julian breaks open the gospel. She startles you.'”
"Rolf hopes that her historical look at Julian’s life will help draw readers into Julian’s spirituality and story, so they will better understand her. 'It’s a drama of the soul,' Rolf says. 'Julian wanted us to go through what she went through to realize what she realized. Then we can start to look at the fact of revelation in our own lives.'” —Kerry Weber
Veronica Mary Rolf: Following the Light of Julian of Norwich
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/religion/article/59408-religion-update-fall-2013-in-profile.html
Here are excerpts:
"Veronica Mary Rolf’s relationship with Julian of Norwich, the 14th-century mystic, began on 91st Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. A theology teacher at the Convent of the Sacred Heart quoted Julian’s most famous line—'All shall be well'—to Rolf in a time of crisis. Then a young Broadway actress . . . , Rolf found comfort in the words of this woman who seemed worlds away. 'I was in crisis a lot, because I was doing eight Broadway shows a week . . . and running myself ragged,' Rolf says. 'And I was trying to live out my Christian faith in the world of the theater.'"
"Years later, Rolf placed Revelations of Divine Love, Julian’s reflections on 16 mystical visions of Christ’s passion, on her nightstand. She has continued to refer to it throughout her career as she trains and directs actors around the globe. 'Julian asked all the big questions I was going through growing up,' Rolf recalls. 'I loved how she confronted fears, and I was in awe of her total trust in God’s unconditional love. Her probing mind and large heartedness made her appealing. Julian became my mentor and guide.'"
"Rolf later moved from New York City to Berkeley, Calif., where she lives with her husband of 42 years. In addition to working at Berkeley Repertory Theater, she began a lecture series on the history of Christian mysticism. Rolf was thrilled when her students also showed interest in Julian of Norwich. 'Everyone wanted to know more about the woman, and I realized I did, too,' she says. Rolf quit her work in theater to immerse herself in the history and drama of the 14th century. The result is Julian’s Gospel: The Life & Revelations of Julian of Norwich (Orbis Books, Oct.)."
"The first part of the book delves into the history surrounding Julian’s life . . . in 14th century England [before she] experienced a series of visions of Christ and began to write about them; the second part delves deeper into Julian’s reflections through a chapter-by-chapter commentary. The text consists of Rolf’s original translation of Julian’s reflections from the Middle English. 'She tells the essential Christian message of God’s unconditional love, but in a woman’s voice and point of view,' Rolf says. 'I think that’s a voice we need to hear, especially in our churches today.' In her translation, Rolf lets stand some Middle English words, syntax, and phraseology, viewing these as 'textured entry points into Julian’s voice, both physical and spiritual.' She adds, 'Julian breaks open the gospel. She startles you.'”
"Rolf hopes that her historical look at Julian’s life will help draw readers into Julian’s spirituality and story, so they will better understand her. 'It’s a drama of the soul,' Rolf says. 'Julian wanted us to go through what she went through to realize what she realized. Then we can start to look at the fact of revelation in our own lives.'” —Kerry Weber
8/28/13 Publishers' Weekly -- An Interview with Orbis Books publisher, Robert Ellsberg, about Julian's Gospel.
Julian of Norwich: A Contemporary Message Across the Centuries
By Kerry Weber | Aug 28, 2013
Here are Excerpts:
"In the late 14th century, after experiencing a series of 16 mystical visions of Christ, Julian-- an anchoress living in a small room attached to a church in Norwich, England--sat down to write. Over several years and many pages, she reflected on these encounters, which deepened her Catholic faith. It is believed that the woman who came to be known as Julian of Norwich also served as a spiritual resource to her neighbors. Today, her writings, which emphasize the power of God’s love, continue to provide guidance and comfort to spiritual seekers . . ."
"Veronica Mary Rolf pieces together the world of the woman behind the work in Julian’s Gospel: The Life & Revelations of Julian of Norwich (Orbis Books, Oct.). Rolf, an independent scholar of medieval studies and comparative literature—as well as an actor, speaker, retreat leader, and blogger—creates a clearer picture of Julian by 'drawing on painstaking historical research and her ingenious pursuit of clues in Julian's writing,' says Robert Ellsberg, publisher of Orbis Books. Rolf examines the historical events of Julian’s time, as well as the milestones of her life. Through a new translation of Julian’s revelations, and through the addition of a chapter-by-chapter spiritual companion to the texts, Rolf strives to break open one of the most popular works of Christian mysticism, Ellsberg says. 'Rolf convinces us that Julian's work, written in seclusion, unknown for centuries, was in a very special sense entrusted to a future generation capable of hearing and understanding her message,' adds Ellsberg. 'Through Julian's visions, and Rolf's labor of love, we receive a rare gift—a
fresh, imaginative, and liberating view of the Gospel that speaks to the spiritual challenges of our own time.'"
For the complete text of the interview:
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/religion/article/58885-julian-of-norwich-a-contemporary-message-across-the-centuries.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=0528b2969f-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-0528b2969f-304663065
Julian of Norwich: A Contemporary Message Across the Centuries
By Kerry Weber | Aug 28, 2013
Here are Excerpts:
"In the late 14th century, after experiencing a series of 16 mystical visions of Christ, Julian-- an anchoress living in a small room attached to a church in Norwich, England--sat down to write. Over several years and many pages, she reflected on these encounters, which deepened her Catholic faith. It is believed that the woman who came to be known as Julian of Norwich also served as a spiritual resource to her neighbors. Today, her writings, which emphasize the power of God’s love, continue to provide guidance and comfort to spiritual seekers . . ."
"Veronica Mary Rolf pieces together the world of the woman behind the work in Julian’s Gospel: The Life & Revelations of Julian of Norwich (Orbis Books, Oct.). Rolf, an independent scholar of medieval studies and comparative literature—as well as an actor, speaker, retreat leader, and blogger—creates a clearer picture of Julian by 'drawing on painstaking historical research and her ingenious pursuit of clues in Julian's writing,' says Robert Ellsberg, publisher of Orbis Books. Rolf examines the historical events of Julian’s time, as well as the milestones of her life. Through a new translation of Julian’s revelations, and through the addition of a chapter-by-chapter spiritual companion to the texts, Rolf strives to break open one of the most popular works of Christian mysticism, Ellsberg says. 'Rolf convinces us that Julian's work, written in seclusion, unknown for centuries, was in a very special sense entrusted to a future generation capable of hearing and understanding her message,' adds Ellsberg. 'Through Julian's visions, and Rolf's labor of love, we receive a rare gift—a
fresh, imaginative, and liberating view of the Gospel that speaks to the spiritual challenges of our own time.'"
For the complete text of the interview:
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/religion/article/58885-julian-of-norwich-a-contemporary-message-across-the-centuries.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=0528b2969f-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-0528b2969f-304663065
From the Facebook Page of Alban Books (former UK and European Distributor for Orbis Books):
1. What was it about Julian of Norwich that inspired you to write Julian’s Gospel: Illuminating the Life & Revelations of Julian of Norwich?
When I was in high school at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City, my theology teacher used to quote the words of Julian of Norwich to me whenever I was in crisis and needed reassurance: “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and thou shalt see thyself that all manner of thing shall be well…” But I never really knew who Julian was.
When I finally read Julian’s Revelations of Divine Love in the late 1970’s, I was overwhelmed by the originality of her thinking, her passionate questioning, and her courage to write about her mystical experiences under threat of condemnation by the authorities. For decades, her book never left my reading table. Julian became my spiritual mentor and heart friend.
In 2005, my husband and I moved to Berkeley, California, from London and I began lecturing on Julian’s Revelations as part of a three-year course that explored the history of Christian mysticism, entitled Ascent to the Divine. I also started giving Retreats with Julian to men and women of all ages, and developed a series of reflections and meditations called Mornings with Julian of Norwich for church groups. The depth of response was overwhelming. People were immensely attracted to Julian’s daring vision, radiant hope, and impassioned love of God. They wanted to know more about her - and to have clear guidance in understanding her sometimes challenging text in terms that related directly to their own spiritual paths. This “live” audience became my motivation for writing Julian’s Gospel.
2. How does the book differ from other writings about Julian?
Julian’s Gospel is the first book on the market that combines a dramatic historical reconstruction of Julian’s life in fourteenth century Norwich with a comprehensive commentary on the eighty-six chapters of the Long Text of her Revelations. I’ve also done a new and faithful translation from Julian’s Middle English.
Unlike other brief summaries of Julian’s life and times, Julian’s Gospel goes in-depth to uncover the political, cultural, social, and religious milieu that formed and deeply influenced her development as a woman and a mystic. Also, unlike other textual companions to Julian’s work that provide only short explanations of Middle English words, or merely footnote theological terms, Julian’s Gospel gives the reader a detailed analysis of her writings, illuminating her ground-breaking mystical theology with extensive scholarship and interpretation. It took me four years!
Throughout, I wanted to create a strong dramatic arc for Julian’s Revelations that interweaves her personal sufferings and burning questions with her visionary experiences. I wanted to immerse my readers in Julian’s world, so that when they came to her text, they would already feel they knew the woman behind the visionary. In short, I wanted to produce a compelling spiritual biography.
3. What is an anchoress? Why do you think Julian decided to become one?
Anchoress (or anchorite) comes from the Ancient Greek word meaning “someone who has withdrawn or retired from the world.” In medieval times, the cell of an anchoress was often literally “attached” to the outside wall of a church. The anchoress, while shut up for the rest of her life, had a deep responsibility to pray for the people of her town or city, and to give them counsel when they came to her window asking for advice or prayers.
I firmly believe that Julian became an anchoress both to have more time and freedom to contemplate God, as well as to write the longer version of her Revelations – namely, the Long Text. It is also very likely that she was seeking total privacy to escape investigation by the Bishop of Norwich, precisely for being an “unlettered” laywoman who dared to write and teach about theological issues in the vernacular, when only Latin-educated, ordained, and duly licensed male clergy were allowed to do so. If those in authority had known what she was writing, Julian could have been questioned and excommunicated as a heretic. By taking refuge in an anchorage, away from the demands of her life in the world, Julian found freedom both to meditate on and to write her Revelations.
4. Julian’s Revelations were the first English-language writings by a female to survive, and you write that she considered herself ‘unlettered’. Why do you think her writings survived?
Yes, Julian spoke of herself as “unlettered’ – which does not mean she could not read or write English. One only has to read her Revelations to see what a consummate writer she was!
Indeed, today she is studied on a par with Chaucer, Hilton, and Rolle – her contemporary male English authors. Being “unlettered” meant that Julian did not know how to read or write Latin. So she could not read the Latin Vulgate Bible, or books of theology, or even understand the words of the liturgy of the Mass – all of which were in Latin. Nor was a mere woman ever permitted to go to Oxford or Cambridge to study theology, philosophy, and rhetoric. That would take another 600 years.
So how did she learn to write mystical theology? In Julian’s Gospel, I examine just how Julian would have absorbed theological tenets, become acquainted with the psalms and gospels and epistles, as well as how she would have learned to structure her arguments in such a clear and cogent way. It was one of many mysteries about Julian that I set out to solve. And I made fascinating discoveries on the way…
I think the fact that Julian’s writings, virtually unknown in her lifetime, were scurried away to France during the English Reformation, copied and preserved there by recusant Benedictine nuns, and then only rediscovered in the Twentieth Century is purely providential. Perhaps Julian’s writings were meant even more for us than for those in the fourteenth century!
5. What is “mystical experience”?
In a general sense, mystical experience is a profound interaction with Divine Reality that far surpasses ordinary ways of knowing or perceiving. It is spontaneous, unbidden, and completely passive – without human effort or intervention. It is immediately experienced as coming from a divine source. Thus, whatever is revealed bears the conviction of proceeding from reliable authority. Mystical revelation provides illumination about the nature of God, or truth, or love, or life, or death, or eternity, or some aspect of religious belief that the recipient could not have conceived of by him/herself.
It may also answer burning questions, heal spiritual wounds, even inspire a total conversion to a new way of life. Sometimes the mystical experience is so transcendent and overwhelming, the mystic is unable to describe it in words. Yet the mystic is often led to try to convey the import of the revelation in prose or poetry, art or music or dance. Whatever the experience is, it is indelible and therefore, unforgettable to the recipient. Such experience produces a surpassing joy and sublime peace that totally alters the subject’s mindset. It may also evoke a sense of ecstatic, blissful unity with the divine.
6. Why do you think people, regardless of religious beliefs, are attracted to mystics and mysticism?
Whether we’re Christian or non-Christian, religious or agnostic, we tend to find mystics intriguing. What is it about them that attracts us? I think the answer lies in what we sorely miss from fast-paced and often-superficial relationships in contemporary life – and perhaps even from the practice of some organized religions: that is, a personal, intimate, and unquestionably clear experience of Divine Presence.
Make no mistake, mystics were ordinary people, just like us. They had to deal with all the stresses and crises of their own lives – and all the trivia – just as we do. But what they experienced of the divine dimension went way beyond what we would call “normal,” or even possible. They saw and heard what we have not . . .they understood truth in ways that scientists and scholars and ordinary folk do not . . . and they were changed forever by their mystical experiences. In turn, mystics changed the world. Perhaps, that's what makes them so fascinating.
7. You’ve been in the professional theatre all your life – as a Broadway and television actress, a playwright, the artistic director of a New York theatre company, and a Master Teacher of Dramatic Arts. What’s the connection between artists and mystics?
Artists seek to understand and express the human condition. True artists go deeper into the wonders of nature and complexities of human relationships, into history, cultures, real or imaginary characters, exploring what makes them “tick,” trying to find meaning in the human pilgrimage, in human achievement, in human failure and suffering. They express this quest through the art of painting, music, dance, sculpture, architecture, poetry, prose, or drama.
Mystics take the quest to another level. They want to know the ultimate meaning of why there is anything at all…why we are here…what is free will…why we misuse it to create such evil…why we suffer…and what it means to experience salvation. By developing a radical openness to the divine dimension – usually through many years of self-discipline and contemplative prayer – such seekers become highly sensitive to and receptive of mystical experience. Some artists are mystics and some mystics are also artists. In fact, mysticism is, I think, the purest of all art forms.
8. Did you visit Julian’s shrine when you were writing your book? What did you feel when you were there? If not, would you like to go?
By the time I began doing the research for Julian’s Gospel, my husband and I had already moved back to the States and were living in Berkeley, California. Even though I haven’t visited Julian’s shrine, I’ve spent many hours pouring over old photographs and paintings and maps of Norwich, taking the virtual tour of streets, churches, the Cathedral, Julian’s shrine, and reading about every aspect of the history, culture, walls, gates, streets and the Marketplace of Norwich. Perhaps most of all, I’ve been living in fourteenth century Norwich in my imagination for four years. I think I needed to immerse myself in that medieval Norwich more than to see the modern one – in order to avoid any distracting anachronisms!
Would I like to go? Now that the book is published, oh yes! I’d like to stand on Julian’s “holy ground” – the cemetery soil behind the rebuilt medieval Church of St. Julian. And see the bend of the Wensum River at Conisford as she did. And touch the great stone pillars in the cathedral as she must have touched them, and feel the soaring heights of the clerestory windows as she must have felt them, and walk the preserved streets and climb up into the ruins of the Black Tower…and try not to see anything past 1400.
9. Why did you give your book the title ‘Julian’s Gospel’?
In Old English the word for gospel was god-spell, meaning the “good news” or “glad tidings” that was preached aloud to the people. The god-spell contained the good news of the redemption of humankind through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Likewise, in her Revelations, Julian speaks to us the “good news” of God’s unconditional love and compassion for all humanity – in a woman’s voice, and from a woman’s point of view. I called my book Julian’s Gospel because it is Julian’s own very personal story of experiencing the presence and the teaching of the living Christ.
10. What does Julian of Norwich, a fourteenth century mystic, have to say to twenty-first century people?
Julian teaches us how to be intimate and absolutely honest with God, to be still and silent each day to behold God’s presence in our souls, not to be afraid to beseech and question God, and then to wait patiently for the answers. She herself said we can do no more than “seek, suffer, and trust” all our life long – and she counsels us to believe firmly that in all situations, whether “in wele or in woe,” we are securely protected by God.
Most of all, Julian reassures every one of us again and again that we are loved by God, unconditionally. She is adamant that God is not angry with us; rather, we are angry with ourselves for the wrongs that we do and the mistakes that we make – and we project that anger onto God. But Julian tells us that if we run to God like a child to its devoted Mother, we will be forgiven and healed and embraced and enfolded in love. Isn’t that a hope-filled message for our troubled age?
Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, described Julian’s Revelations as “what may be the most important work of Christian reflection in the English language.” The Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, called Julian “the greatest English theologian” and “without doubt one of the most wonderful of all Christian voices.”
1. What was it about Julian of Norwich that inspired you to write Julian’s Gospel: Illuminating the Life & Revelations of Julian of Norwich?
When I was in high school at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City, my theology teacher used to quote the words of Julian of Norwich to me whenever I was in crisis and needed reassurance: “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and thou shalt see thyself that all manner of thing shall be well…” But I never really knew who Julian was.
When I finally read Julian’s Revelations of Divine Love in the late 1970’s, I was overwhelmed by the originality of her thinking, her passionate questioning, and her courage to write about her mystical experiences under threat of condemnation by the authorities. For decades, her book never left my reading table. Julian became my spiritual mentor and heart friend.
In 2005, my husband and I moved to Berkeley, California, from London and I began lecturing on Julian’s Revelations as part of a three-year course that explored the history of Christian mysticism, entitled Ascent to the Divine. I also started giving Retreats with Julian to men and women of all ages, and developed a series of reflections and meditations called Mornings with Julian of Norwich for church groups. The depth of response was overwhelming. People were immensely attracted to Julian’s daring vision, radiant hope, and impassioned love of God. They wanted to know more about her - and to have clear guidance in understanding her sometimes challenging text in terms that related directly to their own spiritual paths. This “live” audience became my motivation for writing Julian’s Gospel.
2. How does the book differ from other writings about Julian?
Julian’s Gospel is the first book on the market that combines a dramatic historical reconstruction of Julian’s life in fourteenth century Norwich with a comprehensive commentary on the eighty-six chapters of the Long Text of her Revelations. I’ve also done a new and faithful translation from Julian’s Middle English.
Unlike other brief summaries of Julian’s life and times, Julian’s Gospel goes in-depth to uncover the political, cultural, social, and religious milieu that formed and deeply influenced her development as a woman and a mystic. Also, unlike other textual companions to Julian’s work that provide only short explanations of Middle English words, or merely footnote theological terms, Julian’s Gospel gives the reader a detailed analysis of her writings, illuminating her ground-breaking mystical theology with extensive scholarship and interpretation. It took me four years!
Throughout, I wanted to create a strong dramatic arc for Julian’s Revelations that interweaves her personal sufferings and burning questions with her visionary experiences. I wanted to immerse my readers in Julian’s world, so that when they came to her text, they would already feel they knew the woman behind the visionary. In short, I wanted to produce a compelling spiritual biography.
3. What is an anchoress? Why do you think Julian decided to become one?
Anchoress (or anchorite) comes from the Ancient Greek word meaning “someone who has withdrawn or retired from the world.” In medieval times, the cell of an anchoress was often literally “attached” to the outside wall of a church. The anchoress, while shut up for the rest of her life, had a deep responsibility to pray for the people of her town or city, and to give them counsel when they came to her window asking for advice or prayers.
I firmly believe that Julian became an anchoress both to have more time and freedom to contemplate God, as well as to write the longer version of her Revelations – namely, the Long Text. It is also very likely that she was seeking total privacy to escape investigation by the Bishop of Norwich, precisely for being an “unlettered” laywoman who dared to write and teach about theological issues in the vernacular, when only Latin-educated, ordained, and duly licensed male clergy were allowed to do so. If those in authority had known what she was writing, Julian could have been questioned and excommunicated as a heretic. By taking refuge in an anchorage, away from the demands of her life in the world, Julian found freedom both to meditate on and to write her Revelations.
4. Julian’s Revelations were the first English-language writings by a female to survive, and you write that she considered herself ‘unlettered’. Why do you think her writings survived?
Yes, Julian spoke of herself as “unlettered’ – which does not mean she could not read or write English. One only has to read her Revelations to see what a consummate writer she was!
Indeed, today she is studied on a par with Chaucer, Hilton, and Rolle – her contemporary male English authors. Being “unlettered” meant that Julian did not know how to read or write Latin. So she could not read the Latin Vulgate Bible, or books of theology, or even understand the words of the liturgy of the Mass – all of which were in Latin. Nor was a mere woman ever permitted to go to Oxford or Cambridge to study theology, philosophy, and rhetoric. That would take another 600 years.
So how did she learn to write mystical theology? In Julian’s Gospel, I examine just how Julian would have absorbed theological tenets, become acquainted with the psalms and gospels and epistles, as well as how she would have learned to structure her arguments in such a clear and cogent way. It was one of many mysteries about Julian that I set out to solve. And I made fascinating discoveries on the way…
I think the fact that Julian’s writings, virtually unknown in her lifetime, were scurried away to France during the English Reformation, copied and preserved there by recusant Benedictine nuns, and then only rediscovered in the Twentieth Century is purely providential. Perhaps Julian’s writings were meant even more for us than for those in the fourteenth century!
5. What is “mystical experience”?
In a general sense, mystical experience is a profound interaction with Divine Reality that far surpasses ordinary ways of knowing or perceiving. It is spontaneous, unbidden, and completely passive – without human effort or intervention. It is immediately experienced as coming from a divine source. Thus, whatever is revealed bears the conviction of proceeding from reliable authority. Mystical revelation provides illumination about the nature of God, or truth, or love, or life, or death, or eternity, or some aspect of religious belief that the recipient could not have conceived of by him/herself.
It may also answer burning questions, heal spiritual wounds, even inspire a total conversion to a new way of life. Sometimes the mystical experience is so transcendent and overwhelming, the mystic is unable to describe it in words. Yet the mystic is often led to try to convey the import of the revelation in prose or poetry, art or music or dance. Whatever the experience is, it is indelible and therefore, unforgettable to the recipient. Such experience produces a surpassing joy and sublime peace that totally alters the subject’s mindset. It may also evoke a sense of ecstatic, blissful unity with the divine.
6. Why do you think people, regardless of religious beliefs, are attracted to mystics and mysticism?
Whether we’re Christian or non-Christian, religious or agnostic, we tend to find mystics intriguing. What is it about them that attracts us? I think the answer lies in what we sorely miss from fast-paced and often-superficial relationships in contemporary life – and perhaps even from the practice of some organized religions: that is, a personal, intimate, and unquestionably clear experience of Divine Presence.
Make no mistake, mystics were ordinary people, just like us. They had to deal with all the stresses and crises of their own lives – and all the trivia – just as we do. But what they experienced of the divine dimension went way beyond what we would call “normal,” or even possible. They saw and heard what we have not . . .they understood truth in ways that scientists and scholars and ordinary folk do not . . . and they were changed forever by their mystical experiences. In turn, mystics changed the world. Perhaps, that's what makes them so fascinating.
7. You’ve been in the professional theatre all your life – as a Broadway and television actress, a playwright, the artistic director of a New York theatre company, and a Master Teacher of Dramatic Arts. What’s the connection between artists and mystics?
Artists seek to understand and express the human condition. True artists go deeper into the wonders of nature and complexities of human relationships, into history, cultures, real or imaginary characters, exploring what makes them “tick,” trying to find meaning in the human pilgrimage, in human achievement, in human failure and suffering. They express this quest through the art of painting, music, dance, sculpture, architecture, poetry, prose, or drama.
Mystics take the quest to another level. They want to know the ultimate meaning of why there is anything at all…why we are here…what is free will…why we misuse it to create such evil…why we suffer…and what it means to experience salvation. By developing a radical openness to the divine dimension – usually through many years of self-discipline and contemplative prayer – such seekers become highly sensitive to and receptive of mystical experience. Some artists are mystics and some mystics are also artists. In fact, mysticism is, I think, the purest of all art forms.
8. Did you visit Julian’s shrine when you were writing your book? What did you feel when you were there? If not, would you like to go?
By the time I began doing the research for Julian’s Gospel, my husband and I had already moved back to the States and were living in Berkeley, California. Even though I haven’t visited Julian’s shrine, I’ve spent many hours pouring over old photographs and paintings and maps of Norwich, taking the virtual tour of streets, churches, the Cathedral, Julian’s shrine, and reading about every aspect of the history, culture, walls, gates, streets and the Marketplace of Norwich. Perhaps most of all, I’ve been living in fourteenth century Norwich in my imagination for four years. I think I needed to immerse myself in that medieval Norwich more than to see the modern one – in order to avoid any distracting anachronisms!
Would I like to go? Now that the book is published, oh yes! I’d like to stand on Julian’s “holy ground” – the cemetery soil behind the rebuilt medieval Church of St. Julian. And see the bend of the Wensum River at Conisford as she did. And touch the great stone pillars in the cathedral as she must have touched them, and feel the soaring heights of the clerestory windows as she must have felt them, and walk the preserved streets and climb up into the ruins of the Black Tower…and try not to see anything past 1400.
9. Why did you give your book the title ‘Julian’s Gospel’?
In Old English the word for gospel was god-spell, meaning the “good news” or “glad tidings” that was preached aloud to the people. The god-spell contained the good news of the redemption of humankind through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Likewise, in her Revelations, Julian speaks to us the “good news” of God’s unconditional love and compassion for all humanity – in a woman’s voice, and from a woman’s point of view. I called my book Julian’s Gospel because it is Julian’s own very personal story of experiencing the presence and the teaching of the living Christ.
10. What does Julian of Norwich, a fourteenth century mystic, have to say to twenty-first century people?
Julian teaches us how to be intimate and absolutely honest with God, to be still and silent each day to behold God’s presence in our souls, not to be afraid to beseech and question God, and then to wait patiently for the answers. She herself said we can do no more than “seek, suffer, and trust” all our life long – and she counsels us to believe firmly that in all situations, whether “in wele or in woe,” we are securely protected by God.
Most of all, Julian reassures every one of us again and again that we are loved by God, unconditionally. She is adamant that God is not angry with us; rather, we are angry with ourselves for the wrongs that we do and the mistakes that we make – and we project that anger onto God. But Julian tells us that if we run to God like a child to its devoted Mother, we will be forgiven and healed and embraced and enfolded in love. Isn’t that a hope-filled message for our troubled age?
Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, described Julian’s Revelations as “what may be the most important work of Christian reflection in the English language.” The Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, called Julian “the greatest English theologian” and “without doubt one of the most wonderful of all Christian voices.”