A Word from Julian of Norwich

From the book Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals:

Julian of Norwich (1342 - 1416)

Born during a tumultuous period of England's history, Julian witnessed tremendous suffering in her lifetime. At age thirty, when she was seriously ill, Julian received the first of sixteen visions that centered on the crucified Christ. She interpreted her visions to mean that God loves us unconditionally, and she likened Christ to a mother who suffers when a child is hurt. Julian became an anchorite, voluntarily restricting herself to at tiny cell in the church building at Norwich. She lived the rest of her days in almost total isolation so that she could pray for the community and offer spiritual counsel. Her Showings has been praised as being among her most important spiritual writings in the English language.

Julian of Norwich prayed, "God, of your goodness, give me yourself, for you are enough for me. I may ask nothing less that is fully to your worship, and if I do ask anything less, ever shall I be in want. Only in you I have all."

Claiborne, S., Okoro, E., Wilson-Hartgrove, J. (2010). Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.