Julian, an anchoress who lived in solitude in Norwich, England in the late 14th century, received the 16 'showings' or revelations of God's love in a series of expereinced visions. The first version was a short text. The second, longer version was apparently written some years after the first, when she had had time to pray and reflect about the teaching sGod had given her.
In the light of their thirteen years of work on the critical edition of Showings, Colledge and Walsh give us the first modern English rendering from their critical text. In their introduction, they analyze the text and the place of Julian's teaching in Catholic Spirituality. The ditors present Julian as a skilled theologian and master of rhetorical style. This book reveals a Julian who experienced God directly and not self-consciously as 'our mother.' Her revelations of the remine side of God represent a significant contribution to tradition. Her graphic visions of the humanity of Christ are marked by vivid imagery and detail. But the special appeal of Julian lies in her theology of the all-embracing fullness of divine love. Julian is certainly a warm and approachable companion for the mystical journey.
