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All Shall Be Well: A Journey Through Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love with Kris McGregor
Episode Two: The First Shewing — Love Poured Out and the Mystery of the Trinity
Summary:
In this episode, we delve into Julian of Norwich’s First Shewing, in which she witnesses the outpouring of Christ’s love through his suffering and discovers the profound joy of the Holy Trinity. Julian describes seeing Jesus on the Cross, blood flowing freely from the wounds of the crown of thorns – a vivid sign of Love poured out for our salvation. At the same moment, she is filled with an overwhelming awareness of the Mystery of the Trinity, understanding that wherever Jesus is present, the Father and Holy Spirit are there in love.
Kris McGregor reflects on how Julian’s vision of Christ’s Passion reveals the inseparable unity of God’s love: the Father giving his Son, the Son offering himself in obedience, and the Holy Spirit poured out to transform us. We discuss Julian’s amazed response that one so “reverend and dreadful” as God could be so intimately “homely” (familiar and loving) with sinful creatures. In our own trials, Julian’s encounter encourages us to trust that God’s triune love meets us in suffering and transforms it into glory – a hope desperately needed in anxious times. Through Julian’s eyes, we come to see that the Trinity’s love “enfolds us” even in pain, assuring us that we are never alone and that ultimately, “all shall be well.”
Featured Julian of Norwich Quotes
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On Christ’s Passion – Love Poured Out (Ch. IV):
“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. I conceived truly and mightily that it was Himself that shewed it me, without any mean.” -
On the Trinity Revealed in the First Showing (Ch. IV):
“And in the same Shewing suddenly the Trinity filled my heart most with joy. And so I understood it shall be in heaven without end to all that shall come there. For the Trinity is God: God is the Trinity; the Trinity is our Maker and Keeper; the Trinity is our everlasting love and everlasting joy and bliss, by our Lord Jesus Christ.And this was shewed in the First Shewing and in all: for where Jesus appeareth, the blessed Trinity is understood, as to my sight.” -
On Christ’s “Homely” Love for a Sinner (Ch. IV):
“And I said: Benedicite Domine! This I said for reverence, with a mighty voice; and full greatly was I astonied (astonished) for wonder and marvel that I had, that He that is so reverend and dreadful [awesome in majesty] will be so homely (intimate and familiar) with a sinful creature living in wretched flesh.”
(All quotations from Julian of Norwich’s “Revelations of Divine Love” – Long Text, trans. Grace Warrack, 1901.)
Papal References
Pope Benedict XVI – Homily on the Holy Trinity (June 19, 2011)
Source: Vatican.va (Trinity Sunday Mass, San Marino)
“Thus, in the mystery of the Cross, the three divine Persons are present: the Father, who gives his Only-Begotten Son for the salvation of the world; the Son, who totally fulfills the Father’s plan; and the Holy Spirit — poured out by Jesus at the moment of his death — who comes to make us participants in divine life, to transform our existence so that it may be enlivened by divine love.”
Pope Benedict XVI – General Audience on Julian of Norwich (Dec. 1, 2010)
Source: Vatican.va
“Julian understood the central message for the spiritual life: God is love, and only when we open ourselves totally to this love and allow it to become the sole guide of our life, is everything transfigured, true peace and true joy found, and we are able to spread it.”
“Julian’s message, sustained by optimism and trust, is a powerful invitation to all those who, in our time, are gripped by anxiety and fear.”
(In this audience, Benedict XVI reflected on how Julian’s visions show that “all will be well” because God’s providential love can bring good even from evil (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church §313).)
Scripture Citations
- John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (RSV)
- Romans 5:5 – “…and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.” (RSV)
- Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.” (RSV)
- 1 John 4:8 – “He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.” (RSV)
Reflection Questions for Listeners:
1. What is God showing you through Julian’s vision of Christ’s blood? Does it change how you view suffering?
2. Julian invites us to trust that “all shall be well.” What keeps you from trusting that promise?
3. What part of the Trinity’s love—Creator, Savior, or Spirit—do you most need to receive today?
Closing Prayer (inspired by Julian’s First Shewing)
Lord Jesus Christ, who in love suffered for our salvation, let the memory of Your Passion awaken in us a deeper trust in Your mercy.
As Julian beheld Your wounds, may we behold Your heart, and know that nothing is too small to be held in Your love.
Pour into us the light of the Trinity— Father, Son, and Holy Spirit— so that we may live in the joy of Your eternal embrace.
Amen
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