1. Julian of Norwich 1342-ca. 1420

2. Medieval women Huge growth in religious orders for women Huge growth in religious orders for women Also lay women found ways of dedicating themselves to religion and celibacy Also lay women found ways of dedicating themselves to religion and celibacy Many more writings by women preserved (than in early Christianity) Many more writings by women preserved (than in early Christianity) Distinctive spirituality Distinctive spirituality Deepened their “feminine” traits, rather than reversing or renouncing them (as with men) Deepened their “feminine” traits, rather than reversing or renouncing them (as with men) “Married” to Christ; focus on feeding, caregiving “Married” to Christ; focus on feeding, caregiving Focus on connecting with Christ through body, suffering Focus on connecting with Christ through body, suffering Note: their bodies made them LIKE Christ, not unlike him Note: their bodies made them LIKE Christ, not unlike him

3. Medieval devotion to Christ Focus on his suffering Focus on his suffering Crucifixes displayed in churches from 1100s Crucifixes displayed in churches from 1100s Crucifixes become more graphic Crucifixes become more graphic Combined with feeding (eucharist) images Combined with feeding (eucharist) images Embraced not through becoming a martyr, but bodily suffering Embraced not through becoming a martyr, but bodily suffering Personal sickness Personal sickness Caring for the sick Caring for the sick Extreme fasting practices, such as eating only the eucharist Extreme fasting practices, such as eating only the eucharist

4. Medieval pieta (Germany, ca. 1300)

5. The Savior, by Quirizio da Murano (fl. 1460-78

6. Life in the late 1300s Life in the late 1300s Plague broke out in 1348 Plague broke out in 1348 As much as 1/3 of European pop. died As much as 1/3 of European pop. died Religion reacted in fear, as sign of divine judgment Religion reacted in fear, as sign of divine judgment Crisis in papacy Crisis in papacy Papacy moved to Avignon, France (1309-1377) Papacy moved to Avignon, France (1309-1377) 2 popes (France and Italy): 1378-1409 2 popes (France and Italy): 1378-1409 3 popes: 1409-18 3 popes: 1409-18 Resolved 1418 at the Council of Constance Resolved 1418 at the Council of Constance

7. Mysticism Direct, unmediated experience of God Direct, unmediated experience of God Found in all religions Found in all religions Emphasizes personal revelations: visions, dreams, hearing voices Emphasizes personal revelations: visions, dreams, hearing voices De-emphasizes doctrines, mediation of clergy/group structure De-emphasizes doctrines, mediation of clergy/group structure Why prominent in medieval church? Why prominent in medieval church? Time of growing structures, academic theology Time of growing structures, academic theology Religious women (lay and consecrated) and male monks didn’t always have clergy around Religious women (lay and consecrated) and male monks didn’t always have clergy around

8. Dame Julian First extant writing in English by a woman First extant writing in English by a woman An anchorite An anchorite Lived in a cell (small room) attached to church Lived in a cell (small room) attached to church Prayed (window looked into church) Prayed (window looked into church) Visited for spiritual advice Visited for spiritual advice Monastic: renounce world, devote self to prayer Monastic: renounce world, devote self to prayer Near Augustinian monastery (w/library) Near Augustinian monastery (w/library) Very sick, had 16 visions of Christ Very sick, had 16 visions of Christ Wrote an account (long and short version) Wrote an account (long and short version) We get to “hear” her real voice We get to “hear” her real voice

9. Themes Union: of lord and servant, God and Adam Union: of lord and servant, God and Adam Fall: Adam and God’s Son (198) Fall: Adam and God’s Son (198) In creation, God bound to all humanity in Son (201) In creation, God bound to all humanity in Son (201) God sees all in Son’s humanity God sees all in Son’s humanity Mothering imagery: 204ff Mothering imagery: 204ff Analogy: moves from real mothers to Jesus Analogy: moves from real mothers to Jesus Jesus is most truly called “mother” (205) Jesus is most truly called “mother” (205)