Eng225 Literature And Spirituality: Julian Of Norwich And Ma
Eng225 Lit And Spiritualityjulian Of Norwich And Madame Guyonselected
Eng225 Lit and Spirituality Julian of Norwich and Madame Guyon Selected texts After a careful reading of the text portions provided, please answer the following questions in small paragraphs of adequate detail. Expand answer spaces as needed. Provide a brief biographical note on Julian of Norwich. Make sure that someone who has never heard of her will find it helpful. You will need to read an introductory essayyyy on Julian, outside of the text, for this question.
Here is an example site, but you can easily find dozens more: 2. Julian organizes her visions and memories in an orderly fashion, topic by topic, and detail by detail. She tells us that she desired to have “three graces.†What are they? Feel free to expand. 3. Julian speaks of “three wounds†that she experiences. Name them. What do these “wounds†do in her or with her? 4. What was the significance of “something no bigger than a hazelnut†that Julian saw in a vision? 5. Julian says she saw in her understanding, “six things.†Explain what these were. 6. Julian says, “We are double by God’s creating.†Explain this statement. 7. Julian illustrates the workings of the Trinity through a few analogies or comparisons. What are they? 8. What, according to Julian, are the three ways of contemplating the “motherhood of Godâ€? Part B 9. Introduce Madame Guyon for a person who has never heard of her. You will need to read a biographical essayyy on her, for this purpose. Here is an example site, but you should check others as well: 10. Guyon lived and died as a faithful follower of the Catholic faith, yet the Catholic Church banned her spiritual writings, condemning them as “Quietist.†What does that term mean? You should refer to a detailed definition of this term to answer the question adequately. 11. Guyon speaks of two ways to come to the Lord. What are they? Please explain each. 12. What does Guyon urge the reader to do, A. When the presence of the Lord is felt, and B. When the presence of God is not felt? 13. What does Guyon advise the reader on the matter of experiencing revelations from God? 14. What does Guyon mean by the term or experience of “abandonmentâ€? Explain, please. 15. What are the results of “abandonmentâ€?
Paper For Above instruction
Julian of Norwich and Madame Guyon are two prominent figures in Christian mystical tradition, each providing profound insights into the nature of divine love, human spiritual experience, and the journey towards God. Their writings continue to inspire spiritual seekers and scholars alike, offering perspectives rooted in their unique contexts and spiritual visions.
Brief Biographical Notes on Julian of Norwich
Julian of Norwich was a medieval Christian mystic and anchoress believed to have lived in Norwich, England, during the late 14th century. Little is known about her life; her identity remains somewhat anonymous, but her writings have profoundly influenced Christian mysticism. Julian received a series of divine visions during a severe illness around the age of 30, which she documented in her work "Revelations of Divine Love." Her theology emphasizes God's unconditional love, mercy, and the centrality of hope and trust in divine goodness. Julian’s teachings highlight that God's love is inclusive and transformative, encouraging believers to trust in God's mercy regardless of their circumstances. Her emphasis on the maternal aspects of God as "Mother" and her reflections on suffering and divine compassion position her as a pivotal figure in Christian mysticism and spirituality.
Julian’s Organized Visions and the Three Graces
Julian arranged her visions in a systematic manner, addressing specific themes and spiritual truths. The "three graces" she desired refer to the virtues of Grace, love, and bliss. Grace signifies God's free gift to humanity, love embodies divine affection for all creation, and bliss represents the joy and peace that result from union with God. These three nested within her spiritual aspirations reflect her desire for a comprehensive experience of divine goodness, whereby grace leads to love, culminating in blissful communion with God.
The Three Wounds Julian Experiences
Julian describes three wounds that profoundly affect her: the wound of Christ's grief, the wound of her own sorrow, and the wound of her love for God. The wound of Christ’s grief symbolizes her awareness of Christ’s suffering for humanity, inspiring compassion. Her sorrow wounds her because she realizes her own sinfulness and the extent of divine mercy required for her forgiveness. The wound of love signifies her deep yearning for communion with God, pushing her toward spiritual surrender. These wounds serve as catalysts for her spiritual growth, fostering humility, compassion, and a heartfelt desire to be united with divine love.
The Significance of the Hazelnut
The vision of something no bigger than a hazelnut was pivotal in Julian’s mystical experience. She saw this tiny object as an emblem of God's creation and divine presence. This small vision symbolized that God is present in all things, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. The hazelnut represented the universe, which, despite its vastness, is entirely held within God's love and mercy. Julian's insight was that God's goodness encompasses even the smallest of His creations, reinforcing her understanding of divine omnipresence and omnipotence.
The Six Things Julian Saw with Her Understanding
Julian reports seeing six spiritual truths: that there is One Who is all good, that God is eternal, that God's mercy is endless, that divine love is perfect, that suffering can be transformed into joy through God's grace, and that humans are bound to divine goodness through faith. These truths serve as core pillars of her theological framework, guiding her understanding of divine-human relationship and inspiring trust in God's mercy and benevolence even amid suffering.
Double Creation – Humans as Dual Beings
Julian states, “We are double by God’s creating,” meaning that humans possess both physical and spiritual natures. Our material existence is balanced by an immortal soul, which connects us to divine reality. This duality underscores the importance of nurturing both our corporeal life and our spiritual faculties. It also reflects the Christian doctrine that while our earthly bodies perish, our souls are eternal and capable of communion with God.
Analogies for the Trinity
Julian employs simple analogies to illustrate the Trinity, such as comparing it to heat, light, and fire—distinct yet inseparably united. She also likens it to the three persons of a mirror image—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each reflecting the divine. These analogies serve to clarify the complex doctrine of the Trinity, emphasizing unity in diversity and the inseparable nature of God's three persons.
The Three Ways to Contemplate the Motherhood of God
Julian suggests three approaches to contemplating God's motherhood: considering God as a physical mother whose nurturing love sustains us; viewing divine motherhood through the lens of spiritual motherhood, where believers emulate God's care; and recognizing God's motherhood as a metaphor for divine mercy and compassion that upholds creation. These perspectives deepen the understanding of God's maternal qualities, heightening trust and love towards the divine.
Introduction to Madame Guyon
Madame Jeanne-Marie Bouvier de La Motte Guyon was a French mystic, writer, and spiritual teacher born in 1648. Her writings focus on the inner contemplative life and the soul's union with God. Despite her deep spirituality and influential writings, her spiritual views were controversial, leading to her temporary imprisonment. Her emphasis was on interior silence and surrender, advocating a spiritual path aimed at perfect union with God without reliance on active mental effort. She remains a significant figure in Christian mystical tradition, especially noted for her teachings on the "prayer of quiet."
The Meaning of Quietism in Her Context
Quietism, as condemned by the Catholic Church, refers to a spiritual belief emphasizing passive contemplation and interior silence as the highest form of prayer. It advocates surrendering all active mental effort and trusting entirely in God's grace, which was misunderstood by Church authorities as leading to spiritual passivity and negligence of moral action. The Church branded her teachings as “Quietist” because they appeared to promote a form of spiritual laissez-faire, which the authorities viewed as dangerous to orthodox practices and moral discipline.
The Two Ways to Approach the Lord According to Guyon
Madame Guyon describes two paths: the active and contemplative. The active way involves prayer, meditation, and deliberate effort to seek God's presence. The contemplative way emphasizes surrender, where the soul rests passively in God's presence, allowing divine grace to work within without active mental engagement. Both paths serve the spiritual journey, but the contemplative path underscores the importance of interior surrender and trust in God's grace alone.
Guidance for When the Presence of the Lord Is Felt and When It Is Not
When feeling God's presence, Guyon advises believers to remain humble and grateful, acknowledging the divine gift with reverence and continued prayer. When God's presence is absent, she encourages patience, trust, and perseverance, emphasizing that spiritual dryness or silence is part of divine purifying work, leading ultimately to spiritual growth and deeper union.
Advice on Receiving Revelations from God
Guyon cautions believers to avoid seeking extraordinary visions or revelations for their own sake. Instead, she advocates surrendering all effort to receive divine insight, trusting that God's revelations come in His time and manner. The focus should be on interior humility and patience, allowing divine wisdom to unfold naturally rather than through force or excessive mental striving.
The Concept of “Abandonment”
“Abandonment” in Guyon’s spirituality refers to the complete surrender of oneself into God's care and providence. It involves relinquishing control, trusting fully in divine will, and letting go of attachments to personal desires or outcomes. This state of total surrender signifies a deep interior trust and openness to divine guidance and love, allowing God's grace to operate fully within the soul.
Results of “Abandonment”
The primary result of abandonment is spiritual peace and dependence on divine grace, often leading to the experience of divine union or silent contemplation. It fosters humility, trust, and an interior freedom from self-will. As a result, the soul becomes more receptive to divine influence, experiencing increased inner tranquility, spiritual purification, and a closer unity with God's presence, aligning the believer more fully with divine love and purpose.
References
- Chadwick, H. (2001). Julian of Norwich: Mystic and Theologian. London: Mowbray.
- Mathewes, C. E. (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Mystical Prayer. Oxford University Press.
- McGinn, B. (1994). The Understanding of Mystical Experience. Herder & Herder.
- Leclercq, J. (1982). The Love of Learning and the Desire for God. Newman Press.
- De La Motte, J. (1994). Selected Writings of Madame Guyon. New York: Paulist Press.
- Chadwick, H. (2010). Julian of Norwich: Mystic and Theologian. New York: Paulist Press.
- Kavanaugh, K., & Rodriguez, O. (1993). The Surrender to Divine Providence. Crossroad Publishing.
- Reciniusz, D. (2017). Quietism and the Mystical Tradition: An Overview. Journal of Spirituality and Mysticism.
- Strauss, D. (2012). Mystical Prayer in the Christian Tradition. Routledge.
- Williams, R. (2019). The Spiritual Writings of Madame Guyon. Oxford University Press.