Friday, September 24 : Julian of Norwich

In my foolish way I had often wondered why the foreseeing wisdom of God could not have prevented the beginning of sin, for then, thought I, all would have been well. (…) But Jesus (…) answered, “Sin was necessary – but all shall be well; and all shall be well; and everything shall be well.” In this simple word “sin” our Lord reminded me in a general sort of way of all that is not good: the despicable shame and utter self-denial he endured for us, both in his life and in his dying. And of all the suffering and pain of his creation, both spiritual and physical. (…) All this I saw, together with all the suffering that ever has been or can be. And of all pain I understood that the passion of Christ was the greatest and most surpassing. (…) But I did not see sin. I believe it has no substance or real existence. It can only be known by the pain it causes. This pain is something, as I see it, which lasts but a while. It purges us and makes us know ourselves, so that we ask for mercy. The passion of our Lord is our comfort against all this – for such is his blessed will. Because of his tender love for all those who are to be saved our good Lord comforts us at once and sweetly, as if to say, “It is true that sin is the cause of all this pain; but all shall be well; and all shall be well; and everything shall be well.” These words were said most tenderly, with never a hint of blame. (…) In these words I saw one of God’s marvellously deep secrets – a secret which he will plainly reveal to us in heaven. And when we know it we will see the reason why he allowed sin to come, and seeing, we shall rejoice in him for ever.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team