Nature and Grace are in harmony with each other… God is two in manner of working and one in love.

Julian of Norwich

One In Love

Topic: Love, Compassion, & Kindness

Nature and Grace are in harmony with each other. For Grace is God as Nature is God… God is two in manner of working and one in love. Neither Nature nor Grace works without the other. They may never be separated.

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

Brendan Doyle, Trans. Meditations with Julian of Norwich, pp. 107-109, 89.

Julian of Norwich

Theme: Love

About This Julian of Norwich Quote [Commentary]

Julian of Norwich’s insights into nature and grace provide a deep understanding of the divine presence in the world. In her quotation, “Nature and Grace are in harmony with each other… God is two in manner of working and one in love,” Julian describes the harmonious coexistence of these two aspects of God’s work. She asserts that both nature and grace are manifestations of God, operating in unity and never in isolation. This understanding invites us to see the natural world and the spiritual realm not as separate entities but as interconnected expressions of divine love.

Julian’s view that “God is two in manner of working and one in love” underscores the unity of nature and grace within the singular essence of God’s love. Nature represents God’s creative force, bringing forth life and beauty, while grace embodies God’s redemptive power, offering salvation and transformation. Julian emphasizes that these aspects of God’s work are intertwined and mutually dependent. This highlights that every encounter with nature is also an encounter with grace, reinforcing the idea that divine love permeates all aspects of existence.

Through her teachings, Julian of Norwich encourages us to recognize and embrace the divine love present in every part of our lives. By understanding that nature and grace work together, we are invited to see the sacred in the ordinary and the divine in the everyday. This perspective fosters a deeper appreciation of the natural world and a more profound connection to the spiritual. Julian’s vision challenges us to live in a way that reflects this unity, treating all of creation with reverence and compassion, and acknowledging that every moment is an opportunity to experience and share God’s boundless love.

Matthew Fox Commentary

Julian sees nature and grace as being in harmony with each other and united in God’s love. This means that we can experience God’s love in both the natural world and the spiritual realm.

Matthew Fox, a contemporary theologian and mystic, writes, “Julian expands her teaching this way: God is two in manner of working and one in love. Neither Nature nor Grace works without the other. They may never be separated.” [Matthew Fox, Original Blessing, pp. 81-87, 208-219, 257-264.] This quote further emphasizes the unity of nature and grace in God’s love. It tells us that nature and grace are always working together to express God’s love in the world.

Also, Julian often makes the point that faith means trust. For example she writes: “Faith is nothing else but a right understanding of our being—trusting and allowing things to be; a right understanding that we are in God and God whom we do not see is in us.”

One In Love

Related Quotes