![]() Vernacular theology, one of the three main types of Medieval theology in Denys Turner’s paradigm (the other two are Academic - think Aquinas - and Monastic - think Bonaventure or Bernard of Clairvaux), didn’t simply result in a shift in the language of one’s writing. Some historical context will help us to glean from Julian’s wisdom. Julian of Norwich is the prime English example of this shift to writing in one’s usual language, and the trend finds its voice on continental Europe through figures like Meister Eckhart (German) and Marguerite Porete (French), two figures we’ll learn about in later posts. ![]() The 14th century saw a Europe-wide turn to the vernacular (that is, the common language of one’s area rather than Latin) which resulted in the first flowering of incredible theological works. It’s often that which is different from us which affords us the most help. But for precisely these reasons, and the fact that her Revelations of Divine Love ( public library) is both a spiritual classic and the first surviving work in English by a female author, we should take her seriously. This is a radical departure from the type of life that accords with our modern sensibilities. As an “anchoress” - derived from the Greek meaning “one who has retreated from the world” - Julian sought to live an extremely ascetic, contemplative life. ![]() 1342-1416) spent most of her adult life in a cell attached to a church in Norwich, England. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |