God Is Our Father and Mother

Topic: Divine Love & Goodness

Whereof it follows that as truly as God is our Father, so truly is God our Mother. Our Father wills, our Mother works, our good Lord the Holy Ghost confirms. And therefore it belongs to us to love our God, in whom we have our being… for in these three is all our life… And therein is a forth-spreading, by the same grace, of a length and breadth, of a height and a deepness without end [see Ephesians 3:18–19]. And all is one love.

Julian of Norwich

Julian of Norwich (c. 1343–after 1416) was an English anchoress and mystic of the Middle Ages. She is renowned for her book Revelations of Divine Love, which is considered one of the earliest surviving works of English literature written by a woman.

Julian lived in the city of Norwich during a tumultuous period marked by the Black Death and the Peasants' Revolt. In the midst of these upheavals, she experienced a series of profound visions of the Passion of Christ in 1373, when she was around 30 years old. These visions transformed her understanding of God's love, leading her to believe that all people are loved unconditionally by God, even in their sinfulness.

Julian's Revelations of Divine Love is a beautiful and moving meditation on the love of God, exploring themes such as the compassion of Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and the hope of salvation. She also delves into the mystery of suffering and the role of pain in spiritual growth. Although her writings were not published during her lifetime, they were carefully preserved by her followers and later rediscovered and translated into English in the 19th century. Today, Julian of Norwich is recognized as one of the most important Christian mystics and theologians, renowned for her profound insights into the nature of God's love and her emphasis on the harmony between faith, nature, and grace.

(c. 1343-1416) Christianity
Revelations of Divine Love

Julian of Norwich. The Revelations of Divine Love of Julian of Norwich, trans. James Walsh (Harper and Brothers: 1961), 162. [The Fourteenth Revelation, ch. 59 (Long Text)].

Julian of Norwich

Theme: Divine Father and Mother

About This Julian of Norwich Quote [Commentary]

Julian of Norwich’s portrayal of God as both Father and Mother offers a complete view of the Divine. By stating, “As truly as God is our Father, so truly is God our Mother,” Julian reveals a God that transcends traditional roles and gendered expectations. The Father represents God’s will and purpose, while the Mother reflects God’s active care and nurturing presence. Both are essential to understanding the fullness of God, showing that divine love encompasses both intention and action.

Julian expands on this by describing the limitless nature of God’s love, drawing from Ephesians’ imagery of length, breadth, height, and depth. This love flows from both the Father’s will and the Mother’s work, illustrating the vastness of divine grace. Julian invites us to recognize a God whose love exceeds human understanding, encouraging a holistic view that embraces all aspects of the Divine. Her vision balances the roles of Father and Mother, showing how both contribute to life and grace.

Julian’s words lead us toward a deeper relationship with God, where distinctions between divine qualities dissolve into one love. By understanding God as both Father and Mother, we open ourselves to a fuller experience of divine love. This balanced view of God, incorporating both will and nurture, helps us see that in God, “all is one love,” encouraging us to embrace an inclusive and expansive view of the Divine.

About This Julian of Norwich Quote [Commentary, Part 2]

Julian’s insights lead us toward a more inclusive understanding of God. She tells us, “all is one love,” imploring us to understand that God doesn’t fit into our narrow definitions or categorizations. By comprehending God as both Father and Mother, we open ourselves to experience a fuller spectrum of divine love in our daily lives.

The profundity of Julian’s vision extends even further when she speaks of the soul’s union within the Trinity. She writes, “[God] makes no distinction in love between the blessed soul of Christ and the least soul that will be saved.” This mirrors Richard Rohr’s observation about Julian’s view of our inclusion in the Divine Dance of Love. In this embrace, there is no distinction between God and our substance; we are enclosed within the almighty truth, deep wisdom, and high goodness of the Trinity—Father, Mother, and Son. Such an understanding not only emphasizes the endless grace and inclusive love of God but also deepens our sense of belonging and identity in this mysterious yet intimate relationship with the Divine.

Resources

Julian of Norwich, God Is Our True Mother Wednesday, May 13, 2020

God Is Our Father and Mother

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