Julian of Norwich on Christmas
1340–1410 England
← All quotes by Julian of Norwich
30 quotes
Because of the Shewing I am not good but if I love God the better: and in as much as ye love God the better, it is more to you than to me.
The properties are these: Life, Love, and Light.
All this was to make us glad and merry in love.
Love was without beginning, is, and shall be without ending. For which love He said full sweetly these words: If I might suffer more, I would suffer more.
Love and Dread are brethren, and they are rooted in us by the Goodness of our Maker, and they shall never be taken from us without end. We have of nature to love and we have of grace to love: and we have of nature to dread and we have of grace to dread.
He willeth that we love Him sweetly and trust in Him meekly and mightily. And this shewed He in these gracious words: I keep thee full surely.
Ere that He made us He loved us, and when we were made we loved Him.
Thus was I learned that Love was our Lord's meaning.
Our Lord God, Allmighty Wisdom, All-Love, right as verily as He hath made everything that is, all-so verily He doeth and worketh all-thing that is done.
Revelations of Divine Love (1393)
Wouldst thou learn thy Lord’s meaning in this thing? Learn it well: Love was His meaning. Who shewed it thee? Love. What shewed He thee? Love. Wherefore shewed it He? For Love. Hold thee therein and thou shalt learn and know more in the same. But thou shalt never know nor learn therein other thing without end. Thus was I learned that Love was our Lord’s meaning.
Revelations of Divine Love (1393)