Home/Stay Informed/All Diocesan Articles

All Diocesan Articles

Mystic Teaches Message of God’s Encompassing Love

Posted on February 25, 2021 in: News

Mystic Teaches Message of God’s Encompassing Love

Although mystic, spiritual guide and visionary Julian of Norwich died 600 years ago, her writings reveal a powerful message for us today – God looks on all of us with great love.  

“Julian of Norwich saw in God only love and in the context of this wrote her famous quote, ‘All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well,’” Sr. Elissa Rinere, CP, told participants during a recent virtual workshop on the 14th century hermit, sponsored by the Diocesan Office of Faith Events.  

Julian was born in 1342 and died 74 years later. She spent the last 40 years of her life confined to a cell attached to the Church of St. Julian in Norwich, England, becoming known as Julian of Norwich. Her real name is unknown, Sr. Elissa said. The mystic lived during a time when life was difficult for most and daily life revolved around religion which taught that God inflicts punishment on sinners and should be feared. 

The first wave of the bubonic plague killed Julian’s father in 1349, when she was six years old. She married at age 16 and gave birth to two children. In the span of 11 years, she would lose her husband and children to the second wave of the plague. These tragedies formed Julian’s prayer as she sought to discern if it was God’s wrath over sin that brings about suffering. 

When Julian was 30, she became deathly ill and spent six days in a coma. While unconscious she saw and heard revelations from God which she wrote about when she recovered, becoming known as The Revelations of Divine Love. Widowed without any male relative to care for her, she asked permission from the local bishop to live in solitude as a hermit. A cell, described as a living grave, was built for her attached to the local church. There she lived for the next 40 years praying and meditating on the revelations she received forming the basis for her second collection of writings known as The Long Text.  

“Julian integrated her faith with her life,” said Sr. Elissa. “In her prayer and her contemplation, she saw and came to know God through the lens of her own life and suffering.” The fruit of her contemplation was an understanding that all of creation is made and loved by God and therefore held in God’s loving and protective hands. “She understands God as love and everlasting bliss,” Sr. Elissa said. 

“All that is exists due to love,” said Sr. Elissa paraphrasing one of the pillars of Julian’s spirituality. “Creation is the manifestation of Divine Love…All creation leads to love of God. Love leads to joy, and joy leads to service of God and neighbor.”

Sr. Elissa noted that Julian concluded from her meditations that God does not get angry when we sin, as anger is a human emotion. Therefore, God does not cause suffering. Pain is the fruit of sin. Sin punishes, not the Lord. Julian understood God’s love as all encompassing; it does not change or lessen when we fall prey to sin. 

“The greatest challenge of our Christian faith is the acceptance of the infinite love that God has for each of us,” said Sr. Elissa. “Julian knew that God did not inflict suffering…God does not inflict punishment. God is love.” 

By Mary-Jo McLaughlin

 

    


Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

Join Bishop Reidy for a Youth Hike!

Posted on June 17, 2025 in: News, Events

1583

Join Bishop Reidy for a Youth Hike!
Middle School and High School youth are invited to a special hike with Bishop Reidy on Saturday, July 19th at 10:00 A.M. at Hurd State Park in East Hampton. Hurd State Park provides the perfect backdrop for a meaningful outdoor adventure, blending fun, exercise, scenic views, and moments of spiritual reflection. The park's flexible trails, peaceful riverside spots, and stunning overlooks make it an ideal place to connect with nature and one another. What to bring: Comfortable shoes, water, and a picnic lunch. Parents are welcome, and Youth Groups are encoura...

Read More

Now Hiring: Faith Filled Educators

Posted on June 17, 2025 in: News, School News

1177

Now Hiring: Faith Filled Educators
There are several current job openings for educators in our diocese.  The positions are updated weekly, so be sure to bookmark this page in your browser-  NorwichDiocese.org/Employment Click Here to See the Current Open Positions  All candidates must complete the official professional application to be considered for a teaching position or principal position and submit it to the Diocesan School Office. Applications are available on the employment page of the website. Visit NorwichDiocese.org/Employment to view all of the open jobs in the di...

Read More

Pray for the Pope: Join the Sacred Heart Novena June 19–27
Knights of Columbus Launches Sacred Heart Novena for Pope Leo XIV New Haven, Conn. — The Knights of Columbus have announced a special novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the intention of Pope Leo XIV, beginning June 19—his anniversary of priestly ordination—and concluding June 27, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly is encouraging Knights, their families, and all people of goodwill to participate in the novena and to submit personal prayer intentions, which he will personally bring to Rome later this Jubilee Year. P...

Read More

Prayer for Our Nation

Posted on July 03, 2025 in: News

1015

Prayer for Our Nation
  Prayer for Our Nation   God our Father, Giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to Your loving care. You are the rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for Your glory and dwell among Your people. Send Your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation’s leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind Your people that true happiness is r...

Read More

Clergy Appointments

Posted on July 09, 2025 in: News, Vocations

677

Clergy Appointments
July 3, 2025 The Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy, Bishop of Norwich, has made the following clergy and diocesan appointments in the Diocese of Norwich   DIOCESAN APPOINTMENT Rev. Msgr. Leszek T. Janik, JCL, Vicar General of the Diocese of Norwich, while continuing as Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Norwichtown, and Saint Joseph Church, Norwich. Effective: June 5, 2025. Very Rev. Ted Tumicki, STL, JCL, Judicial Vicar for the Tribunal Office of the Diocese of Norwich. Effective: June 5, 2025.   CLERGY APPOINTMENT Reverend Francis Gi...

Read More

Public Policy Office of Catholic Church Scores Wins in State’s Legislative Session
The Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference achieved “successes we were happy about” during the 2025 Connecticut Legislative Session, according to Deacon David Reynolds, the Conference’s associate director for public policy.  “Legislation dealing with abortion, transgender rights and immigration reflected the conflict between existing state law and the recently revised federal laws and regulations,” he says. “The good news is the Conference’s efforts to stop harmful legislation in the areas of abortion and gender-affi...

Read More

Annual Catholic Appeal

ACA DONATE

English

Español

 

Latest Articles
Bishop Reidy to Take Part in Annual Stonington Blessing of the Fleet
5 Ways to Sanctify Your Summer Vacation and Evangelize
Pope Leo Meets with Supreme Knight, Supreme Chaplain
Clergy Appointments
Parishes Need to Launch 'Revolution of Care' for the Elderly, Pope Says
The Role of Spirituality in a Caregiver’s Life
Saints — Men and Women of Holiness
Calendar of Events

 

Recently Added Galleries
Click to view album: Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Richard F. Reidy
Click to view album: Students Called to Feed the Hungry
Click to view album: 40 Days for Life 2024
Click to view album: Blessing of the Fleet 2024
Signup for Weekly Newsletter

     

    Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
    201 Broadway
    Norwich, CT 06360-4328
    Phone: 860-887-9294