Observations placeholder
Julian of Norwich - And so I understood it shall be in heaven without end to all that shall come there
Identifier
002494
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
If you compare the descriptions of near death experiences you will see that she was getting a near death experience in which she experiences bliss and freedom from pain, a figure of comfort which she believes to be Jesus because of her beliefs and another figure she interprets to be the Virgin Mary, although it is clearly just a ghostly spirit also there to comfort her.
Of great interest is her simple statement that “so I understood it shall be in heaven without end to all that shall come there”. In other words everyone goes to heaven.
A description of the experience
Julian of Norwich – Revelations of Divine Love
IN this [moment] suddenly I saw the red blood trickle down from under the Garland hot and freshly and right plenteously, as it were in the time of His Passion when the Garland of thorns was pressed on His blessed head who was both God and Man, the same that suffered thus for me… And in the same Shewing suddenly the Trinity fulfilled my heart most of joy. And so I understood it shall be in heaven without end to all that shall come there.
And I said: Benedicite Domine! This I said for reverence in my meaning, with mighty voice; and full greatly was astonied for wonder and marvel that I had, that He that is so reverend and dreadful will be so homely with a sinful creature living in wretched flesh. ….This [Shewing] I took for the time of my temptation, for methought by the sufferance of God I should be tempted of fiends ere I died. Through this sight of the blessed Passion, …., I knew well that It was strength enough for me, yea, and for all creatures living, against all the fiends of hell and ghostly temptation.
In this [Shewing] He brought our blessed Lady to my understanding. I saw her ghostly, in bodily likeness: a simple maid and a meek, young of age and little waxen above a child, in the stature that she was when she conceived.