Her Revelations on the Trinity proclaim that “the Trinity is
our maker, the trinity is our keeper [protector], the trinity is our
everlasting lover, the trinity is our endless joy and our bliss, by our Lord
Jesus Christ.” Not only that, we “are conceived and created by the love of God
our Father. Then the mercy of Christ our Mother grants us rebirth and the
forgiveness of our sins.” Julian says “Our Father wills, our Mother werks
(sic), our good lord the Holy Ghost strengthens. And therefore it belongs to us
to love our God…” Canon Dana noted that Julian’s vision of Christ as Mother is
not a metaphor but her actual experience of Christ.
Retreat participants were encouraged to take time to use lexio
divino to consider the Trinity quotes and discern what they might be saying
to each heart.
Canon Dana shared passion quotes from Julian and reminded us
that Julian had her revelations while observing the crucifix. The impact of
seeing in her vision Christ dying, and indeed decaying, fulfilled one of Julian’s
deepest desires which was to be present at the Crucifixion and experience what
Mary and the other women felt at that time.
Participants had been encouraged to bring a crucifix or an
image of one. We spent time meditating on these. For Episcopalians this was an
uncomfortable experience for some as we are less likely to encounter the
crucified Christ in worship. Most churches have an empty cross or a Christ depicted
as risen in glory or as Christus Rex (Christ the King). The exercise was
impactful for many at the retreat.
In the afternoon, Canon Dana helped us look at the famous
Julian “all will be well” quote. This is a consolation about sin and not just a
pretty statement that everything will work out OK. Julian heard Jesus say “Sin
is behovely (necessary, advantageous), but all shall be well (happiness, well-being),
and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” In other words,
Dana noted, all is ultimately well despite sin and sin’s impact now.
Julian saw no shame or blame in all her visions. Instead she
saw “the ghostly thirst of Christ: the love-longing that lasts and ever shall
till we see that sight at doomsday…a love-longing to have us all together,
whole in him to his endless bliss…for we are not now as fully whole in him as
we shall be then.”
Canon Dana concluded the afternoon by summarizing who Love is the total of all Julian’s reflections. Julian states, “Know it well, Love was his meaning. Who showed it to thee? Love. What showed he to thee? Love. Wherefore showed it to thee? For love…Love is our Lord’s meaning.” In another revelation Julian says, “before God made us he loved us, which love was never satiated, nor ever shall be. And in this love he has done all his works, and in this love he has made all things profitable for us. And in this love our life is everlasting…”
The handouts for the retreat are attached. Revelations and Poems and Worship.